Study of the effect of non-uniform inflow conditions on the performance of the oscillating-foils hydro-kinetic turbine

Christian Perron
Master degree student
christian.perron.2@ulaval.ca

Studies, so far, of the hydrokinetic turbine with numerical simulation, considered energy extraction from an idealized flow of water, that is to say, non-restricted, with a uniform velocity profile, without turbulence and without incidence. In reality, HAO turbines that will eventually be deployed in a natural environment, either river or ocean coast, will not operate under such ideal conditions. In the further development of this technology, it becomes necessary to quantify the effects of these disturbances on the hydrodynamic performance of the turbine with regard to its relative dimensions and configuration (1 wing, 2 tandem wings, or 2 parallel wings).

The flow imperfections that will be studied include the vertical or horizontal shear, turbulence level and misalignment with the flow. The study will be carried out using CFD simulations (2D or 3D depending on the perturbation considered) and the turbulence will be solved with URANS modeling (Unsteady Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes).

Knowledge of the effects of those non-uniformities will improve the selection process of the optimal turbine’s design and configuration in regard to the actual flow condition encountered at a particular deployment site.