Application of Three-Dimensional Visual Simulation in Tidal Defense Engineering

Any tidal defense engineering involves the collection and analysis of massive information about engineering structures and their surrounding environment. Traditional method, which is carried out mainly by means of twodimensional drawings and textures, is not efficient and intuitive enough to analyze the whole project and reflect its spatial relationship. Three-dimensional visual simulation provides an advanced technical means of solving this problem. In this paper, triangular irregular network (TIN) model simplified by non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) technique was used to establish the digital terrain model (DTM) of a super large region. Simulation of dynamic water surface was realized by combining noise function with sine wave superposition method. Models of different objects were established with different modeling techniques according to their characteristics. Application of texture mapping technology remarkably improved the authenticity of the models. Taking the tidal defense engineering in the new coastal region of Tianjin as a case study, three-dimensional visual simulation and dynamic roaming of the study area were realized, providing visual analysis and visible demonstration method for the management and emergency decision-making associated with construction.

Numerical simulation of three-dimensional tidal current in the Bobal Sea

The model equations with tbree-dimensional, time-dependent, nonlinear Navier-Stokes equations are transformed by sigma-transformation.On the basis of the process splitting technique, the fluid flow problems are divided into two parts:the vertically-intopated equations (external mode) and the vertical structure equations(internal mace). The first set of equations being the propagation of the tidal weves and the ADI numerical scheme has ben chosen to solve them. Conerning the vertical structure equations, they are solved by means of leapfrog stepping procedure.The main features of the tide and associated tidal current in the Bohai Sea are examined with this 3-D model.To have a good reproduction of vertical structure, the column is divided into 10 layers and the M2 tidal current is computed in detail. The simulation reveal the spetial structure and some important characteristics of the tidal current of the Bohai Sea. The application of the 3-D madel to forecasting of the tidal current in the Bobal Sea has been Performed as an illustration.

Application of Line Boundary Technique to 2D Tidal Current Simulation

To deal with the problems concerning the shore boundary, moving boundary and engineering boundary which are encountered frequently in 2D tidal current simulation by the finite difference method, the concept of line boundary is introduced and studied here, and then the line boundary technique in common use is proposed in this paper. Analysis of some calculation cases shows that this technique is practical, effective, and simple in 2D tidal current simulation involving different boundaries.

Numerical Investigation of Flow Motion and Performance of A Horizontal Axis Tidal Turbine Subjected to A Steady Current

Horizontal axis tidal turbines have attracted more and more attentions nowadays, because of their convenience and low expense in construction and high efficiency in extracting tidal energy. The present study numerically investigates the flow motion and performance of a horizontal axis tidal turbine with a supporting vertical cylinder under steady current. In the numerical model, the continuous equation and incompressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are solved, and the volume of fluid method is employed to track free surface motion. The RNG k-ε model is adopted to calculate turbulence transport while the fractional area/volume obstacle representation method is used to describe turbine characteristics and movement. The effects of installation elevation of tidal turbine and inlet velocity on the water elevation, and current velocity, rotating speed and resultant force on turbine are discussed. Based on the comparison of the numerical results, a better understanding of flow structure around horizontal axis tidal turbine and turbine performance is achieved.

Numerical and Experimental Study of the 3D Effect on Connecting Arm of Vertical Axis Tidal Current Turbine

Vertical axis tidal current turbine is a promising device to extract energy from ocean current. One of the important components of the turbine is the connecting arm, which can bring about a significant effect on the pressure distribution along the span of the turbine blade, herein we call it 3D effect. However, so far the effect is rarely reported in the research, moreover, in numerical simulation. In the present study, a 3D numerical model of the turbine with the connecting arm was developed by using FLUENT software compiling the UDF（User Defined Function） command. The simulation results show that the pressure distribution along the span of blade with the connecting arm model is significantly different from those without the connecting arm. To facilitate the validation of numerical model, the laboratory experiment has been carried out by using three different types of NACA aerofoil connecting arm and circle section connecting arm. And results show that the turbine with NACA0012 connecting arm has the best start-up performance which is 0.346 m/s and the peak point of power conversion coefficient is around 0.33. A further study has been performed and a conclusion is drawn that the aerofoil and thickness of connecting arm are the most important factors on the power conversion coefficient of the vertical axis tidal current turbine.