Hydrodynamic Performance Enhancement of a Tidal Stream Turbine Through Biomimetic Chord Length Distribution Inspired by the Humpback Whale Flipper

کد مقاله : 1584-ISME2026

نویسندگان

حمیدرضا کاویانی * دانشگاه ملایر

چکیده مقاله

Tidal stream turbines represent a promising technology for renewable energy extraction from marine environments. This study investigates the hydrodynamic performance enhancement of a horizontal-axis tidal turbine through biomimetic modification of blade chord distribution inspired by the humpback whale flipper. The baseline turbine (20 m diameter, S814 airfoil, design speed 3.5 m/s) is numerically simulated using the Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (IDDES) approach within the ANSYS Fluent framework. After validation against experimental data, the blade chord length distribution is modified based on the tubercle pattern observed on humpback whale flippers, while maintaining the original airfoil, twist angle, and radius. Comparative analysis reveals that the biomimetic chord distribution increases average power output by approximately 21%. Three primary mechanisms responsible for this enhancement are identified: (1) increased effective blade area leading to higher aerodynamic forces, particularly in the mid-span and tip regions; (2) suppression of spanwise transverse flow due to the characteristic trailing edge geometry; and (3) gradual chord reduction near the tip, which naturally mitigates tip vortex strength. The Q-criterion visualizations demonstrate significant alterations in the vortical structures around the optimized blade. These findings establish the humpback whale flipper as a viable biological paradigm for tidal turbine blade optimization, offering a passive flow control strategy that enhances energy extraction efficiency without requiring active control systems or complex geometric modifications.

کلیدواژه ها

Tidal turbine optimization, Biomimetics, Humpback whale flipper, Chord distribution.

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