Wave-induced effects on tidal turbine performance and structural loading: A CFD study across varying submergence depths

초록

Tidal energy offers significant potential as a predictable renewable resource; however, given that ocean waves introduce complex flow oscillations, incorporating wave-induced effects into the design process is essential for ensuring both performance and structural durability. This study evaluates the hydrodynamic response of a tidal turbine across various submergence depths under representative wave conditions using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The research quantifies the impact of wave-current interaction on both overall performance and individual blade loading. The study employs the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) approach, analysing four hub submergence depths (0.5D, 1.0D, 1.5D, and 2.0D) under wave conditions. The analysis focuses on the cyclic fluctuations of thrust, torque, and power, and explains the resulting effects on generator copper losses. Additionally, particular emphasis is placed on the unsteady loads acting on the blades as they rotate through the wave-induced velocity field. The numerical results indicate that torque fluctuates from +91% to −68% relative to the mean, which increases generator copper losses and reduces power conversion efficiency. © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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