On the Study of Hydrodynamic Performance of Horizontal Axis Tidal Current Power Turbine

Abstract

Tidal current power (TCP) is one of the veritable renewable energy that has a good application prospect [1]. Horizontal axis tidal current power turbine is the main device for the development and utilization of TCP. In this paper, therefore, we seek to analyze the hydrodynamic performance of the tidal current power turbine using a commercial CFD software package ANSYS CFX. Analysis has clearly shown that hydrodynamic performance is a major factor for effective operation of a TCP turbine. The power coefficient, the ambient pressure on the airfoil and the turbulence are considered for the analysis. Results reveal a relationship between power coefficient with the pressure around the airfoil, the turbulence and the resistance at airfoil leading edge.