IES Seminar Series - Susan Tully & Shouhong Li

Location: 

Hudson Beare, Classroom 4

Date: 

Friday, November 13, 2015 - 13:00 to 14:00

Speaker 1: Susan Tully

Flexible Blades for Tidal Turbines

 

Abstract:

The highly turbulent flow experienced by tidal turbines leads to continuous load variations limiting their fatigue endurance. The presence of surface waves in particular can lead to large amplitude flow oscillations at typical turbine deployment depths. The current industrial trend is to develop stronger and more rigid structures capable of weathering these load variations. This presentation presents an alternative approach. That of using flexible blades to increase the durability and survivability of tidal turbines.  The flexible blade changes the local angle of attack and the foil shape when under the influence of wave-current induced flow conditions. The new flow field around each blade section is such as to minimise the load change caused by the oscillatory flow. Particle Image Velocimetry and load cell measurements are used to analyse the behavior of a flexible blade as compared to its standard rigid counterpart.

Bio:

Susan has a BSc in Astrophysics from Edinburgh, an MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering from Heriot Watt and returned to Edinburgh to start her PhD in 2013. She switched to engineering after realising that she wanted to be far more hands on in her research than Astrophysics would ever allow.  Last year the opportunity arose to smother ‘end of PhD fear’ by taking an interruption of studies to work on a fully experimental project looking into the use of flexible blades for load mitigation in tidal turbines. This presentation details the outcome of this project and of 9 months spent in the airless, window-less cave that is the back section of the Sanderson Fluids Lab.

Speaker 2: Shouhong Li

National Ocean Technology Centre in China

Abstract:

Since the year 2010, the R&D of Marine energy in China has developed rapidly due to the policy by the government and various efforts of researchers. The talk will describe the Marine Energy Potential and Development in China from four aspects: the Marine Energy Market in China; Marine Energy Policies and Strategies in China; the technology development; Marine Energy International Cooperations with China.

Bio:

2007.07-2009.06 National Ocean Technology Centre, participate the survey and assessment on the ocean energy resources/the assessment of wave energy resource.

2009.06-2012.05 Science and Technology Division of the State Oceanic Administration, manage the national special funding program for marine renewable energy.

2012.05-Now Administrative Center for Marine Renewable Energy, supervise and manage the special funding program and projects.

Further Information

Susan Tully - Flexible Blades for Tidal Turbines
Susan Tully - Flexible Blades for Tidal Turbines
Shouhong Li - National Ocean Technology Centre in China
Shouhong Li - National Ocean Technology Centre in China
IES Seminar Series - Supported by EngGradSoc
IES Seminar Series - Supported by EngGradSoc

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