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SSRN Id3989483
SSRN Id3989483
SSRN Id3989483
Abstract— Hydrokinetic energy from tidal and river flows arrays off scale devices The primary hurdles are: (i)
is generating great expectations among the different non- reducing the cost of energy, (ii) optimizing individual
conventional renewable energy (NCRE) sources. Hydropower turbines to work in concert considering array, (iii) balancing
energy has proven as the most effective and predictive energy extraction with environmental impact, and (iv)
renewable energy source available around the world, especially addressing socio-economic concerns. This paper provides a
in the rural and electrification areas. Most of these sites are broad review of hydrokinetic energy conversion technology
dependent on small and micro scale stations to produce cheap research and development. Forbush et al. [4] suggested a
but abundantly available and effective electrical energy. The method for constructing a non-dimensional performance
researchers are still searching a solution for the main problem
curve for a cross-flow hydrokinetic turbine in sheared flow
of velocity of current in the open flow channels. Deploying
acceleration nozzle in the channel is a unique solution for
is developed for a natural river site.
increasing velocity of flow systems in the channels. This method Edwin Chica and Ainhoa Rubio-Clemente [5] studied the
has numerous advantages, yet has not been given much structural design of the blades of a zero head hydrokinetic
attention in the renewable energy field. The proposed study turbine and observed that they are rugged, robust, and
investigates the hydrodynamic design and analysis of a reliable and yet effective at capturing maximum available
hydrokinetic turbine. The interaction effects in a diffuser energy in the hostile environment of water currents. Lago et
augmented hydrokinetic (DAHT) was evaluated under the al. [6] conducted study on emerging class of renewable
terms presented on the generalized actuator disc theory. energy technology and concluded that the hydrokinetic
Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method was employed to conversion device, offers ways to capture the energy of
predict the performance and average flow speeds of the flowing water without the impoundment or diversion of the
turbine. Simulations were performed in the different conventional hydroelectric facilities based on dams and
geometries such as nozzle, diffuser, and combined nozzle- penstocks. Tampier et al. [7] presented a novel way to
diffuser augmented turbine. The validated CFD analysis model evaluate the interaction effects in a diffuser-augmented
was used to predict performance of configurations with hydrokinetic turbine (DAHT) under the terms presented on
modifications in the design of the geometry. the generalized actuator disc theory.
Among the various literatures studied, influence of the
Keywords— Hydrokinetic energy, Computational fluid dynamics,
domain geometry in a hydrokinetic turbine was mentioned
nozzle, diffuser, shear-stress transport model
in different papers. The incoming flow conditions are the
1. Introduction important parameters, which define the turbine performance.
Due to the absence of vertical head, a cost effective method
Renewable energy sources are more environmental for an improved performance for a hydro kinetic turbine will
friendly than the conventional energy sources [1]. be an efficient flow domain. From the literature survey, the
Renewable energy can be extracted from variety of natural increase in kinetic energy for the incoming fluid will result
resources. Hydropower is the cheapest and the biggest in an enhanced performance for a horizontal axis turbine.
energy source. Electrical energy of approximately 18% from The hub to tip ratio of 0.3 to 0.5 gives maximum
all around the world is supplied by hydropower. This energy performance. The increase in number of blades may result in
is very promising because of its availability, environmental more friction loss. Therefore, the number of blades for a
friendly technology and easiness for harnessing. horizontal turbine is normally limited in number.
Hydrokinetic energy refers to the type of energy produced In this study, feasibility for augmentation of turbine with
from the flowing water of the currents in rivers, tides, nozzle, diffuser and combined nozzle diffuser was explored.
oceans and artificially made water channels. Several Dimensions of the turbine required for the operating
technologies have been developed to extract this type of conditions under study were computed. A three dimensional,
energy, such as horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbines. two phase transient computational fluid dynamic (CFD)
However, these turbines are still in a developing stage and model was developed to simulate the working of
have not been commercialized yet, due to their low hydrokinetic turbine. The model was validated by
reliability and low power density. Horizontal axis turbines comparing with published experimental results. Performance
have some advantages, which make them more suitable than of various types of geometries for the nozzle and diffuser
vertical axis turbines for some applications. They are easily was evaluated and compared. Most efficient type of
self-starting, have less torque fluctuation, higher efficiency geometry for the turbine was identified and dimensions of
and larger speed of operation. the geometry was optimized.
Wang et al. [1] suggested a way to quantify diffuser-
rotor interaction and presented a micro-diffuser-augmented 2. Geometric modeling and mesh generation
hydrokinetic turbine design based on the actuator disc 2.1. Rotor model
theory. Niebuhr et al. [2] reviewed small scale state of the The rotor model in Fig. 1 is the most significant
art near zero hydrokinetic current energy conversion component of the assembly. The power generation depends
technologies. Advances and limitations of near-zero head on the discharge and head of the flow. The actual
hydrokinetic technologies and the possibility of increased transformation of the flow energy of the water to the
potential and applicability when enhancement techniques alternator depends upon the design of the turbine blades.
within the design, implementation and operational phases The design of the blade determines the availability of the
were described. Laws and Epps [3] observed that the surface for interaction with water at the inlet.
hydrokinetic industry has advanced beyond the initial testing
phase and will soon install demonstration projects with
4. Geometry Profiles
The following are the different types of geometries
considered in the study. Fig 6: Modified pipe with nozzle
Fig. 3 displays the geometry of a normal pipe. This pipe
had one meter from both the sides. The diameter of the The geometry with the diffuser is shown in Fig. 7 where
normal pipe is 250 mm in the form of a cylindrical shape. the inlet portion has a diameter of 150 mm and the outer
The turbine was placed at the center of the pipe and water diameter with 260 mm. The slope was taken as 450. The
flows from the left side as the inlet. turbine was kept at the center portion where the diffuser
starts.
5. Validation
The model was validated by comparing with the results
published in the article by Neibur et al [2]. The paper dealt
with a hydrokinetic turbine with a flow dimension of 1-
Fig 9: Combined nozzle diffuser meter diameter normal un-ducted pipe flow combined with a
turbine blade length of 800 mm, hub diameter of 280 mm
The modified geometry of nozzle-diffuser type is shown and a hub to tip ratio of 0.35.
in Fig. 10. Here the nozzle diffuser angle is reduced and For the purpose of validation, the turbine with the given
length of the nozzle and diffuser are increased till the tip of geometry and dimension (by copying the turbine design data
nozzle and diffuser meets. This leads to decrease in from the article) was recreated, and done the simulation for
vibrations formed compaed the normal nozzle and diffuser. various velocity input and the corresponding plot in graph
Compared with the normal combined geometry shown in shown in Fig. 12 was generated.
Fig. 9 the pipe in the middle portion where the turbine was
placed is not present and diameter of the nozzle and diffuser
changes gradually in the modified geometry.
Fig 15: Velocity volume rendering of the flow through pipe with diffuser
only
Fig. 25: Velocity contour of the modified combined model with 15 o angle
with axis of pipe for nozzle and diffuser
Fig. 23: Relation with torque and mass flow rate after and before
modification
Fig. 27: Velocity contour of the modified combined model with 45 0 angle
with axis of pipe for nozzle and diffuser
List of References
1. Wen-Quan Wang, Ke Song, Yan Yan, Influence of
interaction between the diffuser and rotor on energy
harvesting performance of a micro-diffuser-augmented
Fig. 28: Variation of torque with mass flow rate for various configurations
of nozzle – diffuser augmented hydro kinetic turbine by changing the hydrokinetic turbine, Ocean Engineering, 189 (2019)
nozzle diffuser angle 106293
2. C.M. Niebuhr, M. van Dijk, V.S. Neary, J.N. Bhagwan A
review of hydrokinetic turbines and enhancement techniques
for canal installations: Technology, applicability and
potential Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 113
(2019) 109240
3. Nicholas D. Laws, Brenden P. Epps Hydrokinetic energy
conversion: Technology, research, and outlook, Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Reviews 57 (2016) 1245–1259
4. Dominic Forbush, Brian Polagye, Jim Thomson, Levi
Kilcher, James Donegan, Jarlath McEntee Performance
characterization of a cross-flow hydrokinetic turbine in
sheared inflow International Journal of Marine Energy 16
(2016) 150–161
5. E. Chica, F. P´erez, A. Rubio-Clemente & S. Agudelo,
Fig. 29: Variation of power with mass flow rate for various configurations
of nozzle – diffuser augmented hydro kinetic turbine by changing the Design of a hydrokinetic turbine WIT Transactions on
nozzle diffuser angle Ecology and the Environment • September 2015
6. L.I. Lago, F.L. Ponta, L. Chen, Advances and trends in
7. Conclusions hydrokinetic turbine systems Energy for Sustainable
In the horizontal hydro-kinetic turbine, a simple Development 14 (2010) 287–296
design method for axial flow runners using a combination of 7. Gonzalo Tampier, Claudio Troncoso and Federico Zilic
the conventional one-dimensional design with the support of Numerical analysis of a diffuser-augmented hydrokinetic
three-dimensional flow was introduced. The performance turbine Ocean Engineering 145 (2017) 138–147
and internal flow of the hydraulic turbine was investigated 8. M.J. Khan, G. Bhuyan, M.T. Iqbal, J.E. Quaicoe
using simulation software. Hydrokinetic energy conversion systems and assessment of
A study was performed by simulating various horizontal and vertical axis turbines for river and tidal
configurations of hydro kinetic turbine. More efficient applications: A technology status review, Applied Energy 86
results are obtained for the geometry with modified nozzle – (2009) 1823–1835