Date of Award
Spring 2013
Project Type
Thesis
Program or Major
Mechanical Engineering
Degree Name
Master of Science
First Advisor
Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
For marine hydrokinetic energy to become viable it is essential to develop energy conversion devices that extract energy with high efficiency, and to field-test them in an environment similar to the one in which they are designed to eventually operate. FloDesign Inc., with FloDesign Wind Turbine Corp., developed a Mixer-Ejector Hydrokinetic Turbine (MEHT) that encloses the turbine in a specially designed shroud to increase mass flow through the turbine rotor.
A scaled version of this turbine was evaluated experimentally at two open-water tidal energy test sites, and in a tow tank. State-of-the-art instrumentation was used to measure free stream and wake velocities, turbine power extraction, test platform loadings and platform motion induced by sea state. The MEHT was able to generate power from tidal currents over a wide range of conditions, with low-velocity start-up. The decay of the wake velocity deficit was found to improve with increasing free stream turbulence.
Recommended Citation
Rowell, Matthew, "Experimental evaluation of a mixer-ejector hydrokinetic turbine at two open-water test sites and in a tow tank" (2013). Master's Theses and Capstones. 776.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/776