Operational Experiences With a Wells Turbine on a Wave Powered Navigation Study

by Trevor J. T. Whittaker,
A. J. Barr,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Engineering 1986

Abstract:

The objective of the research programme was to design a 100W Wells turbine generator unit which could be matched to standard tail tube buoys. Optimization of the power conversion chain required the evaluation of the hydrodynamic, aerodynamic and electrical characteristics of the system. The hydrodynamic characteristics of the buoy were established by mathematical modelling and wave tank tests with one tenth scale model buoys. The turbine, which was designed to provide matched damping to the water column, was tested in a purpose built wind tunnel. In addition, a number of prototype turbine generator units were tested at sea to check the reliability of the engineering design and the electrical production of the full scale working system. Study results are discussed.

Subject Headings: Turbines | Wave tanks | Water waves | Hydrodynamics | Wind tunnel | Scale models | Mathematical models

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