Vertical-Axis Tidal Turbines: Model Development and Farm Layout Design

Micol Pucci (), Raffaele Spina and Stefania Zanforlin ()
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Micol Pucci: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Raffaele Spina: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Stefania Zanforlin: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, Italy

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a new 3D model for vertical-axis tidal turbines (VATTs) embedded in the shallow-water code SHYFEM. The turbine model is based on the Blade-Element∖Momentum (BEM) theory and, therefore, is able to predict turbine performance based on the local flow conditions and the geometric characteristics of the turbine. It is particularly suitable for studying turbine arrays, as it can capture the interactions between the turbines. For this reason, the model is used to test a tidal farm of 21 devices with fluid dynamic simulations. In particular, we deploy the farm at Portland Bill, which is a marine site characterised by a wide spread in the direction of the tidal currents during a flood-ebb tide cycle. We optimised the lateral and longitudinal spacing of the turbines in a fence using computational fluid dynamics simulations and then performed a sensitivity analysis by changing the distance between the fences. The results show that the greater the distance between the fences, the higher the power output. The increase in power generation is around 16%, but this implies a huge increase in the horizontal extent of the farm. Further assessments should be carried out, as the expansion of a marine area dedicated to energy exploitation may conflict with other stakeholder interests.

Keywords: vertical-axis tidal turbine; BEM; shallow-water equations; farm design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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