Design optimization of a purely radial turbine for operation in the inhalation mode of an oscillating water column

Nazanin Ansarifard, S.S. Kianejad, Alan Fleming, Alan Henderson and Shuhong Chai

Renewable Energy, 2020, vol. 152, issue C, 540-556

Abstract: A vented Oscillating-Water-Column (OWC) simplifies the pneumatic energy conversion problem by rectifying air flow and enabling a unidirectional-air-turbine to be employed. It shifts power-extraction to the inhalation phase of the cycle and provides equivalent pneumatic power to a full-wave-cycle. Conventional Radial-air-turbines feature a low global-efficiency in OWC applications, however they offer simpler designs and lower thrust loads. The aim of this study is to modify the design of a centripetal-radial-turbine for optimum efficiency in steady-state using CFD methods for application with the pressure/flow profile experienced by the vented-OWC. Nine design variables were used to control the shape of the rotor and its adjustment to the inward-flow direction. The optimized rotor was found to achieve significant efficiency and output power by using asymmetric and non-zero-staggered blades. The downstream section was optimized for an efficient matching with the optimized-inflow-rotor and four parameters were used to control the shape of the downstream section. A diffuser with a 7-degree diffusion-angle was found to be the optimal connection between the turbine and the chamber. The inflow radial turbine obtained 81% peak efficiency in the steady-state, and its average efficiency over the expected flow coefficients is comparable to the axial-turbines used with OWCs.

Keywords: Radial air turbine; Optimization; Vented oscillating water column; Parametric turbine design; Inflow turbine configuration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:152:y:2020:i:c:p:540-556

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.01.084

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