Cavitation Hydrodynamic Performance of 3-D Printed Highly Skewed Stainless Steel Tidal Turbine Rotors

Hydraulic turbines contribute to 60% of renewable energy in the world; however, they also entail some adverse effects on aquatic ecology system. One such effect is their excessive noise and vibration. To minimize this effect, one most effective feasible solutions modify design turbine rotor blade by introducing a skew. In study, two 0.3-meter tidal with 0-degree (no-skewness) positive 90-degree skewness made stainless steel 316L were designed printed using 3-D printing powder bed fusion technique. These rotors then tested at Emerson Cavitation Tunnel (ECT) Newcastle University, UK, variation blades as function power coefficient given tip speed ratio (TSR) value was ascertained. Results showed that highly skewed had significantly lower drag torque fluctuations, slight decrease efficiency compared non-skewed one, which warrants further investigation added skew reduce vibration noise. Numerical simulations performed for verification validation experimental tests, H45 dynamometer ECT. A comprehensive software code propellers turbines, ROTORYSICS, used examine cavitation rotors; comparison both, without cavitation. The results indicate high immersion depth rotors, rarely occurs, but hydrokinetic are installed dams rivers falls, could be serious concern. It concluded more hydrodynamically efficient than rotor.