(4)Comparison of computational fluid dynamics and fluid structure interaction models for the performance prediction of tidal current turbines
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Mujahid Badshah∗, Saeed Badshah, Sakhi Jan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Received 24 June 2019; received in revised form 8 October 2019; accepted 8 October 2019
Available online 14 October 2019
Abstract
CFD models perform rigid body simulations and ignore the hydroelastic behavior of turbine blades. In reality, the tidal turbine blades deform due to the onset flow. Deformation of the turbine blade alters the angle of attack and pressure difference across the low pressure
and high pressure surface of the blade. Therefore, the performance of a Tidal Current Turbine (TCT) is modelled in this study using
Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and coupled Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) simulations to compare the predictions of both models.
Results of the performance parameters predicted from both the models are also compared with experimental data. The difference between
experimental value of CP and predicted value from the rigid blade CFD and FSI models is less than 10%. The FSI model accounted for
the blade deformation and a maximum blade tip deflection of 0.12mm is observed representing a case of small deformation. The extent of
deformation is not enough to alter the angle of attack and flow separation behavior at the blade. The variation in predicted pressure difference
across the blade surfaces between the two models resulted in different CP prediction. Almost similar wake predictions are obtained from both
the models.
© 2019 Shanghai Jiaotong University. Published by Elsevier B.V.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Keywords: Tidal turbine; Coupled FSI; CFD; Performance; ANSYS Wokbench; ANSYS CFX.