Counter-Rotating Type Horizontal-Axis Bidirectional Propellers for Tidal Stream Power Unit

Abstract

Tidal stream power units with horizontal-axis propellers are one of promising technologies for generating the renewable green energy. The ebb and flow require that the power unit must operate in bidirectional tidal streams. Hence a tidal stream power unit with counter-rotating type horizontal-axis bidirectional propellers is proposed in this paper. The blades with fully-symmetrical hydrofoils were optimized numerically. The output and flow conditions predicted by the computational fluid dynamics simulations are compared with the results of the wind tunnel experiments at the higher tip speed ratios, which are of expected usual operating conditions of this unit. The numerical and experimental results show good agreements. It is also confirmed that the flow discharged from the counter-rotating type propellers has no swirling component, though the single propeller generates the unacceptable swirling component.