Abstract
The purpose of this document is to offer guidance to research organisations on designing and performing model tests of current turbine devices at small, intermediate, and field-scale in a reproducible environment at a hydrodynamic test facility suitable for testing such devices. This guideline addresses testing of devices intended to extract energy from both tidal currents, which typically involve bi-directional flow, and ocean currents, which typically involve uni-directional flow. Key issues addressed are:
- Definition of the stages of a device test program – Technology Readiness Level (TRL) definition
- Summary of testing requirements / challenges for device type (ocean v tidal current, rotating v non-rotating, shallow v deep deployment, rigid mounting v flexible mooring) and device development stage;
- Coupling between model scale, choice of facility, device type, and experiment stage.
- Identification of common error sources associated with small to field-scale testing with guidelines on impact on test success, interpretation of test results and how to quantify and report measurement error.