Study of the influence of vane angle on shaft output of a multivane air turbine

Abstract

Faster consumption of hydrocarbon fuel in the transport sector is posing global threat of depletion of fossil fuel reserves. Studies are being extensively done to search for an alternative energy source and/or to find out appropriate energy conversion system. Among various alternatives, the use of compressed atmospheric air in air turbine is an attractive option provided the atmospheric air is compressed by natural sources such as sun energy, wind energy, etc. It has the capability to produce shaft work with almost zero pollution in the environment. This paper details the mathematical modeling of a small capacity compressed air driven multivane air turbine. The effect of having different vane angles and inlet pressure on shaft work output has been studied and analyzed here. The study shows that the flow work has significant contribution in total work output and varies from 1.5% to 16.3% at different pressures, 2–6 bars, and injection angles, 30°–60°. The total shaft work is found to be maximum at vane angle θ=36° (ten vanes) when injection angle is kept at 60°, and it reduces at vane angle θ=45° (eight vanes) when injection angle is kept at 45° and further goes down at vane angle θ=60° (six vanes) when injection angle is 30°, if injection pressure is maintained at 6 bars and speed of rotation at 2500 rpm.