Abstract
The objective of the task T3.1 is to develop a time dependant tide-to-wire model using blade element momentum theory (BEMT) to calculate the torque and thrust on a tidal turbine. From an input of the tidal conditions, the tool is also able to predict the power output in terms of electrical parameters and accounts for realistic tidal conditions such as turbulent and unsteady flow.
This document presents development performed by Bureau Veritas (BV) and University of Edinburgh (UEDIN) to achieve this objective. The report starts by an explanation of the BEMT, the possible improvements of the theory that have been implemented in the code and a review of existing tools using BEMT. Then, the program architecture using Python code and equations used are fully detailed in next sections. Pre and post processing strategy are also described. Some validation cases have been used in order to confirm results of the tool, based on previous experiments or simulations. The methodology for the electrical is fully explained as well as the condition monitoring based on model based. Finally, the coupling between the BEMT model, developed by BV in python, and the electrical Tidal Current Conversion System model developed by UEDIN is presented. The tide-to-wire model integration in a Computational Fluid Dynamics solver will be performed in task T3.3.
In appendix, the user guide of the tool and an abstract submitted to EWTEC conference in 2019 are presented.