Study on a performance prediction for Darrieus-type hydro-turbine in open channel flow

Abstract

Recently, small hydro energy as one of sustainable energies has begun to spread for power generation. The small hydropowers are used in various complex flows, so it is difficult to predict the power performance appropriately. We proposed a one-dimensional performance prediction method of turbine installed at actual flow channels, which is to be used at early design/planning stages. This study investigated performance prediction for Darrieus-type hydro-turbine by one-dimensional streamtube model. As the results, the power coefficient is reduced along with the enlargement of the open channel width. In addition, effectivrness of inlet nozzle for power coefficient improvement depends upon the open channel width.