Abstract
A 20 kW floating current turbine prototype was designed for operation in the Kuroshio Current, which passes along the eastern coast of Taiwan. The location and speed of the Kuroshio Current are generally consistent, which offers Taiwan a stable and secure energy source. A test apparatus, including a 1/5 scale model of the proposed turbine with a direct drive permanent
magnet generator, was used to measure the rotation, torque and thrust. The test was conducted in a towing tank at four loads of 728, 364, 242, and 182 ohm. The tension force of the towing rope was measured using a tension meter. The pitch and roll angles of the floating current turbine were measured with angle meters. The power coefficient, torque coefficient, thrust coefficient and total efficiency were calculated from the measured data. The measured
power coefficient and torque coefficient agreed with the calculated results. However, the measured thrust coefficient was higher than the calculated values. The hydrodynamic efficiency of the turbine was approximately 0.45, which meets the design requirements.