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SUMMARY:Engineering the Vortex: Structural Innovations for Advanced Wind a
 nd Tidal Turbines - Yabin Liu\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20260226T113000Z
DTEND:20260226T123000Z
UID:TALK242878@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Catherine Pearson
DESCRIPTION:Wind energy supplied approximately 30% of UK electricity in 20
 25\, underscoring its central role in the transition to net zero. Tidal po
 wer\, though still at the demonstration stage\, has the potential to meet 
 up to 11% of annual UK electricity demand. However\, key fluid-dynamic cha
 llenges continue to limit the performance\, scalability\, and environmenta
 l acceptability of turbine technologies.\n\nIn wind farms\, turbine wakes 
 reduce downstream power output by 20-46% due to persistent tip vortices an
 d slow wake recovery. In tidal turbines\, vortex-induced cavitation constr
 ains operation at high tip-speed ratios\, limiting efficiency and power ca
 pacity. These same tip vortices are also a primary source of aerodynamic a
 nd hydrodynamic noise\, which affects environmental impact\, regulatory ap
 proval\, and public acceptance.\n\nMy research develops passive structural
  flow-control strategies that address these vortex-driven limitations at t
 heir physical origin. By engineering blade-tip permeability\, I have demon
 strated a novel mechanism to passively accelerate vortex breakdown and wea
 ken coherent tip vortices. CFD simulations and collaborative experiments s
 how that controlled permeability can substantially reduce vortex strength\
 , mitigate cavitation risk\, promote faster wake recovery\, and reduce tip
 -generated noise.\n\nBecause these interventions operate at the microscale
  and require no active control systems\, they introduce minimal additional
  cost or system complexity. This work illustrates how structural innovatio
 n—guided by fluid dynamics—can simultaneously enhance efficiency\, dur
 ability\, and acoustic performance\, enabling more scalable and sustainabl
 e energy and transport systems.\n\n 
LOCATION:Open Plan Area\, Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows\, M
 adingley Rise CB3 0EZ
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