Comprehensive Study on Variable Pitch Vertical Axis Tidal Turbine

Abstract

To overcome the stalled effect and poor starting torque of fixed pitch Darrieus turbine, researchers invent variable pitch vertical axis tidal turbine (VATT). For tidal stream designers main challenge is that the design can sustain in hostile marine environment. Due to lift base design VATT is very critical for cavitation, so appropriate parameter selection can improve the hydrodynamic performance and life of the turbine. An attempt is made to optimize the design parameters of VATT for variable pitch using ANSYS CFX, hereafter CFX, which is based on a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model. A transient simulation is done for variable pitch VATT using Shear Stress Transport turbulence (SST) scheme. Main hydrodynamic parameters like torque T, combined moment CM, coefficients of performance CP and coefficient of torque CT, etc. are investigated. The modeling and meshing of turbine rotor is performed in ICEM-CFD. Mesh motion option is employed to achieve variable pitch phenomenon. This article is the one part of the ongoing research on turbine design and developments. The numerical simulation results are validated with analytical Matlab results performed by Edinburgh Design Ltd. The article concludes that CFX simulation is done accurately and major parameter selections for turbine development are feasible.