Coupled Electromagnetic-Fluidic-Thermal Analysis and Air-Gap Research of the Rim-Driven Generator

Since the rim-driven generator (RDG) submerges in seawater and its air gap is filled with flowing seawater, it operates under the coupled electromagnetic-fluidic-thermal field. Through the coupled analysis of these fields, in this paper, we conducted research of the seawater flow law in the air gap, and the operating performance of the generator. After that, the air-gap length of the generator was studied based on the coupled analysis to improve the operational characteristics of the generator.