Scientific advances and innovation

Unlike conventional PIV, this fast PIV allows to acquire the rapid dynamics of turbulence of the incident wind or in the wake of wind turbines. This means of measurement is the only experimental technique in the laboratory capable of acquiring a spatio-temporal description of the aerodynamic or hydrodynamic multiscale flows found in systems for recovering energy from wind, swell or current.

The material acquired would allow a more detailed characterization of the aerodynamic or hydrodynamic loads imposed by the environment on EMR systems, in particular concerning unsteady loads, an additional source of fatigue on the structures.

Expected technical and economic impact

The TRPIV should, for example, allow the spatio-temporal characterization of flows on flexible walls of wave energy conversion systems or in tidal turbine wakes. This measurement method should also provide velocity fields around structures such as dynamic electric cables and anti-heave plates of wind turbine floaters, as knowledge of these complex flows for these configurations is necessary for fatigue studies of materials.

A fine measurement of the unsteady flow near the structure could provide unique information.

Key project milestones

  • 2021 - Acquisition of equipment