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21 pages, 2105 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Optimization of a Gorlov-Type Hydrokinetic Turbine Array for Energy Generation Using Response Surface Methodology

by Andrés Chalaca, Laura Velásquez, Ainhoa Rubio-Clemente and Edwin Chica

Energies 2024, 17(19), 4870; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17194870 - 28 Sep 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1914

Abstract

Hydrokinetic arrays, or farms, offer a promising solution to the global energy crisis by enabling cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy generation in locations with water flows. This paper presents research focused on the design and optimization of a Gorlov-type vertical-axis hydrokinetic turbine array for power generation. The study involved (i) numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software with the six degrees of freedom (6DoF) tool, (ii) optimization techniques such as response surface methodology, and (iii) experimental testing in natural environments. The objective was to develop an efficient system with low manufacturing and maintenance costs. A key finding was that the separation distance between rotors, both along and across the fluid flow, is a critical parameter in designing hydrokinetic arrays. For this study, a triangular array configuration, termed Triframe, was used, consisting of three Gorlov-type turbines with four blades each. The optimization process led to separation distances based on the diameter (D) of the turbines, with 15.9672D along the fluid flow (X) and 4.15719D across the flow (Y). Finally, an experimental scale model of the hydrokinetic array was successfully constructed and characterized, demonstrating the effectiveness of the optimization process described in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section A: Sustainable Energy)

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20 pages, 6059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Real-Time Co-Simulation and Grid Integration of PMSG-Based Hydrokinetic Energy Conversion Systems via Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop Technics

by Ubaldo Jasso-Ruiz, Juan Ramón Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Edgar Mendoza, Carlos Echeverría and Nadia Maria Salgado-Herrera

Energies 2024, 17(11), 2662; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112662 - 30 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1039

Abstract

Ocean energy sources are a promising source of energy. However, simulating a hydrokinetic farm with multiple units requires significant computational resources, while physical experimentation on site is expensive. Therefore, the scientific challenge is to develop analytical and experimental tools that consider real aspects of areas with generation potential in a controlled laboratory environment. This paper presents a theoretical and experimental tool for analysing the interconnection of a hydrokinetic energy farm comprising 20 generation units. The test bench is a Power Hardware in the Loop type, consisting of one physical prototype generator to scale and 19 discrete averaged models operating in real-time. The system allows generators to interact through an amplifier, emulating the impact of power injection in a small electrical network. This is based on the variability of the marine resource, specifically the current velocities in the Cozumel-Mexico channel. Unlike other publications, the most significant contribution of this work is a complete feasible emulation of a marine current plant interconnected to an electrical grid, where the objective is to have a global analysis of the operation of each generation unit and the impact of the interconnection as a whole, considering that such information is of utmost importance for the execution of future projects of power generation from the sea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Storage Technologies for Grid Forming Systems)

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24 pages, 9561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrokinetic Power Resource Assessment in a Combined Estuarine and River Region

by Gianmaria Giannini, Victor Ramos, Paulo Rosa-Santos, Tomás Calheiros-Cabral and Francisco Taveira-Pinto

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2606; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052606 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2576

Abstract

The worldwide river and tidal hydrokinetic power potential is considerable. Harnessing such potential could allow the generation of a significant amount of sustainable electricity for local uses. To the present, most studies on hydrokinetic power have focused on large-scale commercial technology development, large tidal farms planning, and high-intensity resources assessment. Reduced attention was oriented towards investigating possibilities for small to medium-size hydrokinetic plants. However, given the characteristics of rivers and estuaries, in most cases, relevant hydrokinetic power exploitation possibilities exist regardless of the dimensions of the region considered. The planning of small to medium-size hydrokinetic plants for various aspects differs from larger developments. In the present work, a method for assessing the hydrokinetic resource is proposed and applied to the case study of the Douro waterway, which is characterized by moderate flow speeds and limited water depths. A high-resolution shallow-water numerical model is set up using ocean and river inflow boundary conditions. The flow velocities are estimated for the neap-spring period for different freshwater discharges. The spots presenting the highest annual hydrokinetic power average were identified, maximum flow speeds of about 1 m/s were found, and an annual mean power of 0.4 kW/m² was estimated, indicating that prospects for hydrokinetic energy harvesting exist. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy: A Solution towards Energy Self-Sufficiency of Ports)

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13 pages, 1427 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Numerical Methodology to Predict the Maximum Power Output of Tidal Stream Arrays

by Soheil Radfar, Roozbeh Panahi, Meysam Majidi Nezhad and Mehdi Neshat

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1664; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031664 - 31 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2587

Abstract

Due to its high level of consistency and predictability, tidal stream energy is a feasible and promising type of renewable energy for future development and investment. Numerical modeling of tidal farms is a challenging task. Many studies have shown the applicability of the Blade Element Momentum (BEM) method for modeling the interaction of turbines in tidal arrays. Apart from its well-known capabilities, there is a scarcity of research using BEM to model tidal stream energy farms. Therefore, the main aim of this numerical study is to simulate a full-scale array in a real geographical position. A fundamental linear relationship to estimate the power capture of full-scale turbines using available kinetic energy flux is being explored. For this purpose, a real site for developing a tidal farm on the southern coasts of Iran is selected. Then, a numerical methodology is validated and calibrated for the established farm by analyzing an array of turbines. A linear equation is proposed to calculate the tidal power of marine hydrokinetic turbines. The results indicate that the difference between the predicted value and the actual power does not exceed 6%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Technologies for Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 3150 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flow Field Measurement of Laboratory-Scaled Cross-Flow Hydrokinetic Turbines: Part II—The Near-Wake of Twin Turbines in Counter-Rotating Configurations

by Minh N. Doan, Takuya Kawata and Shinnosuke Obi

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(7), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9070777 - 17 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2640

Abstract

Cross-flow hydrokinetic turbines have sparked interest among fluid dynamicists for their potential for power enhancement in paired configuration. Following the first part of a laboratory-scaled turbine wake measurement project, this second part presents a monoscopic particle image velocimetry measurement of the near-wake of two cross-flow hydrokinetic turbines in six different counter-rotating configurations. The turbines operated in a small water flume at an average diameter-based Reynolds number of

2 \times 10^{4}

with the incoming streamwise velocity of 0.316 m/s. The six configurations included two turbine separation distances, two turbine phase angles differences, and two different relative incoming flow angles. Similar to the observation of the single turbine configurations in part I, a correlation between flow field structures and the corresponding power output was observed. Effects of each parameter of the counter-rotating configurations are further discussed, which suggest guidelines for setting up multiple devices in a power farm. This article is accompanied by all full numeric data sets and videos of the results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)

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