Experimental study of the shear flow effect on tidal turbine blade loading variation

Tidal turbine arrays are planed to be installed in areas with strong currents where the flow can often sheared throughout water column. To study shear effects on tidal turbine, four vertical velocity profiles generated a flume tank and imposed three-bladed horizontal axis model. Results show that do not impact average performance but responsible for an increase of blade root streamwise load variations. Blade is moreover linked rotational frequency its harmonics. The perceived by blades during their rotation estimated over rotor area compared angular phase measured blades. highly correlated even if varying lag has been noticed between these two quantities. This dependent speed incoming shear, probably caused induction effects. experimental first step understand effect turbines better.