EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON HYDRODYNAMIC FORCES ON A TIDAL POWER PLANT IN A COEXISTENT ENVIRONMENT OF WAVES AND CURRENTS

Abstract

 In the previous study, we have already presented an effective structure of tidal current power plant, typically a vertical turbine with guide vanes around it. In this study, in order to be able to carry out rational designs of the tidal power plant, hydrodynamic forces on the structures have been examined mainly from experimental points of view. Natural environmental conditions, such as waves and tidal currents as well as coexistence of waves and currents, were adopted for external loading conditions. In the same way as the previous study, a vertical Savonius turbine with guide vanes was used as a tidal current power conversion facility. It was confirmed that not only the tidal current force but also the wave force on the conversion facility are equally important.