The effect of surface waves on the performance characteristics of a model tidal turbine

Scale model tests were conducted on a three bladed horizontal axis tidal turbine in a large tow tank facility at the United States Naval Academy. Performance characteristics are presented for a turbine towed at a constant carriage speed for cases with and without surface waves. Intermediate waves were modeled that are representative of swells typically found on the continental shelf of the United States eastern seaboard. The oscillatory wave velocity present in the water column results in significant variations in measured turbine torque and rotational speed as a function of wave phase. This in turn produces cyclic variations in tip speed ratio and power coefficient. The power coefficient over the entire wave phase did not show a difference from the experiments without waves for a range of tip speed ratios, as reported in previous studies. The waves limited the lower range of tip speed ratios at which the turbine could operate. These results highlight the impact of surface waves on turbine design and performance, and the importance of understanding the site-specific wave conditions.