Air-turbine with self-pitch-controlled blades for wave energy conversion (estimation of performances in periodically oscillating flow)

Abstract

In the development of an air-turbine with self-pitch-controlled blades for wave energy conversion, existence of hysteretic characteristics in a reciprocating flow has been examined. In order to clarify the validity of the analysis, a numerical simulation has been made by use of the experimental results obtained from a steady unidirectional flow condition. The comparison between the analysis and experiment has shown that the quasi-steady analysis is reasonable accurate for predicting the performance. The running and starting characteristics have also been investigated analytically taking into account the blade turning process during pitch. © 1997 OPA (Overseas Publishers Association) Amsterdam B.V. Published under license under the Gordon and Breach Science Publishers imprint.