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ABSTRACT
Non-renewable sources of energy such as fossil fuel has had negative impact in the social-techno-economic development of nations as much has been invested technically and financially to curb the menace of environmental degradation due to the emission of chlorofluorocarbons. This is beside the increasing demand for energy around the world, with a proactive call for renewable cleaner energies that will be free from environmental polluting. These have necessitated the need for the exploration of renewable sources of energies through a systematic design of energy systems such harnessing energy from ocean current via marine vessels which come handy at reduced cost and have the potential of reducing or eradicating environmental pollution.
In the present research study, an investigation of energy generation potential of turbine system mounted on a moving marine vessel in tidal streams was carried out with the aim of generating electric energy via the moving turbine under the influence of ocean current. To achieve the aim of the work, an experimental vertical tidal turbine was developed with three blades and vanes that was driven by water current from a DC water pump powered by a 12volts dc battery. Is followed by a computational analysis using CAD and MATLAB software to determine the effects and interrelationship of variables on the vertical turbine operation.
Results from the research experiment showed that the lift of the turbine ability which expresses its ability to be pushed through the water current to generate power is directly proportional to the fluid density and speed, the blade length directly affects the torque of the fluid on the blade, the larger the area of contact of the blade surface, the more points of incidence of flowing water current on the active surface side of the blade, and that the length of blade has a direct effect on its mass and power intercepted from the fluid (water). In achieving the objectives of the research which include to examine ocean energy forms, identify marine vessel and components capable of tapping energy from tidal streams and developing an experimental tidal stream turbine it was concluded that that a current in ocean bodies can be used to generate renewable electrical energy
