PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION OF HORIZONTAL AXIS HYDROKINETIC TURBINE BLADE

Abstract

Hydrokinetic energy is the kinetic energy of a water mass due to its movement. The faster the water flow, the larger hydrokinetic energy it contains. Hydrokinetic turbines are used to covert this kinetic energy to electricity generation. Since the performance of these turbines played an important role in viability of hydrokinetic power generation projects hence different design parameters are studied to enhance its power generation capacity and performance. In this project Chord Length and hence Solidity of hydrokinetic turbines at constant blade pitch angle and TSR is analyzed. The values of TSR taken is 3.36 at rotation speed of 90 rpm, the Chord Length taken is 0.12, 0.15 and 0.20 mt at blade pitch angle of 10 degree and flow speed 2.8 m/s. The design of turbine blade is done with the help of Airfoil-Tool, Pro-E software and meshing is done at Hypermesh. The analysis is done with the help of ANSYS FLUENT. After analysis we found that with increase in the chord length (or solidity) of turbine blade the thrust, torque and power generated increases and because of this coefficient of performance is also increases.