ExperimentalandAnalyticalStudyof

HelicalCrossFlowTurbinesforaTidal
Micropower GenerationSystem
AdamNiblick
UniversityofWashington
NorthwestNationalMarineRenewableEnergyCenter
MSME Thesis Defense
March 7, 2012

NNMREC

Outline
TidalMicropower SystemOverview
TurbineSelection/DesignParameters
ExperimentalTesting
Modeling
ConclusionsandFutureWork

NNMREC

MotivationforMicropower
AdmiraltyInlet potential

siteoftidalturbine
installationforcommercial
power
NNMRECEnvironmental
sitecharacterization
monitoring
SeaSpiderbottomlander

tripod
Instrumentationrequires
power
Currentlybattery powered
Grid,solarandwindnot
feasible

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MotivationforMicropower
BatteryCapacity(Whr):

Unit
DopplerCurrentProfiler

Deployment
Power
Duration
Usage (W)
(days)
0.9

90

165 Cost($/Whr): $1.15

Total # of batteries
W-hr
Required Battery Cost
1944

12

$ 2,280.00

NNMREC

MotivationforMicropower
BatteryCapacity(Whr):

Unit

Deployment
Duration
Power
Usage (W)
(days)

165 Cost($/Whr): $1.15

Total # of batteries
W-hr
Required Battery Cost

DopplerCurrentProfiler

0.9

90

1944

12

$ 2,280.00

DopplerCurrentProfiler

0.9

180

3888

24

$ 4,560.00

NNMREC

MotivationforMicropower
BatteryCapacity(Whr):

Unit

Deployment
Duration
Power
Usage (W)
(days)

165 Cost($/Whr): $1.15

Total # of batteries
W-hr
Required Battery Cost

DopplerCurrentProfiler

0.9

90

1944

12

$ 2,280.00

DopplerCurrentProfiler

0.9

180

3888

24

$ 4,560.00

ImagingSonar(20%dutycycle)

20.0

180

86400

524

$ 99,560.00

u0: Inflow velocity

: Fluid density

NNMREC

MotivationforMicropower
BatteryCapacity(Whr):

Unit

Deployment
Power
Duration
Usage (W)
(days)

165 Cost($/Whr): $1.15

Total # of batteries
W-hr
Required Battery Cost

DopplerCurrentProfiler

0.9

90

1944

12

$ 2,280.00

DopplerCurrentProfiler

0.9

180

3888

24

$ 4,560.00

ImagingSonar(20%dutycycle)

20.0

180

86400

524

$ 99,560.00

ImagingSonar(20%dutycycle)

20.0

180

86400

15

$ 2,850.00

NNMREC

Micropower SystemConcept

Drawing courtesy of Stelzenmuller et al

Micropower System A tidal hydrokinetic power generation system to

power remote instrumentation on the order of 20 W continuous in 1.5
m/s peak tidal currents.

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ResearchGoals
Provideinitialconceptforamicropower tidal
generationsystem
Providedetaileddesign,analysisandexperimental
testingoneofthecomponents:thehydrokinetic
turbine

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Micropower SystemBlockDiagram
Tidal Current Profile

u0 (m/s)

Tidal
Turbine

-2

Loads
Loads

4
time (days)

Battery
Bank+
+

Turbine

Monitoring Equipment

Gearbox

Generator

Rectifier

Converter

Controller/processor

Controller
Data storage

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Outline
Micropower SystemOverview
TurbineSelection/DesignParameters
ExperimentalTesting
Modeling
ConclusionsandFutureWork

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TurbinePerformanceMetrics
Efficiency forpowerandtorqueproduction

Startingtorquemagnitudeandrange forselfstart

H: Height
D: Diameter
R: Radius
T: Torque
u0: Inflow velocity
: Fluid density
: Azimuthal angle
: Angular velocity

TipSpeedRatioandRotationRate forgeneratorintegration

Performancewithrespecttoinfloworientation fordeployment

flexibility

NNMREC

TurbineDesignConcepts
Highefficiency

(~35%)
Good selfstart
Savonius
capability Rotor
Accepts flowfrom
anyhorizontal
Axial
direction
Turbine

Hybrid
Turbine

Darrieus
Turbine

Helical
Turbine

Sources: Polagye, 2011; engr.mun.ca/~tariq/jahangiralam.pdf; newenergycorp.ca;

NNMREC

BladeElementTheory
Streamwise velocity(uS)
Tipvelocity(R)
Inducedbyturbinesownrotation
Relativevelocity(uREL)
Resultantvectorof
uS andR
Angleofattack()
AnglebetweenuREL and
chordline
Lift DragForces(FL,FD)
Generateturbinetorque

Bestliftdragratiowhen

10< <10

c: Blade length
h: Blade height
AP: Planform area ch

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Axialvs.CrossFlowTurbines
Axial

Cross-Flow

Tidal Flow is Parallel to Axis

of Rotation

Tidal Flow is Perpendicular

to Axis of Rotation

NNMREC

BladeElementTheory
Angleofattack()
Constantlychangingas
turbinerotates
Oftenexceedsstallangle

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HelicalTurbineParameters
BladeProfile
BladePitch
HelicalPitch
AspectRatio
SolidityRatio/Chordto

RadiusRatio
NumberofBlades
BladeWrap
AttachmentDesign

NNMREC

HelicalTurbineParameters
BladeProfile
HelicalPitch
AspectRatio
SolidityRatio/Chordto
NACA0018
0.1

RadiusRatio
NumberofBlades
AttachmentDesign

0
-0.1
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5
x

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Source: answers.com

NNMREC

HelicalTurbineParameters
BladeProfile
HelicalPitch
AspectRatio
SolidityRatio/Chordto

RadiusRatio
NumberofBlades
AttachmentDesign

NNMREC

HelicalTurbineParameters
BladeProfile
HelicalPitch
AspectRatio
SolidityRatio/Chordto

RadiusRatio
NumberofBlades
AttachmentDesign
Sizelimitedby

deploymentconstraints
NNMREC

HelicalTurbineParameters
BladeProfile
HelicalPitch

30% Solidity

AspectRatio
SolidityRatio/Chordto

RadiusRatio
NumberofBlades(B)
AttachmentDesign
15% Solidity

NNMREC

HelicalTurbineParameters
BladeProfile
HelicalPitch
AspectRatio
SolidityRatio/Chordto

RadiusRatio
NumberofBlades
AttachmentDesign

NNMREC

ParameterOptimization
Higherefficiency,
ImprovedCP,
Manufacturability

Helical Pitch

Lowerstatictorque
variation

ImprovedCP,
Allows higherpitch

AspectRatio

EasierDeployment,
Lessbladestress,
Lessvibration

Betterstartingtorque,
Manufacturability

SolidityRatio

Highertipspeedratio

Allowsincrease inpitch
andreducedaspect
ratio

NumberofBlades

Fewerparts,Lessblade
wakeinterference

NNMREC

Outline
Micropower SystemOverview
TurbineSelection/DesignParameters
ExperimentalTesting
Modeling
ConclusionsandFutureWork

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TurbinePrototypes
3BladedTurbine

3Blades
D=20cm
H=20cm
1.00AspectRatio
43.7 PitchAngle
30%Solidity

BaselineConfiguration
4BladedTurbine LowSolidityTurbine

4Blades
D=17.2cm
H=23.4cm
1.36AspectRatio
60 PitchAngle
30%Solidity

3Blades
D=20cm
H=20cm
1.00AspectRatio
43.7 PitchAngle
15%Solidity

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TestsPerformed
BaselineConfiguration
LoadPerformanceTest
StaticTorqueTest
TiltedTurbineTest
DesignComparisonTests
HelicalPitch/No.ofBlades
StrutAttachmentDesign
ShaftDesign

NNMREC

FlumeTestChannel
3meterslength
72cmwide
Maximum0.8m/sflow

rate
Turbinelocatedincenter
offlumewidthat1.7m
fromtestchannelinlet
AcousticDoppler
Velocimeter (ADV) to
measureflumevelocity

NNMREC

TestInstrumentationModule
Reaction Torque Cell

Particle Brake

Flex Coupling

Locking Plate
Optical Encoder
Bearing

NNMREC

TurbineOperation

NNMREC

LoadPerformanceResults
Baseline

Configuration

NNMREC

LiftandDragfordifferent

Region
Region
of Turbine
of
but
Turbine
increasing
Operation
Operation
at
decreases
0.4
at 0.8
m/sm/saverage

NNMREC

StaticTorque
Baseline

Configuration
Flume:0.7m/s

0 view,
lookingdownstream

NNMREC

TurbineDesignComparison
3-Bladed Turbine

4-Bladed Turbine

Load Performance
Test Results

NNMREC

StrutDesignComparison
2 mm Spoke

4.8 mm Spoke

Circular Plate

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ShaftDiameterComparison
No Shaft

6.4 mm Shaft

12.7 mm Shaft

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TiltedTurbineTest
Downstreamendofturbine

frameinclined
0,2.5,5and10degree

inclinations
Performancetest
Baselinespokedesignand
circularplateconfigurations

NNMREC

TiltedTurbineTest

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TestConclusions
Fourbladedturbineisbestdesignforoptimum

aspectratioandperformance
Goodselfstartandperformancewithhighsolidity
MaximizehelicalpitchangletogetbettermaxCP
Noimpactofshaftdiameteronperformance
Circularplate bestattachmentdesign eliminates
profiledrag,bettertiltangleperformance
Statictorqueisnotuniform
HigherinflowvelocitygivesbetterCP
NNMREC

Outline
Micropower SystemOverview
TurbineSelection/DesignParameters
ExperimentalTesting
Modeling
ConclusionsandFutureWork

NNMREC

VortexModel
Freevortexflowmodel
Bladedividedintoseveral

elements
Bladeelementperformance
fromCL,CD lookuptables
Bladeselementssimulatedas
vortexgenerators
Sumofvelocitycomponents
givesuREL

NNMREC

VortexModel
Comparisontoothermodeltypes
LesscomputationaltimethanCFD(daysvs.minutes)
Comparedtomomentummodels,thevortexmodel:

Canresolvehelicalgeometrywithoutyawcorrectionfactors
Betterresolvesthewake

ModelModifications
Helicalgeometry
Strutdragforcircularplateandendspokes
Flowcurvatureeffects
HigherCR thanpreviouslymodeled

NNMREC

FlowCurvature
Changein fromleadingedgetotrailingedge
Important forhighchordtoradiusratioturbines
Approximated as
Virtual camber

Source: Migliore, 1980

NNMREC

PitchingandDynamicStall
Lift,dragaffectedbypitchrate
NACA0018

Virtualincidence Approximatedby
CL calculatedfrom atchord 0.1
CD calculatedat atchord
0
Biases positive
-0.1
0

0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
Dynamicstall
x
Vortexformsattheleadingedgeofhydrofoilandtracksback
alongthechord
Liftisincreasedduringtracking
Liftdropsasvortexfullysheds

0.9

Source: Ekaterinaris & Platzer, 1997

NNMREC

DynamicStall
Lift

Drag

Source: NASA, 2009

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ImplementationofSecondary
Effects
Experimental Data at
0.8 m/s

NNMREC

ImplementationofSecondary
Effects
Experimental Data at
0.8 m/s

Model Prediction with

no Secondary Effects

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ImplementationofSecondary
Effects
Experimental Data at
0.8 m/s

Dynamic Stall added

Model Prediction with

no Secondary Effects

NNMREC

ImplementationofSecondary
Effects
Experimental Data at
0.8 m/s

Dynamic Stall & Pitch

Rate Effects added
Dynamic Stall added

Model Prediction with

no Secondary Effects

NNMREC

ImplementationofSecondary
Effects
Dynamic Stall, Pitch
Rate & Flow Curvature
Effects added

Dynamic Stall & Pitch

Rate Effects added
Dynamic Stall added

Model Prediction with

no Secondary Effects

NNMREC

ModelPredictionofInflowVariation

NNMREC

Extrapolationto1.5m/s

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AnalysisofHighTipSpeedRatio
=2.6, 1.5 m/s

0.2

32

(a)

0.15

24

0.1

16

0.05

-0.05
-0.1

(degrees)

Flow
curvature
active
CP=0.46

CQ

CQ

-8

5
6
7
Normalized Time (t*u0/R)

-16
10

Flow
curvature
disabled
CP=0.43

NNMREC

AnalysisofHighTipSpeedRatio

3/410
1/26

Duetohighchordtoradiusratio:
Flowcurvatureaddsinstabilitytomodeloutput
Pitchrateeffectsanddynamicstalloveramplifyingperformance
Thiseffecthasbeendocumentedinpreviousliterature(Daietal.,2011),

(Cardona,1984)

NNMREC

AnalysisofHighTipSpeedRatio
3/410
1/26

Duetohighchordtoradiusratio:
Flowcurvatureaddsinstabilitytomodeloutput
Pitchrateeffectsanddynamicstalloveramplifyingperformance
Thiseffecthasbeendocumentedinpreviousliterature(Daietal.,2011),

(Cardona,1984)

NNMREC

ProjectConclusions
Demonstratedneedforandviabilityofatidalmicropower

system
Designedaturbineforamicropower system
24%efficientat0.8m/s(andincreasingwithflumespeed)
Goodselfstartandfloworientationcapabilities
Optimizedselecthelicalturbinedesignparameters

Modifiedavortexmodeltoaccepthelicalturbinedesign
Demonstratedimportanceofsecondaryeffects
Demonstratedgeneraltrendsinperformance
Needforfurtherstudyofsecondaryeffectsforhighchordto
radiusratioturbines

NNMREC

FutureWork
Testingofthefullscaleturbine
Designofsystemdrivetrainandcontrol
TurbineGeneratormatching
Selectionofbatterytype
Improvingturbineefficiency
Improvedturbinemodeling
Examinationandrefinementofsecondaryeffects
Othermodeltypes(CFD,etc.)

NNMREC

Acknowledgements
Dr.BrianPolagye

Dr.JimThomson&APL

Dr.AlbertoAliseda

CapstoneDesignTeam:

NickStelzenmuller,
BronwynHughes,Josh
Dr.RoyMartin
Anderson,Celest Johnson,
Dr.PhilipMalte
BrettTaylor,LeoSutanto
BillKuykendall
NNMRECOrganization
KevinSoderlund,Eamon
SandiaNationalLabs
McQuaide
Marie
Dr.BrianFabien

NNMREC

Questions?

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BackupSlides

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SystemPerformance

NNMREC

SystemPerformance
Turbinegeneratormatching

Desiredgeneratorcharacteristics
Lowspeedoperation

6080rpmfordirectdrive

Highefficiency
Flatefficiencycurve
FitswithinSeaSpidersizeconstraints
Lowstartingtorque,lowcogging

NNMREC

BatteryInformation
Characteristic
EnergyDensity(Wh/L)
CycleLife(cycles)
MemoryEffect

[4]

[2]

ChargingTime
[3]

Cost

($/kWh)
[2]

[1]

[1]

SealedLeadAcid
Low
5090
Low
200500

High
430
Medium
3001000

Low
Noeffect

Medium
LessthanNiCd

High
816hours
Low
$8.50
Veryhigh

Medium
24hours
Medium
$18.50
Low

Low
15100
High
1500
High
Periodicdischarge
required
Low
about1hour
LowMedium
$11.00
Veryhigh

No

No

Toxicity
[4]
TransportationLimitations No

Comments

[1,4]

Slowchargingtime;
lowenergydensity

NiMH

NiCd

LithiumIon
High
570
High
1000+
Low
Noeffect
Medium
14hours
High
$24
Low

Yes
Transportation
Generatesheat
limitations;requires
duringhighrate
Rugged;lowestcost
complexcircuitto
chargeordischarge;percycle;some
operatesafely;
tolerantof
limitationsonuse
limitedavailability
overcharge
duetotoxicity
forhighpower
oroverdischarge
applications

DataSource:
[1]Reddy&Linden(2011)[2]Buchmann(2010d)[3]Buchmann(2011b)[4]Buchmann(2010e)

NNMREC

HelicalTurbines
Liftstyledevice
Advantages:
Easilyselfstarts
Fairlyhighefficiency
(~35%)
Notorqueoscillation
Disadvantages:
Difficulttomanufacture
Lessefficientthan
straightbladeturbine

NNMREC

BladeElementTheory
Lift DragForce

Normal Tangential

Force

NNMREC

HelicalTurbineParameters
BladeProfile

NNMREC

HelicalTurbineParameters
BladeProfile
BladePitch
HelicalPitch
AspectRatio
SolidityRatio/Chordto

RadiusRatio
NumberofBlades
BladeWrap
Strut/shaftDesign

NNMREC

HelicalTurbineParameters
BladeProfile
BladePitch

100% Wrap

HelicalPitch
AspectRatio
SolidityRatio/Chordto

RadiusRatio
NumberofBlades
BladeWrap
Strut/shaftDesign

50% Wrap

NNMREC

TestMatrix
TurbineGeometry
FlumeVelocity(m/s):
Shaft
Diameter
TurbineDesign
StrutDesign (mm)
SingleBlade,from
CircularPlates
4bladedturbine
4.8mm,4leg
spokes

6.4

2.0mm,4leg
spokes

6.4
12.7

CircularPlates
3bladedturbine
LowSolidity
Turbine

4.8mm,3leg
spokes
4.8mm,3leg
spokes

6.4
6.4
6.4

Performancetest
0.7
0.6
0.5

0.4

StaticTorque
0.7
Single
blade
length

Full
Revolution

6.4

Noshaft
4bladedturbine

0.8

Dynamic
Torque
0.78
0.7

Startup
Shutdown
00.7

TiltedTurbine
0.72

Wake
Measure
ment
0.78

LoadPer
formance

Static
Torque

X
X

X
X

X
X

X:TestCompleted

NNMREC

TestCalculations
DataRange
0.4
0.8

Parameter
FlumeSpeed(m/s)

Symbol
u0

StaticWaterHeight(cm)

hsw

50

46

h0

49

42

AF

0.371

0.318

BlockageRatio
FroudeNumber
MaxBladeReynold'sNumber(4BladedTurbine)

AC

Fr
Re B

0.040
0.108
0.182
4.0E+04

0.040
0.126
0.394
9.5E+04

MinBladeReynold'sNumber(4BladedTurbine)

Re B

3.6E+03

2.2E+04

MachineReynold'sNumber(4BladedTurbine)

Re M

7.7E+04

1.5E+05

DynamicWaterHeight(cm)
2

WaterColumnCrossSectionalArea(m )
2

TurbineCrossSectionalArea(m )

NNMREC

TypicalTestResults
LoadPerformanceTest

StaticTorqueTest

NNMREC

TypicalTestResults
LoadPerformanceTest

StaticTorqueTest

NNMREC

Streamwise View
=0

=20

Static torque near maximum

=40

=70

Static torque
drops

NNMREC

SingleBladeStaticTorque

NNMREC

SingleBladeTorqueSuperposition

NNMREC

Streamwise View
=0

=20

=40

Unobstructed
(-T) blade
Static torque near maximum

=70

Partial
obstruction of
(+T) blade at
Static torque
location of
drops
best drag

NNMREC

TurbineDesignComparison
3-Bladed Turbine

Static Torque Test

Results

4-Bladed Turbine

NNMREC

TiltedTurbineTest
Strut
Design
2mm,4Leg
Spoke
2mm
Circular
Plate

Predicted
CPLoss
ActualCP
TiltAngle
Tilt
from
Loss
(degrees) Velocity cos(Tilt)
0
2.5
5
10
0
2.5
5
10

0.720
0.719
0.717
0.709
0.720
0.719
0.717
0.709

0.0%
0.2%
0.7%
2.8%
0.0%
0.2%
0.8%
3.3%

0.0%
5.6%
8.8%
23.0%
0.0%
4.5%
4.4%
8.9%

NNMREC

Wake
MeasurementTest
Baseline

Configuration
Flume:0.78m/s
Wake
measurements
alongturbine
centerline

NNMREC

Startup
Shutdown
TestProfile

0.021

Turbine Torque, Nm

x 10

-3

(a)

10
8
6
4
2
0
-2

20

40

60

80

100

12

CutInSpeed(m/s)
0.47
0.47
0.47
0.58
0.60
0.57
0.60
0.55
0.47
0.53
0.71

Turbine Angle, Degrees

400
(b)

300

CutOutSpeed
200
0.21
100
0.21
0.21
0
0
0.22
0.80.20
0.19
0.6
0.23
0.18
0.4
0.23

U Velocity, m/s

StartingAngle
LoadTorque(Nm)
0
0.006
10
0.006
20
0.006
30
0.006
40
0.006
50
0.006
60
0.006
70
0.006
80
0.006
Averagecutin/cutoutspeedat0.006
Nmloadtorque:

12

20

40

60

80

100

12

(c)

0.2

0.21

0.38

20

40

60

80

100

Time, s

NNMREC

12

VortexModel
Bladeisdividedinto

segments,revolution
intotimesteps
8elementsperblade
15revolutionsto
establishwake
Vortexinfluencesthe
flowofsurrounding
blades

NNMREC

ModelSolution
Sumofvelocity

componentsgivesuREL
Totalchangeincirculation
overtimeiszero(Kelvins
theorem):
Vortexinducedvelocityat
apointisfoundbyBiot
Savart Law:
Circulationstrengthis
foundfromKutta
Joukowski theorem:
Predictorcorrectorto
solvesystemofequations

NNMREC

BoeingVertol DynamicStall
Model

NNMREC

FlowCurvature
Changein fromleadingedgetotrailingedge
Important forhighchordtoradiusratioturbines
Approximated as

Virtual camber

NNMREC

FullScaleTurbinePrediction
All Secondary
Effects Active

NNMREC

FullScaleTurbinePrediction
Dynamic Stall
only

NNMREC

ModelPredictionofStrutDrag
u0=0.8m/s

NNMREC