Abstract
The Archimedes screw turbine (AST) is the most sustainable mini-hydropower extraction method that offers number of economic, social, and environmental advantages. Nowadays, many researchers are interested in AST development as it is considered a new technology. Currently, a lot of researchers are conducting experimental testing of the screws, comparing their reliability with computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses. Almost all of them are lab-scale testing models that claiming an average 80% efficiency for low pitch angles. In the case of a real site with a small inclination angle, the length of the screw is large enough to cause severe problems, specially related to bending of the screw. Therefore, this research was conducted to analyze the CFD flow field in a real site-scale AST with the maximum possible inclination of 45 degrees. In addition, the design was done without the upper and lower reservoir as it was conceived as a run-of-river flow system. The simulated real scale AST result showed a maximum efficiency of around 82% for a 5.2 m hydraulic head and 0.232 m3/s discharge. Many researchers claim above 80% efficiency for low inclination angle ASTs with reservoirs. This CFD study indicates that even higher inclination angle ASTs can achieve 80% efficiency in run-of-river; real-scale applications.
Highlights
Published: 4 June 2021The economic growth and improvement in living standards depend on the utilization of electrical energy
The computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation was took about a week to solve a single simulation in Ansys
CFD analysis inside the Archimedes screw turbine (AST) can discuss under the water flow behavior which is indicated by the 0.5 water volume fraction
Summary
The economic growth and improvement in living standards depend on the utilization of electrical energy. This growing demand for electrical energy whilst trying to reduce environmental pollution is one of the main reasons why we are advocating for the advancement and implementation of renewable sources in both urban and rural areas. Small-scale hydropower has a high tendency to exploit unused resources such as rivers or streams [1,2]. The Archimedes screw turbine (AST) represents the most sustainable small hydropower extraction method as it is economically, socially, and environmentally beneficial. AST power plants claim relatively high efficiency with lower installation and maintenance costs than the other small-scale hydropower extraction methods with reduced economic benefits. The simplicity of the AST structure is one of the main advantages of Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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