Wake Characteristics and Power Performance of a Drag-Driven in-Bank Vertical Axis Hydrokinetic Turbine

Jiyong Lee, Mirko Musa, Chris Feist, Jinjin Gao, Lian Shen and Michele Guala
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Jiyong Lee: Saint Anthony Falls Lab, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
Mirko Musa: Saint Anthony Falls Lab, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
Chris Feist: Saint Anthony Falls Lab, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
Jinjin Gao: Saint Anthony Falls Lab, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
Lian Shen: Saint Anthony Falls Lab, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
Michele Guala: Saint Anthony Falls Lab, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: Preliminary design of a new installation concept of a drag-driven vertical axis hydrokinetic turbine is presented. The device consists of a three-bladed, wheel-shaped, turbine partially embedded in relatively shallow channel streambanks. It is envisioned to be installed along the outer banks of meandering rivers, where the flow velocity is increased, to maximize energy extraction. To test its applicability in natural streams, flume experiments were conducted to measure velocity around the turbine and power performance using Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry and a controlled motor drive coupled with a torque transducer. The experiment results comprise the power coefficient, the spatial evolution of the mean velocity deficit, and a description of the flow structures generated by the turbine and responsible for the unsteadiness of the wake flow. Applying a triple decomposition on the Reynolds stresses, we identify the dominant contribution to such unsteadiness to be strongly associated with the blade passing frequency.

Keywords: hydrokinetic turbine; vertical axis turbine; open channel flow (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 (2)

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