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A Rationalised CFD Design Methodology for Turgo Turbines to Enable Local Manufacture in the Global South

Author

Listed:
  • Joe Butchers

    (Electrical Energy Management Group, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, UK)

  • Shaun Benzon

    (Tidal Development, Liverpool City Authority, Liverpool L3 1BP, UK)

  • Sam Williamson

    (Electrical Energy Management Group, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, UK)

  • Julian Booker

    (Electrical Energy Management Group, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, UK)

  • George Aggidis

    (Lancaster University Renewable Energy Group & Fluid Machinery Group, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK)

Abstract

In the Global South, pico- and micro-hydropower turbines are often made by local workshops. Despite several advantageous features, e.g., a high power density and capacity to handle silt, there is no commonly available Turgo turbine design appropriate for local manufacture. Technological developments including the internet, CAD, and additive manufacturing increase the opportunity to precisely transfer designs around the world. Consequently, design improvements can be shared digitally and used by manufacturers in their local context. In this paper, a rationalised CFD approach was used to guide simple design changes that improve the efficiency of a Turgo turbine blade. The typical manufacturing capacity of the micro-hydropower industry in Nepal was used to rationalise the variation of potential design changes. Using the geometry and operational parameters from an existing design as a benchmark, a two-blade, homogenous, multiphase model was developed and run using the commercial code ANSYS CFX. Initially, it was identified that the jet aim position had a significant effect on the efficiency. A design of experiments’ approach and subsequent analysis of numerical and visual results were used to make design changes that resulted in an improvement in efficiency from 69% to 81%. The design changes maintained the simple profile of the blade, ensuring that the resulting design was appropriate for manufacture in a local workshop.

Suggested Citation

  • Joe Butchers & Shaun Benzon & Sam Williamson & Julian Booker & George Aggidis, 2021. "A Rationalised CFD Design Methodology for Turgo Turbines to Enable Local Manufacture in the Global South," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:19:p:6250-:d:648093
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joe Butchers & Sam Williamson & Julian Booker, 2021. "Micro-Hydropower in Nepal: Analysing the Project Process to Understand Drivers that Strengthen and Weaken Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Paish, Oliver, 2002. "Small hydro power: technology and current status," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 6(6), pages 537-556, December.
    3. Gaiser, Kyle & Erickson, Paul & Stroeve, Pieter & Delplanque, Jean-Pierre, 2016. "An experimental investigation of design parameters for pico-hydro Turgo turbines using a response surface methodology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 406-418.
    4. Williamson, S.J. & Stark, B.H. & Booker, J.D., 2013. "Performance of a low-head pico-hydro Turgo turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 1114-1126.
    5. Chitrakar, Sailesh & Solemslie, Bjørn Winther & Neopane, Hari Prasad & Dahlhaug, Ole Gunnar, 2020. "Review on numerical techniques applied in impulse hydro turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 843-859.
    6. Cromwell, Godfrey, 1992. "What makes technology transfer? Small-scale hydropower in Nepal's public and private sectors," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 20(7), pages 979-989, July.
    7. Cobb, Bryan R. & Sharp, Kendra V., 2013. "Impulse (Turgo and Pelton) turbine performance characteristics and their impact on pico-hydro installations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 959-964.
    8. Benzon, D.S. & Aggidis, G.A. & Anagnostopoulos, J.S., 2016. "Development of the Turgo Impulse turbine: Past and present," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 1-18.
    9. Židonis, Audrius & Benzon, David S. & Aggidis, George A., 2015. "Development of hydro impulse turbines and new opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1624-1635.
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