Experimental Evaluation of Mixer
Ejector Hydrokinetic Turbine (MEHT)
at two tidal energy test sites and in a tow tank
Matthew Rowell
New England Marine Renewable Energy Center Conference
January 10, 2013
Contents
• UNH-CORE Facilities
• FloDesign Mixer-Ejector Hydrokinetic Turbine
(MEHT)
• MEHT Testing
– UNH-CORE Tidal Energy Test Site in Great Bay
Estuary
– NE-MREC Tidal Energy Test Site in Muskeget
Channel
– UNH Tow Tank
• Data Analysis
2
Center for Ocean Renewable Energy (CORE)
at the
University of New Hampshire (UNH)
3
FloDesign
and their
Mixer-Ejector Hydrokinetic Turbine (MEHT)
FloDesign and UNH engineers with the MEHT during UNH Tow Tank Testing.
4
Tidal Energy Test Platform V.1
MEHT testing in Muskeget Channel, July 2012
5
Tidal Energy Test Platform V.1
6
Instrumentation
Front View of Tidal Energy Test Platform with Instrumentation.
7
Instrumentation
Side View of Tidal Energy Test Platform with Instrumentation.
8
Instrumentation
Top: Wake analysis traverse on test platform.
Right: Wake analysis traverse in tow tank.
9
Instrumentation
• Video Recording (Screenshots)
GoPro Hero 2 HD video capture
SeaView real-time viewable video capture
10
Instrumentation
• Additional Instrumentation and Support Equipment
•FloDesign
• Load Bank and Power Analyzer
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• Hemisphere GPS
• 2 x 10,000 lb Load Cells
• Strain Gauges
• Accelerometers
• NI Compact RIO
• Teledyne RDI
• Sentinel V ADCP
• UNH
• 1 kW + 2 kW Honda Generators
• Toughbook CF-53
11
Testing Goals
• Power Conversion Evaluation
• Inlet and Wake Analysis
• Platform Motion Analysis
• Test Site Characteristics
• Zero Injuries
Test platform under tow to Edgartown after
calling off testing July 16, 2012.
12
MEHT Testing Locations
• Open Water Tow Testing Near
UNH Pier
– System Shake Down
• UNH-CORE Tidal Energy Test
Site at General Sullivan
Bridge (GSB)
– 3 Tidal Cycles
– May 2012
• NE-MREC Muskeget Channel
Test Site
– 3 Tidal Cycles
– July 2012
• UNH-CORE Tow Tank
– 2 days Dec 2012
NH and MA coast. (maps.google.com)
13
Open Water Tow Testing
Tow Testing in Portsmouth Harbor, April 2012
14
UNH-CORE Tidal Energy Test Site
Moored tidal cycle testing at UNH-CORE Tidal Energy Test Site, May 2012
15
NE-MREC/Muskeget Channel
deployment on ebb tide
UNH-CORE tidal energy test platform v1
Moored tidal cycle testing in Muskeget Channel, July 2012
16
Tow Tank Testing
MEHT Tow Tank Testing, December 2012
17
Results / Turbulence Intensity
• Free Stream Turbulence Intensity
Date: Location
N
u u
n 1
TI
N
u
2
Turbulence Intensity
May 15: GSB
7.0%
May 16: GSB
7.4%
May 17: GSB
7.4%
July 15: Muskeget
24.2%
July 16: Muskeget
23.1%
July 19: Muskeget
9.6%
December 10: Tow Tank
7.3%
Total turbulence intensity as seen by the turbine.
Open water results based on 30 minutes at peak
current
18
Wake Results / UNH-CORE site
MEHT Wake 15 May Peak Flow Testing
2
Normalized Distance from Centerline [d/ r]
1.5
1
0.5
2D
4D
6D
7D
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1.1
u
Normalized Free Stream Velocity [ /U]
19
Wake Results / Muskeget
Normalized distance from centerline [distance/shroud radius]
Nondimensionlized velocity defecit in MEHT wake July 19
2
1.5
2D
4D
6D
1
0.5
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
Normalized velocity [measured/free stream]
1
1.1
20
Wake Results / Tow Tank
Tow Tank Wake Profiles at 2 and 4 Diameters
Normalized Distance from Centerline [d/r]
1.5
1
0.5
2D
4D
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Normalized Velocity [u/U]
1
1.2
1.4
21
Wake Results / Combined
MEHT Wake Comparison at 4D
2
1.5
1.5
Normalized Distance from Centerline [d/ r]
Normalized Distance from Centerline [d/ r]
MEHT Wake Comparison at 2D
2
1
0.5
2D GSB
2D Mus
2D Tank
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
1
0.5
4D GSB
4D Mus
4D Tank
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
u
Normalized Free Stream Velocity [ /U]
1.2
1.4
-2
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1.1
u
Normalized Free Stream Velocity [ /U]
22
Special Thanks
• My advisor: Dr.
Martin Wosnik
• The FloDesign
Team
• CORE
• NREL
23