End Semester Project Presentation

ON

Computational and Experimental Study of an

Ultra Low Head Turbine
Group Members:
Nischal Pokharel (41102)
Pradeep Parajuli (41098)
Pratik Koirala (41117)
Under the Supervision of:
Prof. Dr.- Ing. Ramesh Kumar Maskey

Presentation Outline

Ultra low head(ULH) turbine : Introduction

Background and status
Objectives and scope of study
Operational Principle
Methodology
Numerical process adapted
Result and the analysis
Conclusion and future works
References

Ultra low head(ULH) turbine : Introduction

Ultra low-head turbine

Possibilities

Head : less
than 5 m

Applicable in
even natural
or man-made
rivers and
canals with
little or no
water storage
capacity

Static
pressure
difference
principle

Status and current Research

Research done in the country like Germany, Italy, UK etc.
Research paper of University of Southampton.
Consultation : Dr Gerald Mller
Senior Lecturer. University of Southampton

Focus on Physical
model test

CFD analysis
for the selection
of best profile

Background

Third Model
Second Model
First Model
Successful modification of our model

Objectives
Test setup building and testing to
measure various parameters
Fabrication of the turbine as per the
design in rapid prototyping machine
Design of turbine model of different blade profiles,
carry out simulation on them and choose the one that
optimize the efficiency.

Scope and the limitation.

Flow visualization through similation

Velocity triangle analysis.

Analysis at optimized angle of 20

degree

Alteration of the angle between blades

and the hub

Analysis at different profile of blades.

BUT

Analysis at optimized canal system.

Methodology
Literature review
Familiarization with simulation tools
3D Design in solidworks
CFD analysis
Result analysis of different profile

Selection of the best on comparrison of

the torque and the velocity distribution.

ANSYS
CFX
software

Contd..

Force due to pressure difference

Counteracting force due to accleration

Where,
where, l= known length over which
is drop in water level due velocity.
velocity changes.
Q= flow rate
v2=(d1/d2)v1
v2= downstream velocity
v1= upstream velocity

Thus power output,

And the effeciency,

Numerical Process Adapted

1.

3D design of turbine with three different blades profile

2. Domain

3. Workflow

Mesh generation

Preprocessing

Solver control

Numerical Process Adapted

1. 3D design of turbine with three different
blades profile

2. Domain
3. Workflow

Three model with three blade profile:

Mesh generation
Preprocessing
Solver control
Profile of the blade
straight.

Profile of blades that

the aim of generating
the concept of the lift,
smooth fluid motion
and less vibration.

Profile curved that

favors the streamline
flow.

Numerical Process Adapted

3D design of turbine

Multiphase domain is created

2. Domain
3. Workflow
Mesh generation
Preprocessing
Solver control

Rotary domain

Stationary domain

Numerical Process Adapted

1. 3D design of turbine
2. Domain

3. Work flow
Mesh generation
Preprocessing
Solver control

Geometry Importing

Meshing and condition

defining
Boundary condition of the
the material and solving

Mesh

generation

Hex dominant
Element size : 0.005 m for stationary domain and 0.004 m for rotating domain
S.N Types
turbine

of Types

of Number of Number

domain

Nodes

Elements

Stationary

280852

272132

Rotating

144535

172988

Stationary

280852

272132

Rotating

141967

174721

Stationary

294614

282302

Rotating

159242

191413

models
1.

2.

3.

Straight

Twisted

Curve

of

Preprocessing
Initial and boundary conditions for the flow are defined.
Turbulence model

k-Epsilon

Inlet condition
Absolute velocity

1.467 m/s

Fluid values

Water = 1, Air at 25oC = 0

Outlet condition
Static pressure

1 atm

Opening condition in rotating domain

Opening Pressure and Direction

1 atm

Fluid values

Water = 1, Air at 25oC = 1

Solver Control
Convergence control
Minimum iteration

Maximum iteration

300

Convergence criteria
Residual type

RMS

Residual target

1.E-4

Result and the discussion

Convergence History(Torque)

Velocity Distribution

Pressure Distribution

Torque comparison
Forces along the axis
of rotation

Blade 1

Blade 2

Blade 3

Blade 4

Forces along the axis

of rotation

Blade 5
Blade 6
Blade7
Blade 8
hub

Total force
Torque
Efficiency

Profile of the blade

Straight

Twisted

Curved

53.079

72.46

107.927

5.978

86.16

227.665

195.835

73.709

33.42

90.542

35.074

26.67

111.487

37.14

70.97

295.293

61.44

73.906

61.556

39.47

109.303

81

12.07

443.373

255.788

54.79

382.15

1150.558

472.313

1475.384

97.79743

40.14661

125.4076

0.387624

0.159122

0.497058

Assumption : The resultant force act at the mid-poinnt of the blade.

Gantt Chart

Conclusion
Among all the turbine differing in the blade profile the curved blade profile
has been found most efficient.

References
Senior, J., Wiemann, P., & Muller, G. THE ROTARY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE MACHINE
FOR VERY LOW HEAD HYDROPOWER SITES. University of Southampton, U.K.
Harvey, A, & Brown, A (1992). Micro-Hydro Design Manual.Stockholm: ITDG Publishing.
WIEMANN, P. (2006) Neue wirtschaftliche und technische Mglichkeiten der
Stromerzeugung durch innovative Kleinwasserkraftwerke (New economic and technical
possibilities for energy generation with innovative small hydropower converters, in
German), Diplomarbeit, Universitt Kalsruhe/ University of Southampton.
Sayma, A. Computational Fluid Dynamics.Abdulnser sayma & Venus Publishing
Aps.2009
Andersson, B.& Co., Computational Fluid Dynamics for Engineers, Cambridge University
Press.2012
Ferziger, H.&Peric,M,. Computational Methods for Fluid Dynamics.3 rd, rev. edition 2002
Rygg, J.,CFD Analysis of a Pelton Turbine Using OpenFoam,NTNU,2013

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