Investigation into the process of downflow adaptive tidal current power generation system

This research examines a novel horizontal axis tidal current power generation system, characterized by a generator, a transmission shaft, and a turbine, functioning as a downstream power generating system, acknowledging the bidirectional nature of tidal flow. This design's innovation lies in its ability to alter its position utilizing gravity, buoyancy, and push to facilitate adaptive tidal reciprocating flow. The design operates without consuming electrical energy to alter the propeller, instead utilizing hydrodynamic power for self-adaptation to the flow direction. This study designs the turbine with the asymmetric airfoil NACA6514 with a posterior thickness. The numerical analysis employs multi-body interaction among components to facilitate the yaw motion of the turbine device in the adaptive flow direction, while adjusting and analyzing the yaw performance of the turbine with varying transmission shaft lengths at different flow rates. The design's practicality and efficacy are validated through sea trials, investigating turbine performance variations at varied flow rates in both forward and backward directions. The flow rate is 1.2 m/s, turbine efficiency is 13.4 % in the forward direction with an output power of 0.6069 kW, and turbine efficiency is 19.2 % in the reverse direction with a power output of 0.8784 kW.