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A vertical axis hydrodynamic turbine with flexible foils, passive pitching, and low tip speed ratio achieves near constant RPM

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  • Zeiner-Gundersen, Dag Herman

Abstract

A full-scale vertical axis turbine with flexible foil blades and a passive spring-loaded pitching mechanism was tested in the Glomma River in Norway, demonstrating a maximum turbine efficiency of 37% (0.79 m/s, 3.7 RPM), 25% (1.18 m/s, 4.2 RPM), and 20% (1.55 m/s, 4.7 RPM). The turbine rotational speed showed a limited revolutions per minute (RPM) variation (increasing by only a factor of 1.3) with a doubling of inflow speed. The turbine RPM and load variations were controlled using five wings, double-cambered morphing blades with a relatively high blade lift/drag ratio over a wide range of angle of attacks, and passive spring-controlled blade pitching. The inherent passive blade pitching demonstrated a distinct flopping motion around the nominal (non-pitched) position at ∼0° azimuth angle and a less distinct motion at ∼180° for each revolution around the axis. The turbine's high solidity design, morphing blades, and Knoller-Betz effect limited the RPM variations over a wide range of water velocities. The flex foil turbine had higher power coefficients at lower tip speed ratios compared to typical lower solidity turbines with fixed blades, higher tip speed ratios, and no blade pitching and/or flopping.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeiner-Gundersen, Dag Herman, 2014. "A vertical axis hydrodynamic turbine with flexible foils, passive pitching, and low tip speed ratio achieves near constant RPM," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 297-304.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:77:y:2014:i:c:p:297-304
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.08.008
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    Cited by:

    1. Wong, Kok Hoe & Chong, Wen Tong & Sukiman, Nazatul Liana & Poh, Sin Chew & Shiah, Yui-Chuin & Wang, Chin-Tsan, 2017. "Performance enhancements on vertical axis wind turbines using flow augmentation systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 904-921.
    2. Zeiner-Gundersen, Dag Herman, 2015. "A novel flexible foil vertical axis turbine for river, ocean, and tidal applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 60-66.
    3. Gu, Ya-jing & Yin, Xiu-xing & Liu, Hong-wei & Li, Wei & Lin, Yong-gang, 2015. "Fuzzy terminal sliding mode control for extracting maximum marine current energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P1), pages 258-265.
    4. Yosry, Ahmed Gharib & Álvarez, Eduardo Álvarez & Valdés, Rodolfo Espina & Pandal, Adrián & Marigorta, Eduardo Blanco, 2023. "Experimental and multiphase modeling of small vertical-axis hydrokinetic turbine with free-surface variations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 788-801.
    5. Guanghao Li & Guoying Wu & Lei Tan & Honggang Fan, 2023. "A Review: Design and Optimization Approaches of the Darrieus Water Turbine," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-28, July.

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