Semi Twisted Curve Blade Vortex Turbine Performance at Runner Rotation Speed Variation using CFD Simulation

Abstract

Utilization of renewable energy potential continues to be developed at this time. One of them is a hydroelectric power plant with turbulent vortex technology. One of the vortex turbine blade designs that has been developed is the semi twisted curve. The blades shape of the blades and the position of the runners affect the performance of the vortex turbine. This research uses CFD simulation by varying the rotational speed of the runner, which is between 80 to 120 rpm. The position of the upper end of the runner is placed at a depth of 4.5 cm from the total depth of the cone basin of 33 cm, the maximum water power is set at 28.66 Watt obtained from the mass flow rate of water of 6.21 kg/s. The simulation results show that as the runner's rotational speed increases, the torque decreases, as well as the torque decreases slightly. The highest turbine power and efficiency occurred at 90 rpm runner rotation, which was 4.044 Watt and 14.11% respectively. This is because the turbine power calculation is the result of the multiplication between torque and runner rotation which produces the highest value at 90 rpm.