Numerical investigation of a small water turbine used for the power supply of underwater vehicles

Abstract

The development of underwater vehicles is facing the problem of sustainable energy supply. This study introduces a small water turbine, the Lenz turbine, for energy generation from the ocean currents which will provide energy for the underwater vehicles. Computational fluid dynamics simulations of the effect of geometric parameters, including the blade radius, chord length, and pitch angle, on the performance of the turbine are conducted. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations are numerically solved with a sliding mesh method. Thirteen sets of tests in total are performed at different values of tip-speed ratios. The tests are divided into three groups to study the effect of the three parameters mentioned above, separately. The obtained power coefficients, coefficient of torque, and the dynamic torque on a blade are then compared in each group of tests. Pressure contours and velocity contours are given to explain the reason how the geometric parameters affect the rotor performance.