Dynamic Stability of an Ocean Current Turbine System

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical solution for the dynamic stability of the ocean current turbine system developed in Taiwan. This system is tethered to the sea floor and uses the Kuroshio Current to produce electricity. To maintain the performance of the turbine system in the presence of the Kuroshio Current, the stability of the surfaced turbine needs to be considered. The proposed system is composed of a turbine, a buoyance platform, a traction rope, and a mooring foundation. The two-dimensional theoretical solutions treat the turbine as a rigid body with a movable structure that is moored with two cables. In this model, the gravity, buoyancy, and drag force generated by the wave on the turbine structure are considered. In addition, an analytical solution is proposed for the general system. Finally, the effects of the wave on the pitch motion and dynamical stability of the ocean current turbine system are investigated.