University of New Hampshire – UNH Tow and Wave Tank
Capabilities include:
- Component testing
- Performance metrics analysis
- WEC and TEC hydrodynamics
- Array integration
- IEC technical specification design
- Test plan design
Description
The UNH Tow and Wave Tank enables research where test bodies can be towed, subjected to wave action, or both. It is 3.66 m wide, 2.44 m deep, and 36.6m long. The tow carriage can achieve tow speeds up to 2 m/s for turbine testing and the tow system provides highly accurate control of acceleration, velocity and position. A low-drag hydrokinetic turbine test bed with a submerged frame made from NACA 0020 struts is used to test turbines up to nominally 1m diameter for both cross-flow and axial-flow turbines, enabling high Reynolds number testing at reasonable blockage. The wave maker can generate waves with 1-5 s periods up to 0.4 m wave height (regular waves, various random seas spectra), and the tank is equipped with a wave-energy-absorbing geo-textile beach.
Tank dimensions:
Length: 36.6m, Width: 3.66m, Height: 3m
Max depth: 2.44m
Point of Contact:
John Ahern – john.ahern@unh.edu
