Flapping foils as efficient hydrokinetic turbines: First steps in CFD modelling

The increasing global demand for energy requires the development of alternative, complementary and renewable energy solutions. In the last few decades, considerable advances have been made in the development of hydropower conversion systems. In most cases, these systems are intended for marine applications, operating in currents greater than 2 m/s. However, there are still only a few research studies about systems that could recover diffused hydrokinetic energy, that is, from low speed flows of about 1 m/s. The concept of a bio-inspired flapping foil turbine is one such promising new hydrokinetic energy harvesters. Besides being deployable in low-speed shallow waters, it has the advantages of being environmentally friendly, structurally robust and efficient.