Design optimization of a marine current turbine having winglet on blade. (1st November 2021) - Kunasekaran, Murali
Abstract: Winglets on a turbine blade can modify flow features and improve a marine current turbine (MCT). In this work, to maximize the power coefficient ( C P ) and torque ( T ), cant angle ( α ), and height ( h ) of a winglet of an MCT were modified. The problem was solved using a high-fidelity solver code Fluent 2019R2 containing Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. The flow domain meshed with tetrahedral elements. Nine different designs were produced to fill the design space for optimization. A set of low fidelity models such as second-order regression, kriging, and neural network models were used to approximate the high-fidelity results. The optimal designs further validated with the high-fidelity simulated results. The optimal design, increased C P by 7% for α = 33 . 2 o and h = 2.04% of the turbine radius, reduced the recirculation zone at the trailing edge, increased the pressure gradient, and reduced the tip vortex. Highlights: A winglet concept for a marine current turbine (MCT) is introduced and analyzed using CFD techniques. The winglet is optimized using a low-fidelity model. Flow behavior is studied at the turbine tip for different tip speed ratios for the optimized winglet turbine. Artificial neural network (ANN) model enhanced the power coefficient by 7% and torque by 7.42%.