Dissipation and eddy mixing associated with flow past an underwater turbine

• Other Authors: Reza, Zaqie
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Florida Atlantic University
• Subjects: Vibration (Aerodynamics); Fine element method; Marine turbines > Mathematical models; Water currents > Forecasting; Computational fluid dynamics
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2683537

The objective of this thesis is to analyze the flow past an ocean current turbine using a finite volume Navier-Stokes CFD solver. A full 3-D RANS approach in a moving reference frame is used to model the flow. By employing periodic boundary conditions, one-third of the flow-field is analyzed and the output is replicated to other sectors. Following validation of the computation with an experimental study, the flow fields and particle paths for the case of uniform and sheared incoming flows past a generic turbine with various blade pitch angles are evaluated and analyzed. Flow field and wake expansion are visualized. Eddy viscosity effects and its dependence on flow field conditions are investigated. === by Zaqie Reza. === Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. === Includes bibliography. === Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.