Numerical simulation performance of permanent magnet generator axial turbine

Abstract

ITB-ESDM-LIPI (Bandung Institute of Technology - Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources – Indonesian Institute of Sciences) research collaboration program had successfully created a prototype of permanent magnetic axial turbine for very low head applications. The turbine was designed to produce 15 kW output power at 450 rpm and 4.5 m head. This paper aims to find the performance of axial hydraulic turbine using CFD method. In order to simulate the axial turbine, the experiment setup required pipes, valve, grille, orifice, and draft tube to fulfill the existing field requirements. The experiment test location was carried out at Cijedil hydropower facility which had a reservoir that potentially gives 35 m head. The numerical simulations of CFDs produced power, torque, and efficiency values in various number of turbine rotation and flow heads. Through the CFDs simulation, the power generated was 62,352.16 W, torque produced was 1,323.15 Nm and the maximum efficiency was 85.91 % on 4.5 m head and 450 rpm.