WRFC 1996

THE POWER GENERATION FROM TIDAL CURRENTS BY DARRIEUS TURBINE

SKiho, M.Shiono and KSuzuki

Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Science & Technology, Nihon University,

l-8 Surugadai Kanda Chiyoda-lot, Tokyo 101 Japan.

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the method of electric power generation from tidal currents and test results of the system which is specially
designed for this purpose. The system consists of a vertical axis tmbine, a gear box, an electric generator, and a control unit.
The turbine is the vertical axis Darrieus rotor, and has three blades. Authors have studied on power generation from the tidal
currents without blocking at bay or strait. Also the real test in tidal currents was conducted from 1983 to 1988, at Kurushima
straits in Ehime prefecture, and its results are discussed.

KEYWORDS

Tidal Current; Power Generation; Darrieus Turbine.

INTRODUCTION

The tidal power genetation requires a very large amount of money for construction of the dam and associated facilities. It is
believed that an avenge tidal range of 5 m of more is required for effective tidal power generation It has also been accepted
that the energy effectively recovered from the tidal motion is in proportion to the square of tidal range. The tidal range is lower
than 5 m at any place in Japan due to the topography. Power generation by tidal current, on the other hatxl is likely to be
feasible in Japan since the maximum speed of the tidal cunent exceeds 5 m/s at some locations of Akashi and Kurushima
narrows in the Seto Inland Sea. So the author has conducted experiments on tidal power generation from the tidal current
without blocking the bay or strait. The period of tidal currents is definitely governed by the relative motion of the sun, the
moon and the earth, and is about 12 hours 25 min Tidal current speed vanes with the time in a sinusoidal form, and the flow
direction inverts in about every 6 hours. For this mason, the authors conducted the experiment with Darrieus tmbines which
rotate in the same direction for flows in opposite directions of the flow, and can take up the energy without regards to the
direction of flow. We also conducted power generation experiments three times on-site at the Kmushima straits. The paper
presents descriptions of the power generation systems and data obtained from experiments.

TIDAL CURRENT POWER GENERATION UNIT

Fig.l(a) shows the configuration of the experimental apparatus employed. The generator and related units are fastened on the
bottom (in dotted line) and control and measuring units are installed on the ground and connected to the generator with cables.
Side views of the genemtor and related units used arc shown in Fig.l(b). Dimensions of the experimental unit are listed in
Table 1.

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Table 1. Structure and Dimension of Generation Unit

Height 4.2m
Total weight 35%
Turbine Darrieus type (3-blades)
Blade type NACA6330018
Blade chord (Solidity) 0.3m (0.179)
Blade quality of the material CARP and GFW
Blade weight 1OkgMade
Genemtor’s rated output SkVA
Generator’s rated rotation 525rpm
Generator’s rated voltage 200v
Generator’s phase 3

j
G, Turbine

Control unit

I
Transformer RfXtifier
II.
O_._________’
Generated unit

(a) The configmation of the experimental apparatus employed.

(b) Generated unit (c) Darrieus turbine

Fig.1. Genemtor and related unit.

The energy associated with tidal motion varies with time and current direction is reversed at every 6 hours. Danieus turbine is
typical for those which convert the motion energy in alternating directions to revolving energy in a constant direction The
Darrieus turbine is a modification of the Darrieus type wind mill invented by G.J.Darrieus. The Darrieus turbine used in the
experiment has the vertical axis, around which three blades are mounted at equal interval, as shown in Fig.2(c).

Generator and its Control

A synchronous generator is used, with ratings shown in Table 1. The power generation is initiated when its rotation reaches
200 rpm and the generator is excited. The generator is contmlled by either of the maximum output control or the constant

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exciting current control. In the maximmn output control mode, the speed of rotation is detected by rotation meter, although the
efficiency of the generator inevitably varies due to the fluctuation in the flow speed, and the exciting current is automatically
controlled so that the maximum output is delivered at any number of rotation according to the output characteristics curve. The
constant exciting current control mode is applied for the case where the rated speed of rotation cannot be maintained.

RESULTS

Characteristicsof Turbine

Fig.2 shows the characteristics of the Darrieus type turbine. The vertical axis represents the turbine efficiency, equal to the axial
output or the total of the generator output, mechanical loss and loss by the resistance of wimiings inchuling cables divided by
energy of the flow. It is found that the highest efficiency 56 % of the Darrieus turbine is attained at the tip speed mtio equal to
2.1 for each tidal flow speed.
Y”

50
E 1 ’
; ‘lo-
2
xl
‘G
f0
8 09
u 30-
I Flow speed +A
‘X ? ?1.5
p zo- A
0
x
1.4
1.3
1.2
+x7
10 0 1.1
+R
n 0.9 Q
t + 0.8
1
OO 1 2 3
Tip speed ratio

Fig.2. Characteristics of the Darrieus turbine

Chamcteristics of Power Generation

The characteristics of generator output for generator rotation is shown with flow speed as the parameter in Fig.3. Fig.4(a)
records total daily power outputs and daily averages of maximmn flow speed for a month (h4arch 1987). The flow speed varies
with a period of about 13-14 days under the influence of the lunar cycle, accompanied by changes in total power output.
Fig.4@) compares the monthly average of total power output in half period and monthly average maximum flow speed for a
long term from the in&lation of the generator. It is shown as might be expected that the average power output is larger with
the larger average maximmn speed of flow. The total power output decreases slighUy after certain time elapsed.

CONCLUSION

A nmnber of characteristics of tidal power generator was measured using the Danieus tnrbine. The following findings were
obtained by the long term experiment of the power generation in hmtl marine envimmnents:
1) The power generation is possible when the flow speed is 1.0 m/s (2 knots) or higher.
2) High pertormance was affhmed by the experiments in ocean. It is found that the highest efficiency 56 % of the Darrieus
turbine is attained at the tip speed ratio equal to 2.1, over 1.1 m/s of tidal flow speed.
3) Continuous operation for a long term is possible by preventing k increase of drag to the rotation due to deposition of
marine organism and suspended substances. This would prevent the deterioration of starting chamcteristics of turbine.

Factors relating to the location and system of power generation:

4) The present system was selected to meet the requirements for ship navigation the tishing, the envinmment. The power
output is significantly affected by the topography.

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2.5

g
3 2.0
E
e
2
& 1.5
%

I
g 1.0
;
,P
0’ 0.5

0
0 200 400 600
Rotation (rpm)

<
Fig.3. Output chamcteristics of generator.

x Maxmum flow speed

(North current)

2‘
X

d
X X
X x
xx
X

10 210 30 12345678
Datt Month

(a) Daily change (b) MOW change

Fig.4. Comparison between the power output and flow speed

REFERENCES

Kibo and Siouo (1992). Electric Power Generation from tidal current by Dan&s turbine at Kumsima Strait. Trans.IEE of
Japan, 112-D, No.6, 530-538.
Kiho, Shiono and Suzuki (1993). Power Generations from tidal currents. Infernarional Symposium on Ocean Energy
Development, 89-96.
Kiho ad Shiono (1995). Study on the Power Generation from the Renewable Energy Pacijc-asia Conference on Mechanical
Engineering, 205-211.

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