Hydrodynamic Analysis and Simulation of a Tidal Energy Converter

Sammanfattning: A new motion simulator has been developed to simulate Minesto AB’s tidal energy converter flying in water. The motion simulator is as a part of a new computer based development environment, aiming to shorten the company’s development process. The environment consists of a hydrodynamic analysis together with the new simulator to evaluate the performance of the company’s tidal energy converter. The new motion simulator is custom-made in MATLAB and Simulink for Minesto’s purposes, simulating the motion of a flying tidal energy converter with six degrees of freedom in variable flow conditions. The hydrodynamic forces used in the simulator are calculated in the hydrodynamic analysis. Quaternions are used to avoid singularities in the angle representation, enabling the device to move freely without mathematical restrictions. The flow conditions are set in an external flow model with the ability to simulate variable flows. A control system is integrated in Simulink to control the device’s rudder during the simulation. The simulations are valid for normal flight conditions and are usable for development of both device and control system designs but also for educational purposes, especially if integrated with a visualization program.