Investigation of Blade Number Effect on Hydraulic Performance of In-Pipe Hydro Savonius Turbine

S Abdolkarim Payambarpour,Franco Magagnato,Amir F Najafi

doi:10.1155/2019/8394191

S Abdolkarim Payambarpour, Franco Magagnato + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8394191

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Abstract

Level of utilization of clean energy has grown dramatically in recent years due to increased pollution and environmental issues. For instance, the extra potential energy in water supply system is usually wasted, due to its low capacity. Design of a proper turbine has recently been given more attention by researchers to apply this clean energy. In the present paper, a modified Savonius turbine, suitable for use in a 4-inch pipe, is designed. Turbine with two blades is tested in a laboratory rig and also simulated with the FLUENT software. By matching numerical and laboratory results, simulations are expanded and the blades number effect on turbine performance is studied under determined hydraulic conditions. The flow field around the modified Savonius turbine is interpreted by the 3D streamlines and pressure contours. The obtained results indicate that increasing the turbine blade numbers up to 5 and more causes the turbine efficiency first to rise and then to fall, respectively.

Highlights

The use of excess potential energy in urban and rural water pipelines is a new source of clean energy
An in-pipe drag-based turbine which is inspired by a Savonius rotor turbine for a diameter of 4 inches
A prototype of the turbine is examined in the test rig, and, after assuring matching the results of numerical simulation and laboratory, the effect of increasing the number of turbine blades is investigated numerically

Summary

Introduction

The use of excess potential energy in urban and rural water pipelines is a new source of clean energy This surplus energy can be created by hydraulic head generated as a result of the high altitude difference between the origin and the destination of the pipeline or by the pumping station. Several researchers have examined small scaled propeller or axial turbines [5,6,7,8], but the initial design cost and manufacturing of these turbines are relatively high. Downsizing of these turbine types causes sharply decreasing of efficiency. In the interest of overcoming these issues, some researchers have presented general geometries to reduce the design costs [9, 10] and increase the efficiency by optimizing the turbine [11]

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