Portable on-site testing system for hydrokinetic turbines

Abstract

This paper describes the development and preliminary testing of a portable on-site testing system suitable for hydrokinetic turbines. In order to estimate the power produced by a full-scale hydrokinetic turbine in prototype phase, it is necessary to study several similar models on a progressive scale and to test them on dedicated benches, in laboratory conditions. The characterization of increased diameter rotors requires larger models that often exceed the test capabilities of the hydraulic laboratory test benches. In this case, testing should be performed on-site, in real operating conditions. In this regard, a specially designed test system that can characterize the hydrokinetic rotors with larger diameters in rivers or channels with significant velocities has to be used. The main advantages of such a testing system are that the rotors are easily swappable, the electronic and electric parts are placed outside the water and there is no need for grid connection, due to low power requirements. Thus, the system can be deployed only by using a laptop and a battery pack, making it suitable for remote areas. The purpose of the experiments described in this paper was to determine the characteristic parameters like power, mechanical torque or power coefficient for hydrokinetic rotors with same geometry but different diameters. This testing method is fast and accurate and contributes to a better understanding of horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbines.