Validation of a Coupled CFD Model for Evaluating Floating Tidal Systems

Abstract

Floating devices have the potential to unlock unobtainable parts of the tidal stream energy resource, however; the proximity of the free surface raises concerns over both the power delivery and the survivability of these systems. Consequently, an open-source, coupled and fully-nonlinear numerical model has been developed to predict the behaviour of these devices. Previously, the model has been verified against existing analytical and numerical solutions, but this paper presents validation against physical measurements. The model successfully captures some of the key coupled properties of the problem, but further work is required to improve turbine load calculations in reversing flows, and introduce dynamic catenary mooring line functionality.