Air turbine with self-pitch-controlled blades for wave power generator (estimation of performance by model testing)

Abstract

An air turbine with self-pitch-controlled blades in a reciprocating flow has been developed for wave power utility. In order to obtain the basic design data of this turbine, the experimental investigations have been performed by model tests of the rotor with fixed staggered blades under steady operating conditions. Twelve kinds of the rotors have been manufactured and tested to investigate the effects of the setting angle, solidity, thickness/chord ratio, and the aspect ratio on the turbine performance. The results have been shown that the turbine with self-pitch-controlled blades is superior to the Wells turbine both in the starting and running characteristics. A suitable choice of design factors has been suggested.