Review on tidal stream energy and blade designs for tropical site conditions and a look at Philippines' future prospects

Mark Anthony Rotor, Hamid Hefazi and Nelson Enano, Jr.

Abstract

Tidal stream energy extraction remains a site-specific resource due to the "first generation" criteria requiring high-velocity tidal streams. Most studies on tidal energy and turbine blade design heavily focus on installation sites with higher velocity conditions that are non-existent in tropical countries such as the Philippines. To shorten this gap, this review paper tackles tidal turbine design considerations for low-energetic regions such as the tropics. In-depth discussions of operating principles, methods of analysis, and designs of tidal turbine blades are presented. Notable tidal stream projects around the world are also mentioned in the paper. Also, it provides a perspective on the potential of this renewable energy to produce electricity for various sites in the Philippines. Finally, the paper emphasizes the need for new tidal turbine blade designs to be viable in tropical regions, such as the Philippines.

Key Words

low energetic flows; ocean renewable energy; tidal turbine representations

Address

Mark Anthony Rotor: Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York (SUNY), Korea, 21985 South Korea; Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, Ateneo de Davao University, 8000 Philippines; Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technologies (CREATe), Ateneo de Davao University, 8000 Philippines; Mindanao Renewable Energy R&D Center (MREC), Department of Science and Technology, Philippines Hamid Hefazi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York (SUNY), Korea, 21985 South Korea Nelson Enano, Jr.: Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technologies (CREATe), Ateneo de Davao University, 8000 Philippines; Mindanao Renewable Energy R&D Center (MREC), Department of Science and Technology, Philippines

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