Fluid Mechanics II

(Final Report)

Tidal Turbines – Fluid Mechanics & characteristics

Group Members
Muhammad 948-FET/BSME/F20
Muhammad Abu baker 962-FET/BSME/F20
Muhammad Abdullah 968-FET/BSME/F20

Submitted To
Dr. Nadeem Ahmad Sheikh

International Islamic university Islamabad

Faculty of Engineering & Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering

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Contents
Abstract:...........................................................................................................................................3
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Literature Review:...........................................................................................................................4
Analysis:..........................................................................................................................................6
Numerical Problem:.......................................................................................................................11
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................12
References:....................................................................................................................................12

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Abstract:

Tidal current turbine (TCT) is a kind of device which converts the tidal current energy into
electricity and its technology has got rapid progress in last decade. Tidal current turbine (TCT) is
a kind of device which converts the tidal current energy into electricity and its technology has
got rapid progress in last decade. The design of TCT includes the blade, power train, electrical
system and power converter, sealing system and foundation, etc. In spite of the principal
similarity to the wind energy, the design of the blade should be specially carried on for its
characteristics of cavitation, corrosion resistance and the big force on the blades. In this report,
the forces on blade, torque of turbine, turbine power output, power of tides.

Introduction:
Concerns about the rise in fuel prices and continuous increase in carbon emissions have
forced researchers to explore alternative sources of energy [1]. In pacific island countries,
imported fossil fuel or petroleum is the primary source for the commercial energy needs. Most
isolated islands in pacific use petroleum for transportation and electricity needs. Renewable
energy resources are abundant in pacific island countries, and offer a good alternative energy
source. The ocean offers a large energy source, for example wave energy, ocean thermal energy,
and tidal energy that are yet to be significantly tapped. Tidal current energy is vast, reliable,
regular and the most predictable renewable energy resource [2]. Various global studies have
shown that tidal current energy has large potential as a predictable sustainable resource for
commercial scale generation of electrical power. Tidal current energy is much easier and cheaper
to extract using tidal current converters, with less harmful effects to the environmental compared
to tidal barrages [3]. Many tidal current energy extraction devices have been developed, but
HATCT is the most developed one; it can be used to extract a large amount of tidal current

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energy from tidal streams. The design and operation of HATCT are similar to those of a
Horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) [4]. TCT can generally be divided into two categories,
namely the horizontal axis tidal current turbine (HATCT) and the vertical axis tidal current
turbine (VATCT). This paper will mainly introduce the HATCT blade design because it has
gained its popularity in the exploitation of tidal current energy. Despite the analogy with wind
turbines, there are major differences in the engineering of a TCT because of the higher density of
water compared with air and the much slower speed of rotation [2], such as the loads exerted on
the turbine, the blade cavitation, and the wear caused by the high tides of the coastal waters.

Literature Review:
Actually, tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the predictable interactions between
the gravitational fields of the sun, earth, and moon. Harnessing tidal energy is not a new idea.
Since 1981, Underwater Electric Kite has developed a new technology to harness marine
currents with tidal current turbines. Generally, there are three systems of catching force from
marine tidal sources: the primary is by building up a tide over a bay, an estuary or stream, the
second is by exploiting the kinetic energy from tidal marine flows using different sorts of
turbines and the third is by using a hybrid application of tidal systems. The latter one has
excellent potential if its concept and foundation can be combined with the arrangement and
design of new framework for seaside towns. Moreover, one prevalence thought about the TCT
technologies is the utilization of tidal floods by using adaptable gadget versatility and because of
their exceptional predictability, could result in a significant source of electricity production.
Tidal floods are more expensive and are constantly prepared for GW control limits that could
exceed the supply for remote islands. Tidal current systems are similar in working principle to
wind turbines except the kinetic energy of tidal streams instead of wind are used to generate
electricity. Tidal current technologies have had more than 40 novel systems exhibited from 2006
to 2013. The significant difference between these systems is the type of turbine used which can
be vertical axis, horizontal axis or in some instances can be ducted. These technologies are
categorized into six classes based on the characteristics of turbines as follows

(a) Horizontal-axis turbine: works in the same manner as wind turbines that capture energy from
moving air, horizontal device (HATCT) converts the kinetic energy of free-flowing water into
rotational energy and then this rotational energy into electricity.

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(b) Vertical-axis turbine: the main working principle of this type is similar to the horizontal
systems, except the tidal current rotates the rotors around the vertical axis and produce power.
(c) Oscillating hydrofoil: a hydrofoil is tied to a swing arm. The marine current moving either
side of hydrofoil, generates a lift. This motion then trains fluid in a hydraulic circuit by a motor.
The resultant rotational movement can be transformed into electricity.
(d) Ducted turbine or enclosed tips: these devices are primarily horizontal axis turbines enclosed
within a nozzle. This is designed to expedite and focuses the fluid motion. Turbines enclosed
within a nozzle could also decrease turbulence around the turbines and ease the alignment of
water flow for the turbines.
(e) Archimedes’ screw: the Archimedes screw is a helical system that presents a variation of
water level through the helix in order to draw power by turning the turbines.
(f) Tidal kite: tidal kite systems hold a kite tied with a small turbine. The kite steals by the flow,
growing the relative flow speed coming in the turbine. Note that there may be other types of
turbines, other than those mentioned above, which encompass those technologies that have a
unique and very different design of systems that the information on the device’s feature could
not be determined.

In this regard, we draw the reader’s attention to that in the literature; there are many
abbreviations and terminologies used to represent the tidal current technologies, such as tidal
stream turbines (TSTs), tidal stream generators (TSGs), tidal energy converters (TECs), tidal

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current turbines (TCTs), marine current turbines (MCTs), and hydro-kinetic turbines (HKTs). All
these technologies can be found synonymously in the literature since the objective is to produce
electricity from kinetic energy utilizing energy converting devices. Based on the rotor
configurations, the TCT can be grouped as vertical axis turbines (VATs) and horizontal axis
turbines (HATs). Recently, diverse vertical axis and horizontal axis tidal current turbines (TCTs)
have been improved and described in the literature. Other abbreviations are also used for
horizontal axis turbines reported in the literature like horizontal axis tidal turbine (HATT) and
horizontal axis tidal stream turbine HATST) concept. For vertical axis turbines, the following
abbreviation is found in the literature, vertical axis tidal turbines (VATT). Relating to Pirogue
and his co-workers’, the experiments tests confirmed that blade roughness of a vertical axis tidal
turbine (VATT) affects negatively turbine performance. On the other hand, majority of
manufactured tidal current turbines (TCTs) are known by the term horizontal axis turbines. As
reported by technology for big-scale TCTs with power capacity of over 500 kW currently, and
the more Zhou and co-workers, HATT is well-respected and one of the most economical mature
between diverse tidal current energy technologies. The principal disadvantages of vertical axis
turbines include weak current velocity range, relative low self-starting capability, and problems
in dynamic stability which limit it’s performed to suitable in lower current conditions only. The
benefits and drawbacks of vertical and horizontal turbine blades have been described in detail in
and review papers but most of these developments were only at the prototype phase at the
Although, several turbine developments had been published in some research articles time when
these articles were issued. Recently published in 2017 reviews technological characteristics of
various kinds of the tidal current turbine; these technologies comprise both industrialized and
design-stage prototypes. Some large tidal current turbine such as Sabella, Open Hydro, and GE-
Alstom turbines are also reported in it. Limited published studies are found on the improvement
of TCTs due to the fact that they are fabricated originally by private societies. Therefore, efforts
have been made in this article to present updated information on recent TCTs and to offer a more
understanding review of the manufacturer of the TCTs and the academic researchers as well.

Analysis:

Turbine Power Output

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In general, the turbine converts the kinetic energy of the working fluid, in this case water, into
the rotational motion of the turbine shaft. Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler showed in 1754
that the torque on the shaft is equal to the change in angular momentum of the water flow as it is
deflected by the turbine blades and the power generated is equal to the torque on the shaft
multiplied by the rotational speed of the shaft.

This result does not depend on the turbine configuration or what happens inside the turbine. All
that matters is the change in angular momentum of the fluid between the turbine’s input and
output.
Power in the Tides:

A tidal turbine converts the kinetic energy of tides into mechanical energy. The total power of
the tides is just equal to the time rate of kinetic energy.
1 2
Kinetic Energy = mv
2

The amount of water passing in unit time through an area A with velocity VT=AVT

Mass m = ρ AVT

Where ρ is the density of water.

1
Kinetic Energy per unit volume = ρ AVT 3Watts
2

1
Total Power (PT) = ρ AVT 3Watts
2

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All this power cannot be extracted because the tide velocity would have been reduced to zero,
which means that the tidal turbine would accumulate static water around it that would prevent its
operation. From the equation, tidal power is proportional to the intercept area. Thus, a tidal mill
with a large swept area has a higher power.

Normally, area is circular with diameter D, thus

2
πD
A=
4
1 1 π D2 3
Total Power (PT) = ρ AVT 3 = ρ VT
2 2 4

Most commonly used tidal turbine is propeller type. Consider this tidal turbine
Let,

a = inlet plane

b = exit plane

Pi = incoming water pressure

Vi = incoming tidal velocity

Pe = water pressure at exit from blade

Ve = water velocity at exit from blade

1
V = specific volume =
ρ

Apply the total energy equation

Ein = Eout

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Forces on Blades and Torque of Tidal Turbine

The torque causing the rotation of the tidal turbine shafts depends on the turbine rated power
output and the rotor angular velocity. Thus

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Numerical Problem:

A tidal power plant operates under an effective tidal range of 11 m and the surface of the
tidal energy harnessing plant is 4 km2. Determine the daily average power generated
through the tidal power plant if power conversion efficiency is 35%. (Assume three high
tides and three low tides every day)

Solution:

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Conclusion:

The forces that will be responsible to create lift depends upon the diameter of the blade, angle of
attack. The total output of the Tidal Current Turbine depends upon the velocity of tide, its
density, and the area of blade or the area in which it will interact that is of course the blade itself.
Besides, further works should be done before the commercial deployment of the TCT, such as
the corrosion resistance, fouling resistance, manufacturing methods and coating technology.

References:

Kulkarni, Siddharth Suhas, et al. "Fluid-structure interaction based optimisation in tidal turbines:
A perspective review." Journal of Ocean Engineering and Science (2021).

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Goundar, Jai N., and M. Rafiuddin Ahmed. "Design of a horizontal axis tidal current turbine."
Applied energy 111 (2013): 161-174.
Tjiu, Willy, et al. "Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine for power generation II: Challenges in
HAWT and the opportunity of multi-megawatt Darrieus VAWT development." Renewable
Energy 75 (2015): 560-571.
Cho, Jinsoo, and Seung-Chul Lee. "Propeller blade shape optimization for efficiency
improvement." Computers & fluids 27.3 (1998): 407-419.
El Mouhsine, Sanaa, et al. "Aerodynamics and structural analysis of wind turbine blade."
Procedia Manufacturing 22 (2018): 747-756.
Badshah, Mujahid, Saeed Badshah, and Sakhi Jan. "Comparison of computational fluid
dynamics and fluid structure interaction models for the performance prediction of tidal current
turbines." Journal of Ocean Engineering and Science 5.2 (2020): 164-172.
Tidal Energy Systems “Design, Optimization and Control” by Vikas Khare, Cheshta Khare,
Savita Name and Prashant Baredar

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