NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION AND NEW INTELLIGENT SYSTEM FOR PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT OF A RADIAL IMPULSE TURBINE FOR WAVE ENERGY CONVERSION

Abstract

This study presents a numerical investigation into the influence of rotor blade geometry on the performance of oscillating water column (OWC) impulse turbines for wave energy conversion. A numerical model was developed and validated using experimental data for both circular and elliptical rotor profiles. Simulations were conducted for inhalation and exhalation modes of turbine operation, focusing on flow angles, flow coefficients, and losses coefficients in various turbine components. Results reveal significant differences in performance and flow behavior between turbines with circular and elliptical blade profiles, particularly in the inhalation mode. Circular blade profiles demonstrated superior performance and favorable flow characteristics, whereas elliptical profiles exhibited more pronounced flow separation attributed to higher curvature variation. The findings underscore the critical role of blade profile in determining turbine performance, highlighting the importance of optimizing blade design for enhanced efficiency. Building upon these results, an integration of an intelligent control system for guide vane geometric angles is proposed to ensure optimal alignment with downstream flow angles throughout the cycle. This study contributes to the understanding of turbine performance in OWC systems and provides insights for future design optimization efforts aimed at maximizing energy conversion efficiency.