In this study, a reciprocating-type water turbine model that applies the principle of the Weis-Fogh mechanism was proposed, and the model's unsteady flow field was calculated by an advanced vortex method. The primary conditions were as follows: wing chord C=1, wing shaft stroke length hs=2.5C, and the maximum opening angle of the wing α=36 deg. The dynamic characteristics and unsteady flow fields of a Weis-Fogh type water turbine were investigated with velocity ratios U/V = 1.0 ∼ 3.0. Force coefficients Cu and Cv acting on the wing in the U and V directions, respectively, were found to have a strong correlation each other. The size of a separated region on the back face of the wing increased as the velocity ratio increased and as the wing approached the opposite wall. The rapid drop in Cv during a stroke increased as the velocity ratio increased, and the average Cu and Cv increased as the velocity ratio increased. The maximum efficiency of this water turbine was 14.1% at U/V = 2.0 for one wing.
Demonstration Experiment of a Small Tidal Power Generator with Drag-type Water Turbine at Offshore of Tairadate in Aomori Prefecture