Fluid dynamic analysis on vertical axis tidal turbine design for predicting its performance for Indonesian ocean

Background: Renewable energy becomes promising alternative energy resources to be harnessed for electricity. One of renewable energy resources which is potentially used to produce electricity is ocean tidal current. Objective: In this research, the vertical axis tidal turbine was modeled and simulated to know its operating performance (torsion and estimated power of turbine) using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) method. The calculation was based on character of Indonesian ocean free stream. The design used three NACA0015 bladed Darrieus vertical axis tidal turbine and using Fluent which is taken for solving the design condition which are incompressible, steady state and turbulent flow with low Reynolds number and angle of attack. The approached method in fluent for turbulent flow is RANS because it provides good accuracy. Lift and drag coefficient are calculated to choose the best design to rotate turbine. Results: For free stream velocity 4 m/s, angular velocity is 230 rpm, estimated power is 3500 W and estimated torque is 160 Nm. Conclusion: Fluid velocity enhancement could increase estimated power to produce higher electricity. From CFD simulation, amongst the velocity sample, 4 m/sfreestreamhas the best result to rotate generator and produce highest power of electricity.