Design Considerations of a Straight Bladed Darrieus Rotor for River Current Turbines

Hydrokinetic turbines convert kinetic energy of moving river or tide water into electrical energy. In this work, design considerations of river current turbines are discussed with emphasis on straight bladed Darrieus rotors. Fluid dynamic analysis is carried out to predict the performance of the rotor. Discussions on a broad range of physical and operational conditions that may impact the design scenario are also presented. In addition, a systematic design procedure along with supporting information that would aid various decision making steps are outlined and illustrated by a design example. Finally, the scope for further work is highlighted