Effect of shear flow on a marine current turbine

From field data of the Kuroshio Current near Miyake Island, the shear flow profile is discovered. To study its hydrodynamic effect, a nearly linear shear flow was obtained in a circulating tank by inserting grids of parallel rods with varying spacing. The results of the circulating tank test on an 880mm diameter model of a marine current turbine in the shear flow generated are presented. The experimental data are then compared with a numerical model based on the classical blade element momentum theory. These indicate the importance of predicting structural loads accurately in shear flow. In addition, the analysed results presented provide reference for the future hydrodynamic design of MCTs.