Simulation and Evaluation of the Hydroelastic Responses of a Tidal Current Turbine

Tidal current energy offers the unique possibility of reliable and long-term predictable renewable energy. In contrast to the stochastic availability of wind and solar energy, the tides are predetermined by the planetary motions and are therefore a reliable energy source. This energy can be harvested with tidal current turbines.

Compared to wind turbines, despite the same technological approach being used, the tidal current turbine differs strongly from a wind turbine in its geometries and conceptual approaches. Regardless, many assumptions for the design of the systems are transferred between the technologies. The present thesis challenges one of those assumptions, which states that the fluid-structure-interaction is dominated by the rotor blades and the tower, and evaluates the influence of different components like the nacelle or the main-shaft on the turbine’s hydroelastic response. This is carried out with coupled CFD and Multibody simulations of the Voith HyTide®1000-13 tidal current turbine.