An experimental survey in the wake of a simulated tidal current turbine

This paper presents two experimental test programmes, conducted in a water flow channel and a tow tank respectively, and devised to investigate the wake behind a simulated horizontal axis tidal current turbine, Both sets of experimental results have identified the wake as having a Gaussian-like shape and the wake deficit recovering gradually with distance downstream. Also, although it is not directly representative of real operating conditions, the appropriateness of a towing lank for the model tidal current turbine testing has been supported, by having obtained compatible force and wake profiles in the two test programmes