Open AccessA novel initiative on vertical-axis underwater turbine suitable for low underwater current velocities
Author(s) -
Jasper Ahamefula Agbakwuru,
Umar Ukkasha Ibrahim
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
underwater technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.229
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1756-0551
pISSN - 1756-0543
DOI - 10.3723/ut.36.043
Subject(s) - current (fluid) , underwater , marine engineering , computational fluid dynamics , turbine , software , flow (mathematics) , water turbine , engineering , torque , power (physics) , environmental science , geology , mechanical engineering , aerospace engineering , computer science , electrical engineering , oceanography , mechanics , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics , physics , programming language
The present paper discusses efforts made to reinvent the use of the vertical-axis turbine for use in locations of low underwater current velocities. The present work targets the low flow current of the sub-Saharan ocean system, which has an underwater current record of around 0.3 m/s and a sea state that is mild, benign and with little or no local storms. The present initiative is achieved through a combination of ducting techniques to increase velocity of flow, and the utilisation of a large surface contact area exposed to flowing water per unit of time. Torque estimations are made using three methods: first principle, SolidWorks computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software and physical measurement. The lowest power coefficient for the tested model is computed from SolidWorks CFD software as 0.70. Existing state-of-the-art underwater current power technologies are reviewed and the present initiative described. A future for ocean water current technology in sub-Saharan Africa is also proposed.