Abstract
The materials selected for marine energy devices must be able to perform under the harsh marine environment. WPTO draft Materials and Manufacturing Strategy identified FSI for non-rigid blades, as a near- and mid- term research needs. Current Energy Converter (CEC) design studies often only include Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling with a simple rigid blade assumption or Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with simplified load distributions. This simplification can cause errors in predicting the device structural performance, reliability and LCOE. An FSI study takes into account the hydro-elastic behavior of the blade material, yield time-accurate solutions for loading and performance of a deforming rotor, which could be critical for understanding structural performance and failure modes.
Objectives: Perform FSI simulations for a reference tidal turbine (DOE Reference Model 1) made of metal and composites (e.g., FRP) and compare structural performance and cost.