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Numerical Analysis of Three Vertical Axis Turbine Designs for Improved Water Energy Efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Derya Karakaya

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, Izmir 35430, Turkey
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Aslı Bor

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Department of Civil Engineering, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir 35330, Turkey)

  • Sebnem Elçi

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, Izmir 35430, Turkey)

Abstract

A hydrokinetic turbine with a vertical axis is specifically designed to harvest the kinetic energy from moving water. In this study, three vertical axis water turbines, namely Gorlov, Darrieus, and Savonius turbines, were compared for their efficiency via numerical modeling for steady-state conditions via the ANSYS 2022 R2 Fluent model. The Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations (SIMPLE) was implemented with an SST k-ω turbulence model. The dynamic mesh technique, which allows modeling according to changes in angular velocity at each time step, was used to simulate flow around the turbines for six different velocities (from 0.5 to 3 m/s). The efficiency of the turbines was compared and the results were analyzed. The pressure, velocity, and turbulence kinetic energy distributions around the rotor were measured at different rotational angles and results indicated a wider operating range for the Darrieus and Gorlov turbines compared to the Savonius turbine. The highest power coefficient of 0.293 was achieved in the model featuring a Darrieus turbine, corresponding to a TSR value of 1.34, compared to 0.208 for the Gorlov and 0.257 for the Savonius turbine, at TSR values of 1.3 and 1.06, respectively. Numerical modeling results pointed to a significantly higher self-starting capacity for the Savonius turbine compared to the others.

Suggested Citation

  • Derya Karakaya & Aslı Bor & Sebnem Elçi, 2024. "Numerical Analysis of Three Vertical Axis Turbine Designs for Improved Water Energy Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:6:p:1398-:d:1356972
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Juan Camilo Pineda & Ainhoa Rubio-Clemente & Edwin Chica, 2024. "Optimization of a Gorlov Helical Turbine for Hydrokinetic Application Using the Response Surface Methodology and Experimental Tests," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-21, November.

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