Among several ocean renewable energy sources, the TCP (Tidal Current Power) has number of advantages over others. The power from TCP is continuous and predictable and reliable regardless of weather conditions or seasonal changes since the current speed and orientation can be predictable. The western coast of Korea has many potential sites for TCP with strong current speed caused from more 10 meter tidal range. Also in the south, there are numbers of promising TCP areas with high flow speed between narrow channels between islands. To extract sizable energy from tidal current, the TCP farm having numbers of device units is required. However, the size of TCP farm is limited and is to be minimized not to disturb the ship channel or the fishing areas. As being known, the distance or gap between devices should be maintained to ensure the maximum performance. The interference between devices for various gaps is not the same. This interference has direct impact to the performance or the efficiency of the device. This paper introduces the performance study of TCP devices considering the interference between rotating rotors with axial, transverse and diagonal arrangements. Series of experiments have been carried out in CWC (Circulating Water Channel) and the various cases are analyzed by CFD model.
The ocean renewable energy resources have the greater potential over the other resources due to the high density where the power generation is proportional to the flow density. Not like the other renewable sources, the TCP is very predictable and reliable energy source. Many studies have been introduced on the application of tidal current power system such as those by Garbuglia et al. (1993) and Young (1995). Bernshtein (1995) has introduced a new concept for a current stream power system and has also carried out experiments in the sea.
