CFD analysis for an eco-friendly Alden turbine system
Authors:
- Bernard S. Twaróg
Abstract
The concept of an environmentally-friendly Alden turbine was developed in 1993. Intensive work led to a radically new design for the turbine runner. The number of blades was decreased – thus the pressure and velocity gradients were reduced, the clearance between the runner and the stay vanes was minimized while the flow passage width was maximized. Despite all the efforts, the operation area of a system with an Alden turbine includes locations that fail to meet environmental criteria and standards. Attention is focused on operation of the Alden turbine, the scroll inlet, and the bent draft tube. A 3D model of the system was developed for a CFD (Computer Fluid Dynamics) simulation. Modelling was conducted using the Flow3D, using Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The study contains an analysis of the most acute problems in the operation of a hydroelectric system: cavitation, vorticity, hydrodynamic loads and pressure fluctuation. A spectral analysis was performed to indicate the prevailing frequencies of pressure fluctuation. The study also examines distributions of stresses and contains images of deformations in selected system components: the scroll inlet and draft tube. The FSI (Fluid Structure Interaction) model with von Mises’ tension theory were used to obtain those results. Considering the disastrous adverse effect of hydroelectric systems on fish populations, unfavourable locations were identified in which limit values set in environmental protection requirements are exceeded. A fish model was constructed to perform biomechanical analyses using FSI theory. The study gives values of stresses in the fish body and describes the regression relationship between stress and pressure. The last section of the study deals with pressure and velocity fluctuations taking place in fish swimming areas, beginning with the scroll inlet, the turbine, and ending with the draft tube.
- Record ID
- CUT69c5651862a94e759152fadff322f8dc
- Publication categories
- ; ;
- Author
- Pages
- 33
- Book
- Szramowiat-Sala Katarzyna, Katarzyna Szramowiat-Sala Marczak Marta, Marta Marczak Figaj Rafał Rafał Figaj [et al.] (eds.): SEED : 3rd International Conference on the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Development, October 16-18, 2019, Krakow, Poland : book of abstracts, 2019, Kraków, Institute of Sustainable Energy – Publishing House, ISBN 978-83-954975-3-7
- Keywords in English
- Alden turbine, hydrodynamic cavitation, hydrodynamic loads, vortex core, suction pipe, biomechanical analyses
- URL
- http://www.seedconference.org/publications/ Opening in a new tab
- Language
- eng (en) English
- License
- Score (nominal)
- 0
- Uniform Resource Identifier
- https://cris.pk.edu.pl/info/article/CUT69c5651862a94e759152fadff322f8dc/
- URN
urn:pkr-prod:CUT69c5651862a94e759152fadff322f8dc
* presented citation count is obtained through Internet information analysis, and it is close to the number calculated by the Publish or PerishOpening in a new tab system.