Simulation of dual cross-flow turbines under confinement

Cross-flow turbines are an alternative to the more commonly known axial flow turbines, and distinguish themselves by rotating on an axis perpendicular to the oncoming flow, as opposed to rotating on an axis coincident with the flow. The efficacy of cross-flow turbines can be increased by placing them in narrow river channels to take advantage of the natural confinement that augments the power conversion efficiency. This project explores the unsteady flow mechanisms of power augmentation by conducting simulations of multiple turbine configurations. Preliminary results indicate that downstream counter-rotating cross-flow turbine pairs in a fenced arrangement with no phase offset show the most promise for effective power generation, with 40% more average power per turbine than a single turbine operating under the same conditions. Staggered turbine arrangements motivate investigation by displaying successful turbine interaction through augmentation of the downstream turbine power generation.