Experimental and numerical analysis of tidal turbines

Abstract

In order to complement the Scientific Initiation project "Optimization of a tidal turbine considering blockage effects" (FAPESP, Process number 2017/21220-0), we are presenting the two month work plan for a BEPE (in Portuguese, Bolsa Estágio de Pesquisa no Exterior) to be developed in the University of Oxford under the supervision of Dr Christopher Vogel and Dr Richard Willden. The project consists of two parts: the numerical analysis and the experimental analysis of the flow through tidal turbines. During the first month the numerical method already developed during the first half of the Scientific Initiation's project will be adapted for the conditions of physical experiments to be carried out at the FloWave facility in Edinburgh, and simulations will be run to predict the results from the experiments. In the first two weeks, a single turbine will be modelled, and in the third and fourth weeks will be devoted to the modelling of groups of two and four turbines. In the fifth and sixth weeks, the student will be part of the team that will actually perform the experiments. The last two weeks will be spent on the analysis of the results and validation of the numerical simulations. (AU)