Wave and Tidal energy experimental studies

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Marine energy resource
Wave and Tidal energy experimental studies
Tidal flow acceleration
Introduction
Fundamental research on wave and tidal energy
devices has been conducted at the University of
Southampton covering a wide range of devices,
hydrodynamic and physical parameters.
By creating a tapered sea bed foundation for a
tidal turbine it is possible to increase the flow
speed which will increase energy capture from a
device.
Horizontal axis tidal turbines
Optimum location for tidal turbine
A range of scale turbines have been constructed
to investigate power generation performance,
cavitation, flow field characterisation and
device interaction effects.
Inflow
Flow over ramp foundation
Height above bed
Downstream distance
Measured flow velocity approaching and flowing
over a scale tapered turbine foundation.
OWEL
A 1/40th-scale model of the Offshore Wave Energy
Limited device has been developed at the
University. Waves enter the open-ended tapered
duct and force air through a turbine. Experiments
have quantified the power extraction over a range
of wave conditions. Based on the results, device
geometries have been optimised.
1/40th scale prototype (left), Fully instrumented
1/20th-scale turbine (top right) and dual turbine
arrangement (bottom right)
Tidal fences
Investigating the effects of rows of tidal
turbines using porous media to simulate energy
extraction.
Wave travelling along the duct of the OWEL device
(left) and the long wave flume facility used for
testing (right).

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