海底边界效应对海流发电水轮机水动力性能影响研究

对30 W海流能水平轴水轮机进行叶片设计,应用FLUENT软件对水轮机的水动力性能进行数值模拟,研究了边界效应对叶片表面压力、流场、湍流强度、获能和轴向力的影响。受海底边界效应影响,海流速度沿深度呈现梯度变化,底层流速较小,中上层流速较大。边界效应导致水轮机的水动力性能呈现周期性变化,降低了水轮机的获能和轴向力。机组布置时,宜选择水流稳定且流速较大的中上层区域。     

基于水平轴海流能发电系统的海流流速神经网络软测量

为了解决海流能发电系统中,有效海流流速难以测量的问题,提出将水平轴海流能发电系统当成一个大型流速仪,用于海流流速的软测量研究。分析了水平轴海流能发电系统的工作原理和运行过程,建立了基于BP人工神经网络的软测量数学模型。将叶轮机转速,发电机输出功率和占空比信号作为输入变量,将海流流速作为输出变量。仿真结果表明,所建立的BP神经网络是海流流速软测量的有效方法,能较好地跟踪有效海流流速的变化趋势,并具有较高的估计精度。     

一种新型鲸鱼式潮流能发电装置的设计与试验研究

为了进一步提高潮流能的利用率,提出了一种新型鲸鱼式潮流能发电装置。借鉴风机叶片设计方法及水平轴水轮机的设计原理,利用结构力学、流体力学和CFD相关方法,对该装置的螺旋桨叶、导流筒和固定桩等部件进行了设计研究,从获能效果、装置可靠性和发电功率等方面进行了优化设计,并通过900 W样机试验验证了设计的有效性。试验结果显示,海流高潮期装置最大发电功率可达到980 W,一天内大约有4个缓潮期,此间发电功率明显下降,但持续时间不长,总体平均发电功率在800 W上下;同时潮流能轮机启动流速在0.41 m/s左右,有着良好的低速启动性能。     

水平轴海流能发电机叶片设计与性能分析

全球海洋蕴藏着丰富的海流能,合理利用海流能可以有效缓解能源危机。以额定工况下获能系数达到最大值为目标,利用叶素-动量理论设计了150 kW水平轴海流能发电机的叶片。使用叶素-动量理论结合普朗特修正和葛劳渥修正的方法,预测了海流机在不同尖速比以及不同桨距角下的水动力性能,分析了攻角和载荷沿着叶片径向的分布规律。使用CFD方法计算了海流机在不同尖速比下的水动力性能,并与理论方法的计算结果进行了比较。理论方法和CFD方法的结果均表明,所设计的海流机最大获能系数位于设计尖速比处,证明基于叶素-动量理论的水平轴海流机叶片设计方法是有效的。     

水平轴潮流能叶轮叶片数量分析研究

叶片数量是水平轴潮流能发电叶轮的重要技术参数,对水平轴潮流能发电装置叶轮叶片数量问题进行了研究;利用叶素—动量(BEM)理论的Wilson方法设计了2叶片和3叶片两种水平轴潮流能叶轮,两种叶轮的直径、额定工作流速、启动工作流速、最大工作流速等参数一致,控制策略均采用调桨距角方案;利用WT_Perf对模型的合理性进行了验证;利用建立的仿真模型,从功率系数、发电量、轴向推力、启动力矩等4个方面,分析对比了2叶片叶轮和3叶片叶轮的特性;对比结果表明,对于流速较低的海域,使用2叶片叶轮的方案具有一定优势,符合装置实际使用情况。     

横轴半潜式潮流能发电装置设计与试验研究

为了促进深远海养殖装备朝智能化方向发展,解决电能供给困难的问题,克服抗风浪网箱受波流耦合作用对太阳能和风能利用的局限性的问题,针对养殖区域的低流速海域,提出了一种适用于深远海可升降网箱的横轴半潜式潮流能发电装置,建立了Savonius型水轮机叶片受力数学模型,分析了叶轮中心与水面的距离对水轮机捕能效率的影响,利用Fluent软件数值模拟了导流增速浮体的速度场情况,设计了发电装置整体结构及锚泊系统,搭建了发电装置试验模型,开展了物理模型试验,测试了不同水流速度情况下与叶轮相对离水距有关的各参数变化情况,并对试验数据进行分析。试验结果表明,在不同的水流流速下,随着离水距的不断增加,捕获功率呈先增加后减小的趋势,当叶轮中心高出水面1/4个叶轮直径时,叶轮的输出功率最大。     

潮流能发电装置支撑结构对水轮机水动力学性能影响研究

水平轴潮流能水轮机在工作过程中,由于支撑结构的存在,会使水轮机周围流场中的潮流流向、流速等参数发生不同程度的改变,进而影响水轮机的性能和发电装置的稳定性。为了研究支撑结构对水轮机水动力学性能的影响规律,以某100 k W单立柱座底式潮流能发电装置的支撑结构为研究对象,采用CFD方法,分别在正、反向来流时采用不同支撑结构的共六种工况下,对潮流能水轮机模型的获能和受力进行数值模拟。通过水槽模型试验,验证数值模拟的可靠性。研究结果表明:支撑结构对水轮机的水动力学性能的影响不容忽视,针对所研究的支撑结构,在正向来流时水轮机的获能系数降幅约30%,轴向力系数降幅约28%;反向来流时的降幅更大,分别约为63%和41%。     

潮流能水平轴水轮机叶片优化研究

叶片对潮流能水轮机的性能有很大的影响,因此对叶片进行优化研究对于提高潮流能水轮机的效率的重大意义。本文对50kW潮流能水平轴水轮机进行了叶片设计,针对水轮机具体的运行环境,以提高水轮机获能为目标,应用遗传算法对叶片弦长和扭角进行了优化设计。通过对比实际工况下水轮机的获能特性得知,优化的叶片获能系数和获能功率较原叶片有所提高,从而证明应用遗传算法进行叶片优化的可行性,为水轮机叶片优化提供了新的方法。     

潮流发电帆翼式柔性叶片水轮机实验研究

潮流发电水轮机是海洋潮流能发电系统的核心组成部分.帆翼式柔性叶片水轮机是一种全新水流发电装置,叶片由柔性材料制成,在流体力作用下自动调节攻角,能充分利用流体的升力和阻力效应做功.以帆翼式柔性叶片水轮机获能系数为研究目标,采用因次分析法初步分析可能影响获能系数的因素,通过模型实验对叶片弧弦比、叶片边弦比、叶片密度与获能系数的关系进行研究.不同结构形式转子存在不同叶片弧弦比最佳值,叶片边弦比愈大,获能能力愈强;在一定范围内,叶片密度较小时,获能与起转能力强,转速波动性较大,适用于低流速工况;反之获能与起转能力弱,稳定性较好,电能质量较高,适用于高流速工况.最后提出优化方案,实验证实优化后水轮机在获能能力和发电能力上均有所提高.     

基于实密度的卧式浪流轮机水槽实验研究分析

实密度是影响轮机获能特性的关键因素之一。文中以卧式轮机实密度为基变量,以其获能系数为主要考察点,对3种实密度卧式轮机进行水槽实验方案设计和水动力性能研究。实验分别对水流流速、轮机旋转角速度、主轴转矩以及功率进行测量,并对其对主轴的扭矩、轮机的获能系数以及叶片的旋转特性进行定量分析,最终证实了该卧式轮机的单一运行特性。通过绘制基于实密度的轮机转矩—转角曲线、获能系数—尖速比曲线和轮机功率—尖速比曲线,阐明了实密度影响卧式轮机获能水动力性能的规律,即其获能系数和发电功率都随着工况速比呈先增后降趋势。实密度较低轮机因浪流流失而获得能量小,但实密度过高轮机会导致叶片间湍流涌动,加速叶片失速特性而影响轮机获能。这为卧式浪流轮机结构优化提供了可靠依据和借鉴。     

潮流能水轮机仿真及尾流场分析

为了研究潮流能水轮机尾流场的变化规律,本文在水平轴水轮机现有理论基础上,采用计算流体力学技术建立了数值模型,计算了水轮机的功率特性,进行了网格独立性验证,比较了模型中旋转区域不同对结果的影响。仿真结果与试验结果进行了对比分析,验证了数值模型的有效性。研究了全工况下尾流场速度衰减随尖速比和距离变化的规律,结果显示在小尖速比下尾流场速度恢复情况相对大尖速比下较好;靠近水轮机轮毂中心线位置处,衰减相对较大。研究建议水轮机在同等功率表现下尽量选择在小尖速比下工作,水轮机组在实际排列时避免采用成列布置,水轮机设计阶段应综合考虑功率特性和尾流场衰减。本文研究内容可以为潮流能水轮机的研究以及阵列式应用提供参考。     

Experimentally validated numerical method for the hydrodynamic design of horizontal axis tidal turbines

Although a lot can be learnt from technology transfer from wind turbines and ship propellers, there have been a few experiments investigating marine current turbines. As a result, a study has been carried out on the power, thrust and cavitation characteristics of 1/20th scale model of a possible 16 m diameter horizontal axis tidal turbine. Cavitation tunnel experiments for different blade pitch settings have been compared with simulations based on a developed blade element-momentum theory. This theory has been shown to provide a satisfactory representation of the experimental turbine performance characteristics. As an example application, the developed theory has been used to design possible horizontal axis tidal turbines for the tidal flows around Portland Bill. The results show that there is a clear balance between design loads and optimisation of energy yields.     

Design and Test of 1/5th Scale Horizontal Axis Tidal Current Turbine

Tidal current energy is prominent and renewable. Great progress has been made in the exploitation technology of tidal current energy all over the world in recent years, and the large scale device has become the trend of tidal current turbine (TCT) for its economies. Instead of the similarity to the wind turbine, the tidal turbine has the characteristics of high hydrodynamic efficiency, big thrust, reliable sealing system, tight power transmission structure, etc. In this paper, a 1/5th scale horizontal axis tidal current turbine has been designed, manufactured and tested before the full scale device design. Firstly, the three-blade horizontal axis rotor was designed based on traditional blade element momentum theory and its hydrodynamic performance was predicted in numerical model. Then the power train system and stand-alone electrical control unit of tidal current turbine, whose performances were accessed through the bench test carried out in workshop, were designed and presented. Finally, offshore tests were carried out and the power performance of the rotor was obtained and compared with the published literatures, and the results showed that the power coefficient was satisfactory, which agrees with the theoretical predictions.     

Matching a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator to a Fixed Pitch Vertical Axis Turbine for Marine Current Energy Conversion

Extracting energy from a free-flow marine current using a vertical axis fixed pitch turbine requires a generator that can handle varying speeds and loads, since such a turbine gives maximum power capture for a fixed tip speed ratio. A prototype of such a generator has been designed and constructed. In this paper, its variable speed and load operation is evaluated, both in terms of how the constructed generator performs in relation to simulations, and in terms of how the generator could perform with three different fixed pitch turbines. Measurements of root mean square (RMS) voltage and current differ 10% from simulations. Performance analysis with example turbines shows that the generator can match fixed tip speed ratio operation of several turbines for current speeds between 0.5 and 2.5 m/s.      

基于M-BEMT2.0研究串列海流发电机的水动力性能

海流发电机(MCT)是开发海洋可再生能源的重要装置。在预测海流发电机水动力性能方面,修正叶素动量理论(M-BEMT)方法被验证是一种简单有效的方法。为了进一步提高M-BEMT方法的适用性和准确性,基于M-BEMT方法开发M-BEMT2.0方法包括时均法(TA-BEMT2.0)和瞬态积分法(TI-BEMT2.0),新方法考虑了来流的轴向非均匀性和周向非均匀性。首先使用文献的试验结果验证均匀来流时新方法的适用性。然后使用计算流体力学(CFD)计算结果验证非均匀来流时新方法的适用性。最后结合新方法和CFD方法深入研究两个串列排布海流发电机(MCTA)的水动力性能。基于M-BEMT2.0研究发现,均匀来流时计算结果与试验结果基本吻合,非均匀来流时新方法的计算结果优于M-BEMT的计算结果。对于MCTA,当第一个MCT的叶尖速度比越大,第二个MCT功率比和推力比恢复到90%的距离越短。     

水平轴潮流能叶轮尖速比特性分析研究

针对设计尖速比对水平轴潮流能叶轮动力特性的影响问题开展研究工作。基于叶素-动量理论建立叶轮动力特性仿真模型,以叶片数量分别为2、3、4的叶轮为对象,考察设计尖速比对叶轮的功率系数的影响。研究结果表明:设计尖速比越大的叶轮,其最大效率也越高;叶片数量多的叶轮,其功率系数略优于叶片数量少的叶片。结合分析结果,给出了水平轴潮流能叶轮的设计尖速比的选择建议。     

The effects of yawing motion with different frequencies on the hydrodynamic performance of floating vertical-axis tidal current turbines

Under real sea conditions, the hydrodynamic performance of floating vertical-axis tidal current turbines is affected by waves and currents. The wave circular frequency is a significant factor in determining the frequencies of the wave-induced motion responses of turbines. In this study, the ANSYS-CFX software (manufacturer: ANSYS Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States) is used to analyse the hydrodynamic performance of a vertical-axis turbine for different yawing frequencies and to study how the yawing frequencies affect the main hydrodynamic coefficients of the turbine, including the power coefficient, thrust coefficient, lateral force coefficient, and yawing moment coefficient. The time-varying curves obtained from the CFX software are fitted using the least-squares method; the damping and added mass coefficients are then calculated to analyse the influence of different yawing frequencies. The simulation results demonstrate that when analysing non-yawing turbines rotating under constant inflow, the main hydrodynamic coefficient time-varying curves of yawing turbines exhibit an additional fluctuation. Furthermore, the amplitude is positively correlated with the yawing frequency, and the oscillation amplitudes also increase with increasing yawing frequency; however, the average values of the hydrodynamic coefficients (except the power coefficient) are only weakly influenced by yawing motion. The power coefficient under yawing motion is lower than that under non-yawing motion, which means that yawing motion will cause the annual energy production of a turbine to decrease. The fitting results show that the damping term and the added mass term exert effects of the same level on the loads and moments of vertical-axis turbines under yawing motion. The results of this study can facilitate the study of the motion response of floating vertical-axis tidal current turbine systems in waves.     

The effects of blade twist and nacelle shape on the performance of horizontal axis tidal current turbines

The paper presents the effects of blade twist and nacelle shape on the performance of horizontal axis tidal current turbines using both analytical and numerical methods. Firstly, in the hydrodynamic design procedure, the optimal profiles of untwisted and twisted blades and their predicted theoretical turbine performance are obtained using the genetic algorithm method. Although both blade profiles produce desired rated rotational speed, the twisted blade achieves higher power and thrust performance. Secondly, numerical simulation is performed using sliding mesh technique to mimic rotating turbine in ANSYS FLUENT to validate the analytical results. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approximation of the turbulence parameters is applied to obtain the flow field around the turbine. It is found that power and axial thrust force from BEMT (Blade Element Momentum Theory) method are under-predicted by 2% and 8% respectively, compared with numerical results. Afterwards, the downstream wake field of the turbine is investigated with two different nacelle shapes. It is found that the rotor performance is not significantly affected by the different nacelle shapes. However, the structural turbulence caused by the conventional nacelle is stronger than that by the NACA-profiled shape, and the former can cause detrimental effect on the performance of the downstream turbines in tidal farms.