Numerical analysis of blockage ratio effect on a portable hydrokinetic turbine

Three-dimensional steady state Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses were performed for a pre-designed micro-hydrokinetic turbine to investigate the blockage ratio effect on turbine performance. Simulations were conducted using a physical turbine rotor geometry rather than low fidelity, simplified actuator disk or actuator lines. The two-equation k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model was employed to predict turbulence in the flow field. The turbine performance at the best efficiency point was studied for blockage ratios of 0.49, 0.70 and 0.98 for three different free stream velocities of 2.0 m/s, 2.25 m/s and 2.5 m/s. Distinct blockage ratio results at a free stream velocity of 2.25 were compared to a previous numerical study incorporating the same rotor geometry within an infinite flowing medium. The pressure gradient between turbine upstream and turbine downstream for blocked channel flows elevated the turbine performance. The increment in blockage ratio from 0.03 to 0.98 enhanced power coefficient from 0.437 to 2.254 and increased power generation from 0.56 kW to 2.86 kW for the present study.