Abstract

A counter-rotating type horizontal-axis tidal stream power unit has a number of attractive features, for instance, cavitation can be suppressed well owing to decrease the individual rotational speed in keeping the relative rotational speed same as the single propeller speed. A cavitation model based on a homogeneous multiphase flow method implemented in the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver CFX14.0 was employed to carry out the cavitation simulations on a counter-rotating type horizontal-axis counter-rotating type impellers in a tidal stream power unit. The cavitation performance curve at a relative high tip speed ratio was obtained, and additional observations were made with regards to cavity size and shape as well as cavitation breakdown behavior.

Keywords:
marine current turbine, cavitation, tidal stream power unit, current turbine, model counter-rotating type, renewable energy, power coefficient, social responsibility, tidal turbine, cavitation model
Subjects:
Reservoir Simulation, Environment, Sustainability/Social Responsibility, Information Management and Systems, Sustainable development
This content is only available via PDF.
2015. International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers
You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.