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.

Keywords

• Fluid machinery
• Natural energy
• Wave power
• Air-turbine
• Self-pitch-controlled blades
• Quasi-steady analysis.