CFD Analysis of a Hydrostatic Pressure Machine with an Open Source Solver

The open source and freely available fluid flow solver named caffa3d was adapted to simulate the performance of a medium-scale Hydrostatic Pressure Machine (HPM) with straight radial blades, which had been previously tested in laboratory facility. A fully detailed explanation code is not intended be included this paper, but some its main characteristics are mentioned for completeness. In addition, convergence grid sensitivity analysis were performed order assess adequacy model. Evolution instantaneous power over few turns HPM shows typical blade pass frequency all operating discharges another oscillatory phenomena at rotating higher discharges. Power—Discharge Efficiency—Discharge curves obtained from simulations present good correlation experimental curves, up discharge value corresponding maximum HPM. comparison error efficiency remained below 6% lower than 97.8 L/s. For discharge, through becomes very unsteady, big eddy structures, underfilling buckets recirculation down entry channel, significantly reducing generated power. This behaviour also observed during previous experiments. work, foundations study other types turbines laid.