Wave-current interactions in marine current turbines

Abstract

The influence of waves on the dynamic properties of bending moments at the root of blades of tidal stream vertical-axis rotors is reported. Blade element-momentum theory for wind turbines is combined with linear wave theory and used to analyze this influence. Experiments were carried out with a 350 mm diameter rotor to validate the simulation and the comparison shows the ability of the theoretical approach to predict the blade root bending moments. It can be concluded that, in steep waves, linear theory underestimates the dynamic behaviour of bending moments. However, in long waves, linear theory works well. Bending moments at roots of rotor blades fluctuate with significant amplitudes (as much as 50 per cent of mean value for out-of-plane bending moment and 100 per cent of mean value for in-plane bending moment), which will be important for design of tidal stream rotors.