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Design and Analysis of a Novel Ocean Current Two-Coupled Crossflow Turbine Energy Converter

Author

Listed:
  • Shueei-Muh Lin

    (Green Energy Technology Research Centre (GETRC), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kun Shan University, Tainan 710, Taiwan)

  • Wei-Le Huang

    (Green Energy Technology Research Centre (GETRC), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kun Shan University, Tainan 710, Taiwan)

  • Didi Widya Utama

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Tarumanagara, Jakarta 11440, Indonesia)

  • Yang-Yih Chen

    (Department of Marine Environment and Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University; Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan)

Abstract

In this study, a novel ocean current energy converter is proposed. The energy converter is composed of two crossflow turbines. The two turbines rotate at the same speed but in opposite directions; therefore, the summation of the hydrodynamic torques applied to the two turbines is equal to zero, which can make the converter self-stabilizing. A channel is designed to guide a large amount of water flowing through the turbine, thereby increasing the incident velocity, power, and efficiency of the turbine. The guide vanes are positioned in front of the turbine to guide the ocean current, producing the optimal flow incident angle and thereby increasing the performance of the turbine. A novel empirical formula for determining the power and efficiency of the converter is derived. Moreover, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the energy converter is conducted using the commercial software Star CCM+ in the standard κ-ω turbulence model with wall functions. The accuracy of the empirical formula is verified by comparing the theoretical results with those obtained using the CFD method. Finally, the effects of several parameters on the performance of the energy converter are investigated. The optimal parameters are obtained as follows: (1) The optimal setting angles of vanes γ 1 = 78°, γ 2 = γ 1 + 10 ° , and γ 3 = γ 1 − 5 ° . (2) The optimal blade angle β = 44°. (3) The optimal rotating speed N = 2.6 ( V cur /1.6) rpm. (4) The optimal ratio of turbine center distance r L 4 ≥ 2.50. (5) The optimal ratio of turbine shaft length is approximately 5.5 < ( r shaft = W shaft /D tur ) opt < 5.7. (6) The performance of each turbine with N blade = 31 blades is significantly better than that with N blade = 23 blades.

Suggested Citation

  • Shueei-Muh Lin & Wei-Le Huang & Didi Widya Utama & Yang-Yih Chen, 2025. "Design and Analysis of a Novel Ocean Current Two-Coupled Crossflow Turbine Energy Converter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:9:p:2303-:d:1646829
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Moreau, Martin & Germain, Grégory & Maurice, Guillaume, 2023. "Experimental performance and wake study of a ducted twin vertical axis turbine in ebb and flood tide currents at a 1/20th scale," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 318-333.
    2. Acharya, Nirmal & Kim, Chang-Gu & Thapa, Bhola & Lee, Young-Ho, 2015. "Numerical analysis and performance enhancement of a cross-flow hydro turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 819-826.
    3. Pierre-Luc Delafin & François Deniset & Jacques André Astolfi & Frédéric Hauville, 2021. "Performance Improvement of a Darrieus Tidal Turbine with Active Variable Pitch," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, January.
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