The effect of conical basin geometry on gravitational water vortex power plant

Abstract

This research paper presents an analysis of improving the efficiency of a gravity eddy micro hydropower plant, which is an effective solution for low pressure water flows, by determining the optimal geometry of the conical basin. The geometry of the basin is the main parameter that directly affects the height of the vortex, the suspension of the full air mass in the center of the vortex, the achievement of a high value of the tangential speed of the vortex and, at the same time, the efficiency. Conical basin geometry analyzes were performed using SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation. In this research work, the tangential speeds of the simulation model vortex formed by changing the cone part of the conical basin at angles of 25º-60º relative to the vertical were determined and it was based on the fact that the optimal value of the deviation angle is 45º.