Energy Conversion by Helical Hydrokinetic Turbine in A Pipe

Abstract

Hydrokinetic turbines are mechanisms designed for the purpose of utilizing the kinetic energy present in the movement of water bodies like rivers, tidal currents, or ocean currents, and transforming it into electrical power. These turbines’ function based on a principle akin to that of wind turbines; however, they are positioned underwater to harness the energy of the water flow. This study focuses on the fundamentals of hydrokinetic turbines and presents existing research. Additionally, simulations have been conducted to observe how the hydrokinetic turbine responds hydrodynamically inside a pipe. A three-bladed vertical-axis helical hydrokinetic turbine was installed within a circular conduit and subjected to analysis under varying flow conditions. The k-ω SST turbulence model was employed in the analyses. The results indicated that increasing the turbine's angular velocity initially raises the torque and the power coefficient until a peak is reached, after which the power coefficient decreases. The highest power coefficient was observed at a flow velocity of 2 m/s. Moreover, consistent with previous studies, the hydrokinetic turbine within the pipe surpassed the Betz limit.

Keywords

• Hydrokinetic energy
• Pipe hydropower
• Helical turbine
• Vertical axis turbine
• Current energy devices

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