Design Optimisation of a Unidirectional Centrifugal Radial-Air-Turbine for Application in OWC Wave Energy Converters

Nazanin Ansarifard, Alan Fleming, Alan Henderson, S.S. Kianejad and Shuhong Chai
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Nazanin Ansarifard: Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Maritime way, Newnham, TAS 7248, Australia
Alan Fleming: Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Maritime way, Newnham, TAS 7248, Australia
Alan Henderson: School of Engineering, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS 7001, Australia
S.S. Kianejad: Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Maritime way, Newnham, TAS 7248, Australia
Shuhong Chai: Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Maritime way, Newnham, TAS 7248, Australia

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-22

Abstract: Research on employing unidirectional air turbines for oscillating water columns (OWC) has received much attention in the last few years. Most unidirectional turbine topologies considered to date use axial flow unidirectional turbines. The radial turbine offers an alternative with increased resistance to backflow. However, in general, the efficiency of radial turbines is lower than axial turbines. This study describes a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based design optimisation of an outflow radial turbine for the intended application in an OWC system configured to enable primarily unidirectional flow through the turbine. The rotor blade geometry is parametrically described in addition to other turbine components. The central composite design (CCD) and genetic algorithm were used to explore an optimum design of a centrifugal radial turbine for a maximum total-to-static efficiency. Seven computer aided design (CAD) parameters were investigated as the design variables, and the optimum turbine design was identified in a population of 79 design points. The optimum outflow turbine was found to have a peak steady-state efficiency of 72%, and the leading-edge angle, guide vane angle, trailing edge angle, and the chord length were found to have the highest sensitivity. Compared to an inflow radial turbine, the geometrical features of the outflow turbine permit higher absolute velocities of the flow at the rotor entrance and increase the dynamic pressure changes across the rotor. Therefore, the optimised outflow radial turbine can obtain acceptable rotor energy transfer despite having a negative centrifugal energy transfer term.

Keywords: outflow radial air turbine; optimisation; efficiency maximization; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); wave energy conversion; OWC; twin-turbine; vented (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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