Results from the field test of two 1 kW oscillating hydrofoil generators in a tidal canal

We present results from field tests of two 1 kW hydrokinetic energy capture devices operating in the Cape Cod Canal, in Bourne, MA. Each device consists of two oscillating hydrofoils with a chord of 0.24 m and span of 1.35 m, operating 90$^\circ$ out of phase with each other and driving a single generator. The pitch of each hydrofoil is mechanically coupled to the heave, also with a 90$^\circ$ phase difference. The two devices are arranged in tandem with a stream-wise separation of 1 span. We find that depending on the operating conditions, the hydrofoil oscillations may synchronize with each other through hydrodynamic interactions. Furthermore, in their optimized operation, the trailing device generates 60-80% of the power generated by the leading device, despite being directly in the wake of the hydrofoils of the upstream device.