Development of a complete 3-D CFD model of the HAO2 prototype

Étienne Gauthier
Master degree student
etienne.gauthier.4@ulaval.ca

In the development of the new prototype of hydrokinetic turbine (Hydrolienne à ailes oscillantes HAO-2), a study aims to build a model to simulate accurately the entire turbine including the mounting structure in realistic flow conditions. The hydrokinetic turbine is made of a pair of foils in parallel configuration supported by a structure as presented below.

The CFD analysis of this system must take into account multi-bodies interactions such as multiple-foils interactions. Another part of this study is the analysis of the interaction between the foils and the vertical mounting structure. This analysis will provide enough information to design the vertical structure of the hydrokinetic turbine prototype. The motion of these multiple bodies can be modeled using overset grid. This method consists of using a background base mesh and to superpose different part mesh of the turbine without having to use deforming mesh.

The study of foils in tandem configuration aims to evaluate the impact of the wake generated by the upstream foil on the downstream foil. Different turbulence models are used to evaluate the influence of a finer capture of the wake turbulent structures on the hydrofoils performances. This analysis will help to choose the most appropriate turbulence model to study the flow passing through the hydrokinetic turbine. 

Once the methodology developed, the entire hydrokinetic turbine will be simulated in in realistic flow conditions in a goal of suggesting improvement in the design of the prototype HAO-2.