(P69) Optimising tidal turbine blade design and performance to boost the competitiveness of tidal energy

The NEMMO project is based on the research of models and new materials to improve the performance and durability of tidal blades, in order to lower the LCOE for tidal energy.

During the first part of the project, the team has been working on the following developments:

i) creating and validating a hydrodynamic-cavitation model (Large Eddy Simulation, LES), which will allow the optimisation of new blade geometries before the manufacturing processing;

ii) defining and evaluating the performance of implementing Active Flow Control strategies in the blades to improve their hydrodynamics and reduce cavitation phenomena;

iii) designing innovative testing procedures for aging composites, testing antifouling solutions, and evaluating wear and fracture resistance of new blade materials; and

iv) formulating novel materials for blades, mainly nano-reinforced composites, antifouling coatings and antifouling biomimetic surfaces.

All the above-mentioned developments have been integrated in several sets of downscaled blades that were tested according to the novel testing methods, and further characterised by means of non-destructive techniques that will ensure the absence of delamination, bubbles and thickness variances that may affect the performance of the blades in real-life operation.

This poster presents the results of the work done so far, focussing on strategies and modelling to improve hydrodynamics, the production of new materials and the development of new testing procedures.