scholarly journals Computational Analysis of a Double-Nozzle Crossflow Hydroturbine

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram Adhikari ◽  
David Wood

The crossflow turbines commonly used in small hydropower systems have a single nozzle. We are unaware of any studies of double-nozzle crossflow turbines which could have twice the power output of the single-nozzle design by doubling the flow through the same runner, with a high maximum efficiency. We present a computational analysis of a double-nozzle crossflow turbine, to determine the turbine efficiency and fundamental flow patterns. This work was based on a single-nozzle crossflow turbine with a maximum efficiency of 88%, one of the highest reported in the open literature through extensive experimental measurements. Previous numerical studies on this turbine have shown that the water flow in the runner was confined to less than half the runner periphery, implying that the other half could be used to double the runner power output by employing a second nozzle. We show that adding a second, identical nozzle without making any other changes to the design achieves a doubling of the power output. The dual-nozzle turbine, therefore, has the same efficiency as the original turbine. We also investigate the use of a slider to control the flow at part-load and show that part-load efficiency of the double-nozzle is very similar to that of the original turbine. This demonstrates the feasibility of using two nozzles for crossflow turbines.

Author(s):  
J. H. Horlock ◽  
Leonardo Torbidoni

The efficiency of a cooled turbine stage has been discussed in the literature. All proposed definitions compare the actual power output with an ideal output, which has to be determined; but usually, one of two definitions has been used by turbine designers. In the first, the so-called Hartsel efficiency, the mainstream gas flow, and the various coolant flows to rotor and stator are assumed to expand separately and isentropically to the backpressure. In the second, it is assumed that these flows mix at constant (mainstream) gas pressure before expanding isentropically (sometimes, the rotor coolant flow is ignored in this definition). More recently, it has been suggested that a thermodynamically sounder definition is one in which the gas and coolant flows mix reversibly and adiabatically before isentropic expansion to the backpressure. In the current paper, these three efficiencies are compared, for a typical stage—the first cooled stage of a multistage industrial gas turbine. It is shown that all the efficiencies fall more or less linearly with increase of the fractional (total) coolant flow. It is also shown that the new definition of efficiency gives values considerably lower than the other two efficiencies, which are more widely used at present. Finally, the various irreversibilities associated with the flow through a cooled turbine are calculated. Although all these irreversibilities increase with the fractional coolant flow, it is shown that the “thermal” irreversibility associated with film cooling is higher than the other irreversibilities at large fractional coolant flow.


Author(s):  
Naoto Ogawa ◽  
Mirei Goto ◽  
Shouichiro Iio ◽  
Takaya Kitahora ◽  
Young-Do Choi ◽  
...  

Abstract The cross-flow turbine has been utilizing the development of small hydropower less than about 500kW in the world. The turbine cost is lower than the other turbines because of its smaller assembled parts and more straightforward structures. However, the maximum efficiency of the cross-flow turbine is lower than that of traditional turbines. Improving the turbine efficiency without increasing manufacturing costs is the best way to develop small hydropower in the future. This study is aiming to improve the turbine efficiency at the design point and partial load. The runner's outflow angle varies with turbine speed and guide vane opening in the typical cross-flow turbine. The tangential velocity component remains in the outflow in these conditions; thus, change the outflow direction along the runner's radial direction is helpful for performance improvement. The authors experimentally change the desirable outflow angle by attaching a cavity and a guide wall at the outside casing tip. The turbine performance test was conducted for various turbine speeds and guide vane opening. Next, flow visualization around the runner was performed. As a result, the effect of the cavity and the guide wall can be revealed. The outlet flow fields are different by attaching the cavity and the guide wall, especially between the partial and optimum load conditions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 671 ◽  
pp. 587-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROSS VENNELL

Tuning is essential to maximise the output of turbines extracting power from tidal currents. To realise a large fraction of a narrow channel's potential, rows of turbines not only have to be tuned for a particular tidal channel, they must also be tuned in the presence of all the other rows, i.e. ‘tuned in-concert’. The necessity for in-concert tuning to maximise farm efficiency occurs because the tuning of any one row affects a channel's total drag coefficient and hence the flow through all other rows. Surprisingly, in several circumstances the optimal in-concert tunings are the same or almost the same for all rows. Firstly, in both constricted and unconstricted channels, rows with the same turbine density have the same optimal tuning. Secondly, turbine rows in channels with a quasi-steady dynamical balance typically have almost the same optimal in-concert tunings, irrespective of their turbine density or any channel constrictions. Channel constrictions, occupying a large fraction of the cross-section or adding more rows of turbines, also make optimal tunings more uniform between rows. Adding turbines to a cross-section increases a farm's efficiency. However, in a law of diminishing returns for quasi-steady channels, turbine efficiency (the output per turbine) decreases as turbines are added to a cross-section. In contrast, for inertial channels with only moderate constrictions, turbine efficiency increases as turbines are added to a cross-section.


Author(s):  
J. H. Horlock ◽  
Leonardo Torbidoni

The efficiency of a cooled turbine stage has been discussed in the literature. All proposed definitions compare the actual power output with an ideal output, which has to be determined; but usually one of two definitions has been used by turbine designers. In the first, the so-called Hartsel efficiency, the mainstream gas flow and the various coolant flows to rotor and stator are assumed to expand separately and isentropically to the back pressure. In the second it is assumed that these flows mix at constant (mainstream) gas pressure before expanding isentropically (sometimes the rotor coolant flow is ignored in this definition). More recently it has been suggested that a thermodynamically sounder definition is one in which the gas and coolant flows mix reversibly and adiabatically before isentropic expansion to the back pressure. In the current paper these three efficiencies are compared, for a typical stage — the first cooled stage of a multistage industrial gas turbine. It is shown that all the efficiencies fall more or less linearly with increase of the fractional (total) coolant flow. It is also shown that the new definition of efficiency gives values considerably lower than the other two efficiencies, which are more widely used at present. Finally, the various irreversibilities associated with the flow through a cooled turbine are calculated. Although all these irreversibilities increase with the fractional coolant flow, it is shown that the “thermal” irreversibility associated with film cooling is higher than the other irreversibilities at large fractional coolant flow.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jubilee Prasad Rao ◽  
F. Javier Diez

A novel wind turbine design is proposed that increases turbine efficiency. The design consists of blades symmetrically positioned around a vertical axis. The blades experience cyclic pitch variations while rotating about the axis. The pitch variation is accomplished by an innovative mechanism that rotates the blades about a horizontal axis during rotation of the turbine. This controlled pitch variation allows the blades travelling upstream to be oriented horizontally so minimum drag is obtained. On the other hand, the blades travelling downstream are oriented vertically so maximum drag is achieved. Since the aiding downstream drag is maximum and the adverse upstream drag is minimum, this configuration allows for higher power output compared to conventional vertical axis wind turbines. Experiments on the turbine conducted in a water tunnel suggest an increase in power efficiencies.


2004 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 1277-1284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy L. P. G. Jentjens ◽  
Luke Moseley ◽  
Rosemary H. Waring ◽  
Leslie K. Harding ◽  
Asker E. Jeukendrup

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether combined ingestion of a large amount of fructose and glucose during cycling exercise would lead to exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates >1 g/min. Eight trained cyclists (maximal O2consumption: 62 ± 3 ml·kg-1·min-1) performed four exercise trials in random order. Each trial consisted of 120 min of cycling at 50% maximum power output (63 ± 2% maximal O2consumption), while subjects received a solution providing either 1.2 g/min of glucose (Med-Glu), 1.8 g/min of glucose (High-Glu), 0.6 g/min of fructose + 1.2 g/min of glucose (Fruc+Glu), or water. The ingested fructose was labeled with [U-13C]fructose, and the ingested glucose was labeled with [U-14C]glucose. Peak exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates were ∼55% higher ( P < 0.001) in Fruc+Glu (1.26 ± 0.07 g/min) compared with Med-Glu and High-Glu (0.80 ± 0.04 and 0.83 ± 0.05 g/min, respectively). Furthermore, the average exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates over the 60- to 120-min exercise period were higher ( P < 0.001) in Fruc+Glu compared with Med-Glu and High-Glu (1.16 ± 0.06, 0.75 ± 0.04, and 0.75 ± 0.04 g/min, respectively). There was a trend toward a lower endogenous carbohydrate oxidation in Fruc+Glu compared with the other two carbohydrate trials, but this failed to reach statistical significance ( P = 0.075). The present results demonstrate that, when fructose and glucose are ingested simultaneously at high rates during cycling exercise, exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates can reach peak values of ∼1.3 g/min.


1993 ◽  
Vol 183 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Curtin ◽  
R. C. Woledge

Net work output and heat production of white myotomal muscle fibres from the dogfish were measured during complete cycles of sinusoidal movement at 12°C. The peak-to-peak movement was about 9 % of the muscle fibre length; three stimuli at 32 ms intervals were given in each mechanical cycle. The frequency of movement and the timing of the stimulation were varied for each preparation to find the optimal conditions for power output and those optimal for efficiency (the ratio of net work output to total energy output as heat+work). To achieve either maximum power or maximum efficiency, the tetanus must start while the muscle fibres are being stretched, before the beginning of the shortening part of the mechanical cycle. The highest power output, averaged over one cycle, was 0.23+/−0.014 W g-1 dry mass (+/−s.e.m., N=9, 46.9+/−2.8 mW g-1 wet mass) and was produced during movement at 3.5 Hz. The highest efficiency, 0.41+/−0.02 (+/−s.e.m., N=13), occurred during movements at 2.0-2.5 Hz. This value is higher than the efficiency previously measured during isovelocity shortening of these fibres. The implications of the high efficiency for crossbridge models of muscle contraction are discussed.


Author(s):  
Yangbo Deng ◽  
Fengmin Su ◽  
Chunji Yan

The solar energy converter in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system, applies the solid frame structure of the ceramic foams to receive the concentrated solar radiation, convert it into thermal energy, and heat the air flow through the ceramic foams by convection heat transfer. In this paper, first, the pressure drops in the studied ceramic foams were measured under all kinds of flow condition. Based on the experimental results, an empirical numerical model was built for the air flow through ceramic foams. Second, a 3-D numerical model was built, for the receiving and conversion of the solar energy in the ceramic foams of the solar energy converter. Third, applying two aforementioned numerical models, the numerical studies of the thermal performance were carried out, for the solar energy converter filled with the ceramic foams, and results show that the structure parameters of the ceramic foams, the effective reflective area and the solar radiation intensity of the solar concentrator, have direct impacts on the absorptivity and conversion efficiency of the solar energy in the solar energy converter. And the results of the numerical studies are found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental measurements. This paper will provide a reference for the design and manufacture of the solar energy converter with the ceramic foams.


Author(s):  
L. Brull ◽  
E. Nizet ◽  
E. B. Verney

Lophius kidneys perfused with the heparinized blood (venous) of the fish secrete urine in which total non-protein nitrogen is concentrated, magnesium highly concentrated, and chloride only slightly so or not at all. Oxygenation of the blood, or lowering the temperature of the perfusate from c. 20° to c. 5° C. does not appear to influence secretion. The blood flow through the kidneys increases with the perfusion pressure, the increase often becoming disproportionately large. The urine flow, on the other hand, above a certain critical level is largely independent of changes in perfusion pressure.


Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Hua Ouyang ◽  
Zhao-hui Du

To give insight into the clocking effect and its influence on the wake transportation and its interaction, the unsteady three-dimensional flow through a 1.5-stage axial low pressure turbine is simulated numerically using a density-correction based, Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations commercial CFD code. The 2nd stator clocking is applied over ten equal tangential positions. The results show that the harmonic blade number ratio is an important factor affecting the clocking effect. The clocking effect has a very small influence on the turbine efficiency in this investigation. The efficiency difference between the maximum and minimum configuration is nearly 0.1%. The maximum efficiency can be achieved when the 1st stator wake enters the 2nd stator passage near blade suction surface and its adjacent wake passes through the 2nd stator passage close to blade pressure surface. The minimum efficiency appears if the 1st stator wake impinges upon the leading edge of the 2nd stator and its adjacent wake of the 1st stator passed through the mid-channel in the 2nd stator.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document