Performance Assessment of Hydrokinetic Turbines - Case study in the Boqueirão Channel

Anna D. Espindola; Osvaldo R. Saavedra; Pedro B. Leite Neto; Denisson Q. Oliveira

doi:10.20906/SBAI-SBSE-2023/3786

Anna D. Espindola Universidade Federal do Maranhão, MA
Osvaldo R. Saavedra Universidade Federal do Maranhão, MA
Pedro B. Leite Neto Universidade Federal do Maranhão, MA
Denisson Q. Oliveira Universidade Federal do Maranhão, MA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20906/SBAI-SBSE-2023/3786

Keywords: Hydrokinetic turbine, Boqueirão Channel, Tidal energy, Performance analysis

Abstract

Tidal energy has a low-frequency intermittent behavior and its predictability is guaranteed because it is related to astronomical phenomena. The North and Northeast regions have the largest tidal ranges on the Brazilian coast, ranging from 6 to 10 meters. In this article, a comparative performance’s study of three configurations of a commercial hydrokinetic turbine, when subjected to the annual tidal profile observed in the Boqueirão Channel, using performance metrics based on the total energy production. The commercial turbine Tocardo T1, whose rotor diameter is 6.3 m, presented the highest productive energy in the area, since about 42% of the speeds are in a range close to its nominal speed.