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A Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for a Water Vortex Power Plant as Platform for Etho- and Ecohydraulic Research

Author

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  • Dennis Powalla

    (Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics and Technical Flows, University “Otto von Guericke” of Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Stefan Hoerner

    (Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics and Technical Flows, University “Otto von Guericke” of Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Olivier Cleynen

    (Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics and Technical Flows, University “Otto von Guericke” of Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Nadine Müller

    (Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Technical Hydromechanics, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany)

  • Jürgen Stamm

    (Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Technical Hydromechanics, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany)

  • Dominique Thévenin

    (Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics and Technical Flows, University “Otto von Guericke” of Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

Abstract

The objective of the present paper is to develop a validated numerical model of a water vortex power plant that serves as a digital twin for further studies such as assessments of the ethohydraulic characteristics or the performance of such devices. The reference for the validation process is a large-scale hydraulic installation equipped with a full-scale water vortex power plant prototype installed in Dresden (Germany), where flow field measurements were carried out using three-dimensional Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry. The numerical model was implemented within the software package Star-CCM+. The unsteady, two-phase flow was solved with the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations in a Eulerian Multiphase approach, deploying a Volume of Fluid method to describe the free-surface flow. Water level and flow velocities were systematically compared in key areas of the device, demonstrating that the simulation is in good agreement with experimental observations. Relative differences are limited to at most 4% regarding water height in the system, and even the much more challenging velocity fields are reproduced with typical relative errors of roughly 10%. This validates the ability of the model to model the challenging flow conditions found in a water vortex power plant, enabling subsequent studies of the characteristics of this power plant concerning fish migration.

Suggested Citation

  • Dennis Powalla & Stefan Hoerner & Olivier Cleynen & Nadine Müller & Jürgen Stamm & Dominique Thévenin, 2021. "A Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for a Water Vortex Power Plant as Platform for Etho- and Ecohydraulic Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:3:p:639-:d:487823
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dhakal, Sagar & Timilsina, Ashesh B. & Dhakal, Rabin & Fuyal, Dinesh & Bajracharya, Tri R. & Pandit, Hari P. & Amatya, Nagendra & Nakarmi, Amrit M., 2015. "Comparison of cylindrical and conical basins with optimum position of runner: Gravitational water vortex power plant," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 662-669.
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    Cited by:

    1. Edirisinghe, Dylan S. & Yang, Ho-Seong & Gunawardane, S.D.G.S.P. & Lee, Young-Ho, 2022. "Enhancing the performance of gravitational water vortex turbine by flow simulation analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 163-180.
    2. Olivier Cleynen & Dennis Powalla & Stefan Hoerner & Dominique Thévenin, 2022. "An Efficient Method for Computing the Power Potential of Bypass Hydropower Installations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Abhishekkumar Shingala & Olivier Cleynen & Aman Jain & Stefan Hoerner & Dominique Thévenin, 2022. "Genetic Optimisation of a Free-Stream Water Wheel Using 2D Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations Points towards Design with Fully Immersed Blades," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    4. Nosare Maika & Wenxian Lin & Mehdi Khatamifar, 2023. "A Review of Gravitational Water Vortex Hydro Turbine Systems for Hydropower Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-39, July.
    5. Edirisinghe, Dylan S. & Yang, Ho-Seong & Gunawardane, S.D.G.S.P. & Alkhabbaz, Ali & Tongphong, Watchara & Yoon, Min & Lee, Young-Ho, 2023. "Numerical and experimental investigation on water vortex power plant to recover the energy from industrial wastewater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 617-634.
    6. Powalla, Dennis & Hoerner, Stefan & Cleynen, Olivier & Thévenin, Dominique, 2022. "A numerical approach for active fish behaviour modelling with a view toward hydropower plant assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 957-966.

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