Design of Tidal Turbine

Upwork is seeking a Hydrodynamicist to design horizontal-axis rotor blades for a tidal turbine project. The role involves using industry-standard software to optimize blade design for maximum power extraction from tidal flows. Deliverables include CAD models and performance curves, validated through established engineering theories. The position is contract-based, pays $15–30 per hour, and is fully remote.
Project Overview: We are engineering a tidal turbine. This is not a student project; this requires professional-grade, auditable engineering. We are building the technical baseline to pass rigorous Proof of Concept (POC) validation. We require strict adherence to industry-standard software (ANSYS, SolidWorks, OpenFOAM, etc.) and clear documentation of all assumptions.

Hydrodynamicist (Rotor & Blade Aerodynamics)The Job: Design the horizontal-axis rotor blades to extract maximum power from a specified tidal flow velocity. You will determine the optimal chord length, twist distribution, and hydrofoil profiles.

Input Provided: Target water depth, peak fluid velocity ($V$), and target electrical output.Deliverables:

1. 3D surface CAD of the optimized blade (STEP format).

2. Power coefficient ($C_p$) and thrust coefficient ($C_t$) curves across a range of Tip Speed Ratios (TSR).

3. An exact RPM vs. Torque table at the design flow speed.Acceptance Criteria: The design must be validated using Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory or CFD. The RPM vs. Torque table must be clearly formatted—this is the strict input for our electrical engineer.