Numerical Simulation-Based Performance and Loading Assessment of a Dual-Rotor Ocean Current Turbine Operating in the Florida Straits

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Researchers in ocean energy and turbine dynamics can leverage the simulation methodology and findings for further optimization and control design.

🏢実務担当者:Practitioners in renewable energy project development may use these insights for feasibility studies and system design of ocean current turbines.

全球海洋盆地西边界沿线的洋流代表着一种重要的可再生能源资源，在美国东海岸附近区域的局部能量密度超过3 kW/m²，总可提取潜力在吉瓦量级。大多数富含能量的洋流位于水柱上层100米以内，而该区域的总水深超过250米。为高效利用这一能源，正在研究采用可变浮力控制、升力面或两者结合的系泊式洋流涡轮机（OCT）进行深度调节。本研究聚焦于一种双转子OCT构型，该构型同时利用可变浮力和升力面，使得可变浮力控制系统俯仰角，进而影响翼面结构上的升力，从而控制运行深度。本研究提出了在佛罗里达海峡运行的双转子OCT的基于数值模拟的性能评估。涡轮机动力学采用具有八个自由度的刚体框架建模，其中六个与主体相关，两个对应双转子各自的独立转速。此外，系泊系统通过有限元集中质量缆绳模型表示，每个节点被赋予三个自由度。研究结果揭示了在所提出的涡轮机构型在不同压载舱填充分布和水流条件下的动态响应及发电性能。具体而言，开展了开环模拟，分别针对（i）在恒定流速和零湍流条件下不同的浮力舱填充水平，以及（ii）在相同舱填充水平且无湍流条件下不同的流速。此外，还给出了在固定填充构型且10%湍流条件下不同流速的闭环结果。

AI 翻訳（deepseek-v4-flash）。 正確を期す場合は下の原文を参照してください。

Ocean currents present along the western boundaries of global ocean basins represent a significant renewable energy resource, with localized energy densities off the east coast of the US exceeding 3 kW/m² in areas and a total extractable potential in the gigawatt range. Most energy-rich currents are located within the upper 100 meters of the water column in areas where total depths exceed 250 meters. To harness this energy efficiently, moored ocean current turbines (OCTs) are being investigated that use variable buoyancy control, lifting surfaces, or a combination of both for depth regulation. This research focuses on a dual-rotor OCT configuration that utilizes both variable buoyancy and lifting surfaces, such that the variable buoyancy controls the pitch of the system, which in turn impacts the lift force on a wing structure, controlling the operating depth. This study presents a numerical simulation-based performance assessment of a dual-rotor OCT operating in the Florida Straits. The turbine dynamics are modeled using a rigid-body framework with eight degrees of freedom, six associated with the main body and two corresponding to the independent rotational speeds of the dual rotors. Additionally, the mooring system is represented through a finite-element, lumped-mass cable model, where each node is assigned three degrees of freedom. The findings provide insights into the dynamic response and power production of the proposed turbine configuration under various ballast tank fill distributions and flow conditions. Specifically, open-loop simulations are conducted for (i) different buoyancy tank fill levels at constant flow speed and zero turbulence, and (ii) different flow speeds with identical tank fill levels and no turbulence. Additionally, closed-loop results are presented for varying flow speeds under a fixed fill configuration with 10% turbulence.

• Zenodo https://zenodo.org/records/20533887first seen 2026-06-04 04:26:47