Large-Eddy Simulation Study of Wake Propagation and Power Production in an Array of Tidal-Current Turbines: Preprint
This paper presents our initial work in performing large-eddy simulations of tidal turbine array flows. First, a horizontally-periodic precursor simulation is performed to create turbulent flow data. Then that data is used as inflow into a tidal turbine array two rows deep and infinitely wide. The turbines are modeled using rotating actuator lines, and the finite-volume method is used to solvethe governing equations. In studying the wakes created by the turbines, we observed that the vertical shear of the inflow combined with wake rotation causes lateral wake asymmetry. Also, various turbine configurations are simulated, and the total power production relative to isolated turbines is examined. Staggering consecutive rows of turbines in the simulated configurations allows the greatestefficiency using the least downstream row spacing. Counter-rotating consecutive downstream turbines in a non-staggered array shows a small benefit. This work has identified areas for improvement, such as the use of a larger precursor domain to better capture elongated turbulent structures, the inclusion of salinity and temperature equations to account for density stratification and its effect onturbulence, improved wall shear stress modelling, and the examination of more array configurations.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Water Technologies Office (EE-4W)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1047336
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5000-55194; TRN: US201216%%199
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: To be published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Synergistic Effects of Turbine Wakes and Atmospheric Stability on Power Production at an Onshore Wind Farm
On the Effects of Wind Turbine Wake Skew Caused by Wind Veer: Preprint
Related Subjects
ACTUATORS
ASYMMETRY
CAPTURE
DATA
DENSITY
EFFICIENCY
EQUATIONS
INCLUSIONS
LARGE-EDDY SIMULATION
POWER GENERATION
PRECURSOR
ROTATION
SALINITY
SHEAR
SIMULATION
STRATIFICATION
TURBINES
TURBULENCE
TURBULENT FLOW
USES
tidal energy
tidal current turbines
array
large eddy simulation
marine hydrokinetic