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Passive Flow Control Methods for Performance Augmentation in Air Turbines Used for Wave Energy Conversion—A Review

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Ocean Wave Energy Systems

Part of the book series: Ocean Engineering & Oceanography ((OEO,volume 14))

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Abstract

The performance enhancement of air turbines used in wave energy extraction is quintessential to realize the commercialization of wave energy plants. This chapter discusses the various passive flow control methods used to enhance the performance of the Wells and axial impulse air turbines that are employed in the oscillating water column to harvest energy. The different passive flow control methods were elaborated with their effect on the performance parameters of the air turbines, and it was found that the implemented passive flow control devices addressed critical limitations such as narrow operating range, reduced efficiency, and low power output, etc. Moreover, the combined investigation of different passive flow control devices was suggested to achieve the overall performance enhancement of the Wells turbines. Lastly, only a handful of literature is available on the passive flow control of the axial impulse turbines, and dedicated research was recommended to analyze and implement compatible passive flow control devices to improve their performance.

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Abbreviations

AOA:

Angle of attack

CFD:

Computational fluid dynamics

FC:

Flow coefficient

FH:

Flap height

GF:

Gurney flap

LE:

Leading-edge

LES:

Large eddy simulation

OWC:

Oscillating water column

PS:

Pressure side

PTO:

Power take-off

RANS:

Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes

RETB:

Radiused edge tip blade

REF:

Reference

SETB:

Sharp-edged tip blade

SETE:

The static extended trailing edge

SS:

Suction side

SST:

Shear stress transport

TE:

Trailing edge

VTB:

Variable thickness blade

WEC:

Wave energy converter

C :

Chord length (mm)

L :

Lift force (N)

D :

drag force (N)

F T :

Tangential force (N)

F A :

Axial force (N)

V :

Absolute velocity (m/s)

U T :

Blade tip velocity (m/s)

W :

Relative velocity (m/s)

zg:

No. of guide vanes

zr:

No of rotor blades

1 :

Inlet

2 :

Outlet

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wave Energy and Fluids Engineering Laboratory (WEFEL), Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, TamilNadu, India

    P. Madhan Kumar & Abdus Samad

  2. Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga University, 1-Honjo-Machi, Saga-Shi, Saga, 840-8502, Japan

    Paresh Halder

Authors
  1. P. Madhan Kumar
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  2. Paresh Halder
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  3. Abdus Samad
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    Abdus Samad

  2. Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    S.A Sannasiraj

  3. Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    V Sundar

  4. Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga University, Saga, Japan

    Paresh Halder

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Kumar, P.M., Halder, P., Samad, A. (2022). Passive Flow Control Methods for Performance Augmentation in Air Turbines Used for Wave Energy Conversion—A Review. In: Samad, A., Sannasiraj, S., Sundar, V., Halder, P. (eds) Ocean Wave Energy Systems. Ocean Engineering & Oceanography, vol 14. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78716-5_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78716-5_14

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