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Learning from Humpback Whales for Improving the Energy Capturing Performance of Tidal Turbine Blades

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Trends and Challenges in Maritime Energy Management

Part of the book series: WMU Studies in Maritime Affairs ((WMUSTUD,volume 6))

Abstract

This paper summarizes a project on the potential of further improving the performance of horizontal axis tidal turbines via the application of leading-edge tubercles to the turbine blades inspired by humpback whales. Within this framework, a wide variety of experimental investigations, supported by numerical studies, have been conducted.

The study first focused on the design and optimisation of the leading-edge tubercles for a specific tidal turbine blade section by using numerical methods to propose an “optimum” design for the blade section. This optimum design was then applied onto a representative tidal turbine blade. This representative 3D blade demonstrated significant benefits, especially after stall. The experimental measurements were further validated and complimented by numerical simulations using commercial CFD software for the detailed flow analysis.

Following that, three tidal turbine models with varying leading-edge profiles were manufactured and a model test campaign was conducted in the cavitation tunnel to evaluate their efficiency, cavitation, underwater noise, and detailed flow characteristics. Based on these experimental investigations it was confirmed that the leading-edge tubercles can improve the hydrodynamic performance in the low Tip Speed Ratio (TSR) region without lowering the maximum power coefficient; constrain the cavitation development to within the troughs between the tubercles; and, hence, mitigate the underwater noise levels.

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Acknowledgements

This research is funded by the School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University and China Scholarship Council. Hence the financial support obtained from both establishments is gratefully acknowledged. The Authors would like to thank all the team members in the Emerson Cavitation Tunnel for the help in testing and sharing their knowledge. And the last but not the least, special acknowledgement to the team in Strathclyde University. Thanks for the support for the last stage of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Weichao Shi & Rosemary Norman

  2. Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

    Weichao Shi & Mehmet Atlar

Authors
  1. Weichao Shi
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  2. Mehmet Atlar
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  3. Rosemary Norman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Weichao Shi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden

    Aykut I. Ölçer

  2. World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden

    Momoko Kitada

  3. World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden

    Dimitrios Dalaklis

  4. World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden

    Fabio Ballini

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Shi, W., Atlar, M., Norman, R. (2018). Learning from Humpback Whales for Improving the Energy Capturing Performance of Tidal Turbine Blades. In: Ölçer, A., Kitada, M., Dalaklis, D., Ballini, F. (eds) Trends and Challenges in Maritime Energy Management. WMU Studies in Maritime Affairs, vol 6. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74576-3_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74576-3_33

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-74575-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-74576-3

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