Parameters Analysis of Vortex Formation on Conical Basin of Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant (GWVPP)

Abstract

AbstractGravitational water vortex power plant (GWVPP) is known as a low energy conversion system that can be used in low-head river flows approximately 0.8–2 m. Due to the low-head utilization, the GWVPP does not work in the pressure differences principle, however utilizes eddies, which are called vortexes, to generate mechanical power. Turbine performance is influenced by vortex flow performance, indicated by the value of vortex heigh, tangential velocity, and vortex strength. In addition, the influence of geometric parameters such as outlet to inlet diameter and basin dimension enlargement also affects the tangential velocity and vortex strength. The numerical simulation study was conducted to analyze the influence of basin geometry on vortex formation. The variation of the inlet to outlet diameter and basin enlargement of the conical basin is employed to get the depth information about the geometry effect. In this study, an analysis of a conical basin having an outlet to inlet diameter ratio of 0.2 and 0.3 was carried out. In addition, 1X, 1.1X, and 1.2X enlargement were also carried out. The difference has a significant impact on the vortex height, the smaller the higher the vortex height formed. The vortex formation is also influences by the basin size of basin enlargement; the vortex height gets lower along with the increase of basin size. From the analysis, it was found that the maximum tangential velocity and vortex strength occurred at 0.3 and the enlargement was 1.2X.KeywordsConical basinDiameter ratioEnlargementTangential velocityVortex strengthVortex height