Investigations on optimization of kinematics parameters of oscillating foil for energy extraction from tidal current flows

In present work, effect of different kinematics parameters on oscillating foil energy extraction is numerically investigated. It is noted that velocity of oscillating foil relative to free stream velocity (Tip Speed Ratio) has significant effect on efficiency of energy extraction. Furthermore, it is shown that not only plunge amplitude and phase angle difference between plunging and heaving have important effect on energy extraction efficiency, but also they may effect on operating Tip Speed Ratio. For example, variations of plunge amplitude have negligible effect on optimum Tip Speed Ratio, but phase angle difference would change this ratio significantly.

Keywords:

Renewable energy , Oscillating foil , Energy extraction , Hydrodynamics , Tidal current flow