Experimental Study of the Efficiency of Hydrokinetic Turbines Under Real River Conditions

Alexander Stanilov, Rangel Sharkov, Angel Alexandrov, Rositsa Velichkova and Iskra Simova ()
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Alexander Stanilov: Department of Hydroaerodynamics and Hydraulic Machines, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Rangel Sharkov: National Center of Excellence for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Angel Alexandrov: Department of Machine Elements and Non-Metallic Constructions, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Rositsa Velichkova: Department of Hydroaerodynamics and Hydraulic Machines, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Iskra Simova: Department of Hydroaerodynamics and Hydraulic Machines, Technical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-17

Abstract: In recent years, a growing global effort has been underway to reduce the Earth’s carbon footprint. One of the main strategies to achieve this goal is the utilization of available renewable energy resources. Among the largest and most inexhaustible is hydro-power. This paper presents an experimental study of three hydrokinetic turbines tested under real river conditions, aiming to evaluate their effectiveness in harnessing the kinetic energy of flowing water. The experiment is described in detail, including velocity field measurements conducted within the river section used for testing. Based on the experimental data, the main performance characteristics of the three turbines are presented, specifically their power output and efficiency. The importance of selecting an optimal riverbed site and customizing turbine runners to local flow conditions is highlighted, as even slight velocity fluctuations can significantly impact performance. Among the tested designs, the K1–6 turbine runner showed the highest power and efficiency, while the K2–4 runner provided superior rotational stability, making it promising for consistent energy output in variable flow environments

Keywords: hydrokinetic turbines; turbine efficiency; field experiments; flowing water utilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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