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CFD simulation of water gravitation vortex pool flow for mini hydropower plants

Shabara, H. M. and Yaakob, O. B. and Ahmed, Y. M. and Elbatran, A. H. (2015) CFD simulation of water gravitation vortex pool flow for mini hydropower plants. Jurnal Teknologi, 74 (5). pp. 77-81. ISSN 0127-9696

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11113/jt.v74.4645

Abstract

Mini hydropower plants can be expected to have a good potential to provide electricity to remote communities. An important part of this economic and clean energy system is the conversion of the low-head potential energy into kinetic energy to drive the power turbines. One way of converting the low-head potential energy is using a gravitation vortex pool. This paper describes work to optimize the vortex pool to improve energy conversion and hence generate electricity from low heads of between 0.7 m to 3 m. The commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code ANSYS Fluent was used in this study to investigate the optimum configuration of the vortex pool system. The free surface flow of this system was mathematically described. A parametric study was carried out using the software to determine the main parameters affecting the efficiency of the energy conversion. This parametric study utilized Fluent, which focused on the effect of changing water depth and outlet diameter on inlet/outlet speed; which is novel approach. The results from this study could help in the investigation of the optimum configuration of the vortex pool system.

Item Type:Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:CFD, energy extraction, gravitation water system, mini hydropower
Subjects:T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
V Naval Science > VM Naval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering
Divisions:Mechanical Engineering
ID Code:58014
Deposited By: Haliza Zainal
Deposited On:04 Dec 2016 04:07
Last Modified:05 Aug 2021 02:14

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