A facility for testing the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of bidirectional air turbines for ocean wave energy conversion

Bidirectional air turbines are used in oscillating water column (OWC) power plants for harnessing ocean wave energy. This paper describes the bidirectional aerodynamic and aero-acoustic facility at the University of Siegen for model air turbines performance testing. At least nine test facilities are known worldwide, but their layout, the performance testing procedure and the presentation of performance data are not standardized to this day. The layout of the facility at the University of Siegen follows ideas in ISO 5801 for fan performance testing. The pressurized air supply is bidirectional but steady-state. Achievable values of Reynolds and Mach number of the test turbines are 1,000,000 and 0.5, respectively. In addition, the facility is equipped with acoustic attenuators in the air supply for allowing synchronous determination of aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of a turbine.