CFD analysis of Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Tidal Current Turbines

Malaysia uses mostly fossil fuels for electricity generation. This study examines the hydrodynamic performance of tidal turbines, especially designed for three sites in East Malaysia: Sibu, Kota Belud, and Pulau Jambongan. The performance characteristics of these site-specific turbines were analyzed with the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and were validated with experimental benchmarks. The results indicate that a power coefficient greater than 0.4 is possible at Tip Speed Ratios (TSR) between 4 and 7, with the best performance recorded at TSR 5 for inflow velocities between 0.75 and 1.35 m/s. This study highlights the potential of tidal energy as a sustainable resource for Malaysia and provides a basis for further development in the region.