Feasibility study using computational fluid dynamics for the use of a turbine for extracting energy from the tide

A 4 blade tidal turbine has been modelled using computational fluid dynamics and validated against experimental data prior to modelling a 3 blade turbine. This is the first stage in the process of optimising a turbine to extract energy from the tide. The 3 blade turbine has been modelled in a number of tidal flows between 0.51 and 3.09m/s (1 and 6 knots) and the power predictions studied as well as the magnitude of the force on the turbine. The redevelopment of the flow downstream from the turbine has also been studied.