Numerical Simulation of a Propeller-Type Turbine for In-Pipe Installation

Oscar Dario Monsalve-Cifuentes; Jonathan Graciano-Uribe; Diego Andrés Hincapié Zuluaga

Authors

Oscar Dario Monsalve-Cifuentes Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechatronics and Electromechanics, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Robledo Campus, Calle 73 No. 76A-354, Vía al Volador, Medellín, Colombia
Jonathan Graciano-Uribe Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechatronics and Electromechanics, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Robledo Campus, Calle 73 No. 76A-354, Vía al Volador, Medellín, Colombia
Diego Andrés Hincapié Zuluaga Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechatronics and Electromechanics, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Robledo Campus, Calle 73 No. 76A-354, Vía al Volador, Medellín, Colombia

Keywords:

In-pipe turbines, Propeller, Savonius, Pico-hydropower, Numerical simulation, Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD

Abstract

In this work, a 76 mm diameter propeller-type turbine is numerically investigated using a parametric study and computational fluid dynamics. The three-dimensional model of the turbine is modeled using data available in the bibliography. A mesh independence study is carried out utilizing a tetrahedron-based mesh with inflation layers around the turbine blade and the pipe wall. The best efficiency point is determined by the maximum hydraulic efficiency of 64.46 %, at a flow rate of 9.72x10^-3 m³/s , a head drop of 1.76 m, and a mechanical power of 107.83 W. Additionally, the dimensionless distance y+, pressure, and velocity contours are shown.