IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v249y2025ics0960148125008705.html

In-pipe drag-based turbine blade optimization for energy harvesting in urban water networks: A novel theoretical approach

Author

Listed:
  • Sobhani, Peyman
  • Hasanzadeh, Nima
  • Rostamani, Mohammad J.
  • Najafi, Amir F.

Abstract

Recent urbanization trends, along with economic and population growth, have led to increasing global energy demand. In response, in-pipe turbines have gained attention for harnessing hydrokinetic energy from urban water pipelines. Among the various turbine models, vertical-axis drag-based turbines are prevalent in plants with small-diameter pipelines. However, despite recent efforts to identify optimal design of these turbines, the optimization process remains challenging due to the numerous blade profile parameters involved. Accordingly, this paper focuses on introducing a fast and reliable blade shape optimization approach. Firstly, a parametric modeling method is introduced to create different blade geometries. Following this, a theoretical method was developed to calculate the turbine torque coefficient. The reliability of this method was assessed by comparing its results with numerical simulations. The accuracy of the numerical simulations was further validated through experimental tests, revealing a maximum deviation of 6.4 %. Subsequently, a multi-objective optimization technique (NSGA-II) is employed to maximize the turbine's output torque, with the turbine's geometrical features serving as constrains. As a result, the numerical simulations indicated that the proposed design achieved a 40 % increase in torque coefficient and a 38 % improvement in efficiency compared to the conventional model in the bounds of the practical rotational speeds.

Suggested Citation

  • Sobhani, Peyman & Hasanzadeh, Nima & Rostamani, Mohammad J. & Najafi, Amir F., 2025. "In-pipe drag-based turbine blade optimization for energy harvesting in urban water networks: A novel theoretical approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:249:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125008705
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123208
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125008705
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123208?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kumar, Anuj & Saini, R.P., 2017. "Performance analysis of a Savonius hydrokinetic turbine having twisted blades," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 502-522.
    2. McTavish, S. & Feszty, D. & Sankar, T., 2012. "Steady and rotating computational fluid dynamics simulations of a novel vertical axis wind turbine for small-scale power generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 171-179.
    3. Bizhanpour, Ali & Hasanzadeh, Nima & Najafi, Amir F. & Magagnato, Franco, 2023. "Investigation of different deflector geometry and mechanism effect on the performance of an in-pipe hydro Savonius turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    4. Kumar, Anuj & Saini, R.P., 2017. "Performance analysis of a single stage modified Savonius hydrokinetic turbine having twisted blades," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 461-478.
    5. Chan, C.M. & Bai, H.L. & He, D.Q., 2018. "Blade shape optimization of the Savonius wind turbine using a genetic algorithm," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 148-157.
    6. Golecha, Kailash & Eldho, T.I. & Prabhu, S.V., 2011. "Influence of the deflector plate on the performance of modified Savonius water turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(9), pages 3207-3217.
    7. Wenlong Tian & Baowei Song & James H. VanZwieten & Parakram Pyakurel, 2015. "Computational Fluid Dynamics Prediction of a Modified Savonius Wind Turbine with Novel Blade Shapes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Ma, Tao & Yang, Hongxing & Guo, Xiaodong & Lou, Chengzhi & Shen, Zhicheng & Chen, Jian & Du, Jiyun, 2018. "Development of inline hydroelectric generation system from municipal water pipelines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 535-548.
    9. Balkhair, Khaled S. & Rahman, Khalil Ur, 2017. "Sustainable and economical small-scale and low-head hydropower generation: A promising alternative potential solution for energy generation at local and regional scale," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 378-391.
    10. Baoshou Zhang & Baowei Song & Zhaoyong Mao & Wenlong Tian & Boyang Li & Bo Li, 2017. "A Novel Parametric Modeling Method and Optimal Design for Savonius Wind Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-20, March.
    11. Payambarpour, S. Abdolkarim & Najafi, Amir F. & Magagnato, Franco, 2020. "Investigation of deflector geometry and turbine aspect ratio effect on 3D modified in-pipe hydro Savonius turbine: Parametric study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 44-59.
    12. Armando Carravetta & Giuseppe Del Giudice & Oreste Fecarotta & Helena Ramos, 2012. "Energy Production in Water Distribution Networks: A PAT Design Strategy," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(13), pages 3947-3959, October.
    13. Kacprzak, Konrad & Liskiewicz, Grzegorz & Sobczak, Krzysztof, 2013. "Numerical investigation of conventional and modified Savonius wind turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 578-585.
    14. Roy, Sukanta & Saha, Ujjwal K., 2015. "Wind tunnel experiments of a newly developed two-bladed Savonius-style wind turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 117-125.
    15. Du, Jiyun & Yang, Hongxing & Shen, Zhicheng & Chen, Jian, 2017. "Micro hydro power generation from water supply system in high rise buildings using pump as turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 431-440.
    16. Loots, I. & van Dijk, M. & Barta, B. & van Vuuren, S.J. & Bhagwan, J.N., 2015. "A review of low head hydropower technologies and applications in a South African context," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1254-1268.
    17. Yakup Çelikbilek & Fatih Tüysüz, 2020. "An in-depth review of theory of the TOPSIS method: An experimental analysis," Journal of Management Analytics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(2), pages 281-300, April.
    18. Jiyun, Du & Hongxing, Yang & Zhicheng, Shen & Xiaodong, Guo, 2018. "Development of an inline vertical cross-flow turbine for hydropower harvesting in urban water supply pipes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 386-397.
    19. Williams, A.A., 1996. "Pumps as turbines for low cost micro hydro power," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 1227-1234.
    20. Chen, J. & Yang, H.X. & Liu, C.P. & Lau, C.H. & Lo, M., 2013. "A novel vertical axis water turbine for power generation from water pipelines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 184-193.
    21. Noman, Abdullah Al & Tasneem, Zinat & Sahed, Md. Fahad & Muyeen, S.M. & Das, Sajal K. & Alam, Firoz, 2022. "Towards next generation Savonius wind turbine: Artificial intelligence in blade design trends and framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    22. Haddad, Hassan Z. & Mohamed, Mohamed H. & Shabana, Yasser M. & Elsayed, Khairy, 2023. "Optimization of Savonius wind turbine with additional blades by surrogate model using artificial neural networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    23. Islam, Mazharul & Ting, David S.-K. & Fartaj, Amir, 2008. "Aerodynamic models for Darrieus-type straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 1087-1109, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. C M, Shashikumar & Madav, Vasudeva, 2021. "Numerical and experimental investigation of modified V-shaped turbine blades for hydrokinetic energy generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 1170-1197.
    2. Guo, Fen & Song, Baowei & Mao, Zhaoyong & Tian, Wenlong, 2020. "Experimental and numerical validation of the influence on Savonius turbine caused by rear deflector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    3. Noman, Abdullah Al & Tasneem, Zinat & Sahed, Md. Fahad & Muyeen, S.M. & Das, Sajal K. & Alam, Firoz, 2022. "Towards next generation Savonius wind turbine: Artificial intelligence in blade design trends and framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Bizhanpour, Ali & Hasanzadeh, Nima & Najafi, Amir F. & Magagnato, Franco, 2023. "Investigation of different deflector geometry and mechanism effect on the performance of an in-pipe hydro Savonius turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    5. Zhang, Guangchao & Lv, Kai & Xie, Yudong & Wang, Yong & Shan, Kunshan, 2023. "Performance study of a control valve with energy harvesting based on a modified passive model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    6. Fanel Dorel Scheaua, 2020. "Comparative Numerical Analysis on Vertical Wind Turbine Rotor Pattern of Bach and Benesh Type," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, May.
    7. Payambarpour, S. Abdolkarim & Najafi, Amir F. & Magagnato, Franco, 2020. "Investigation of deflector geometry and turbine aspect ratio effect on 3D modified in-pipe hydro Savonius turbine: Parametric study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 44-59.
    8. Kuo-Tsai Wu & Kuo-Hao Lo & Ruey-Chy Kao & Sheng-Jye Hwang, 2022. "Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Design Parameters on Savonius-Type Hydrokinetic Turbine Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, March.
    9. Chan, C.M. & Bai, H.L. & He, D.Q., 2018. "Blade shape optimization of the Savonius wind turbine using a genetic algorithm," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 148-157.
    10. Patel, Vimal & Eldho, T.I. & Prabhu, S.V., 2019. "Velocity and performance correction methodology for hydrokinetic turbines experimented with different geometry of the channel," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 1300-1317.
    11. Xiong, Jinmin & Zhang, Guangchao & Xie, Yudong & Wang, Shinong & Bao, Mupeng & Wang, Yong, 2025. "Enhanced performance study of energy capture ball valve integrated with a new type of torsional impeller," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 330(C).
    12. Marinić-Kragić, Ivo & Vučina, Damir & Milas, Zoran, 2022. "Global optimization of Savonius-type vertical axis wind turbine with multiple circular-arc blades using validated 3D CFD model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    13. Kamal, Md. Mustafa & Saini, R.P., 2022. "A numerical investigation on the influence of savonius blade helicity on the performance characteristics of hybrid cross-flow hydrokinetic turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 788-804.
    14. Zhaoyong Mao & Guangyong Yang & Tianqi Zhang & Wenlong Tian, 2020. "Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of a Building-Integrated Savonius Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, May.
    15. Khani, Mohammad Sadegh & Shahsavani, Younes & Mehraein, Mojtaba & Soleimani Rad, Mohammad Hossein & Nikbakhsh, Amir Abbas, 2024. "Evaluation of the performance of the Savonius hydrokinetic turbines in the straight and curved channels using advanced machine learning methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    16. Zhang, Yongchao & Kang, Can & Ji, Yanguang & Li, Qing, 2019. "Experimental and numerical investigation of flow patterns and performance of a modified Savonius hydrokinetic rotor," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1067-1079.
    17. Wang, Shinong & Zhang, Guangchao & Xie, Yudong & Xiong, Jinmin & Wang, Yong & Yang, Sen & Jiang, Shangkun, 2025. "A method to improve the energy capture performance and fluid regulation characteristic of capture-energy ball valve based on the biomimetic principle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    18. Zhang, Baoshou & Li, Boyang & Li, Canpeng & Zhang, Yongbo & Lv, Jingze & Yu, Haidong, 2024. "Effects of submergence depth on the performance of the savonius hydrokinetic turbine near a free surface," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    19. Lv, Kai & Xie, Yudong & Wang, Yong & Sun, Guang, 2021. "Performance investigations of a control valve with the function of energy harvesting," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    20. Yang, Wei & Hou, Yimin & Jia, Huiting & Liu, Benqing & Xiao, Ruofu, 2019. "Lift-type and drag-type hydro turbine with vertical axis for power generation from water pipelines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:249:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125008705. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.