(P64) Numerical Simulation of a Buoyancy Controlled Ocean Current Turbine

Ocean current turbines (OCTs) should operate at near-surface depths, which can be justified through different technologies, such as variable buoyancy, lifting surface, sub-sea winches, and/or surface buoys. This poster presents a variable buoyancy-controlled OCT model, inflow model, and numerical simulation of a 700-kW OCT. Performance of the OCT is predicted for normal, hurricane, and fault scenarios. Our designed OCT can operate between depths of 38 m to 329 m for all homogeneous flow speeds between 1.0-2.5 m/s. Fault scenarios, including braking results and blade pitch fault, results in a sudden depth change of the OCT and power fluctuations, respectively. The OCT system behaviors in the oceanic environment for both normal and hurricane conditions are assessed through the real measured ocean currents.