Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

VanZwieten, James H.

Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair

Seiffert, Betsy

Abstract

This research focused on maximizing the power generated by an array of ocean current turbines. To achieve this objective, the produced shaft power of an ocean current turbine (OCT) has been quantified using CFD without adding a duct, as well as over a range of duct geometries. For an upstream duct, having a diameter 1.6 times the rotor diameter, the power increased by 8.35% for a duct that extends 1 diameter upstream. This research also focused on turbine array optimization, providing a mathematical basis for calculating the water velocity within an array of OCTs. After developing this wake model, it was validated using experimental data. As the downstream distance behind the turbine increases, the analytic results become closer to the experimental results, with a difference of 3% for TI = 3% and difference of 4% for TI = 15%, both at a downstream distance of 4 rotor diameters.

Extent

85 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00013077

Format

pdf

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