Dynamiq Engineering recently completed the hydrodynamic design and optimisation of an innovative 1MW tidal power system for a major new UK tidal power company. The new tidal generator allows the huge and predictable energy reserves of tidal flows to be exploited in shallower waters than has been possible previously with minimal disruption to marine life.
Dynamiq used advanced CFD techniques to carry out the optimisation and selection of many potential hydrofoil sections, including very thick sections and novel truncated geometries. Steady state and advanced transient simulations were conducted to quantify the steady flow properties of the sections in addition to the hysteresis resulting from the dynamic operating cycle of the system.
Detailed three dimensional steady and unsteady simulations have also been conducted to investigate the performance of the full 3D geometry and innovative tip designs implemented.
Further information is available here from the BBC NEWS Website.