Performance Analysis of a Vertical Axis Tidal Turbine With Flexible Blades

In this study, a vertical axis tidal turbine with flexible blades is investigated. The focus is on analyzing the effect of flexible airfoils types and blade flexibility on turbine net output power. To this end, five different flexible airfoils （Symmetric and Non-symmetric） are employed. The results show that the use of a thick flexible symmetric airfoil can effectively increase output power compared to that achievable with a conventional rigid blade. Moreover, the use of highly flexible blades, as opposed to less flexible or rigid blades, is not recommended.

Experimental study on absorption of blade vibration of honeycomb seal and shunt injection

Honeycomb seals and shunt injection have been proposed to weaken the blade vibration.Honeycombseals,as well as,smooth seals were tested with different seals' clearances and shrouded blades.Theshunt injection was sprayed to the blade tip clearance in the reverse direction of the main flow.Experi-mental results showed that both honeycomb seals and shunt injection had the damping effect for blade vi-bration,and the blade vibration magnitude could be reduced by more than 25 % and 17 %,respectively.When the two methods were adopted synchronously,more than 1/3 of the blade vibration could be re-duced.Consequently,adopting honeycomb seal and superinducing proper shunt injection are two usefulways to minimize vibration of the blade from the viewpoints of avoiding blade rupture and improving therotor stability.

Effects of Clearance between Rotor and Ground on the Performance of an Open Cross-Flow-Type Nano-Hydraulic Turbine

Flows through an open cross-flow-type nano-hydraulic turbine are numerically simulated to investigate the effects of the clearance Hc between the rotor and the ground on the turbine performance. A two-dimensional particle method is employed, which was successfully used for flow simulations of impulse-type and open cross-flow-type nano-hydraulic turbines in the authors＇ previous works. When the clearance Hc is smaller than a critical value, the simulated turbine performance decreases with decreasing Hc, in good agreement with the experiment. The simulations make it clear that such a reduction of turbine performance is attributable to an increase in the circumferential component of the water velocity at the rotor outlet. The simulations also demonstrate that the effect of the tip speed ratio of the rotor on the relation between Hc and turbine performance can be analyzed.

Performance Analysis of the Aeration Valves and Its Protections at the Generating Units in ITAIPU Hydroelectric Power Plant

With the growing energetic need present in the world, it is increasingly necessary for the researches and facilities to seek a better use of renewable natural resources. This paper is applied in the study of the performance of the aeration system of the Francis turbines present in Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant. When a Francis turbine operates off its optimal conditions, a vortex is formed inside the draft tube that, besides produces cavitation and pressure fluctuations, can pulse at frequencies with risk of resonance with hydraulic system, producing efforts and vibrations that may cause structural failures in the turbines, generators and civil parts of the power house. These damaging effects can be reduced using atmospheric aeration of the turbines. Because of this, the availability and effectively of the aeration system is fundamental to smooth the behavior of the turbines, helping preserve the health of the power plant. An analysis of the performance of the aeration system will be done using maintenance records and disturbances analysis reports （RAP）, allowing verification of the operating conditions of the turbine and fatality of water inlet in air pipes. Through the improvements detected, it is possible to reduce machine stoppages by tripping, thus increasing the availability of the turbines.

Study and innovation of a flexible blade turbine,a new type of tidal current generating device

Utilization of tidal current is becoming a focus of marine energy research and development field. In this paper, a new type of tidal current power generating device which was called flexible blade turbine was put forward. A scale model testing was carried out, and results show that the models performed as expected with good hydrodynamic characteristics. Based on analysis of the results, a scale model turbine with a rated power of 5 kW was constructed, which was an optimal scheme of the flexible blade turbine having higher coefficient of power and power generation capacity. Sea trials were carried out in the Zhaitang Island Channel to evaluate the performance of the turbine. Results show that the turbine performed well, generating the power predicted.

Liquid Flow Characteristics inside Impeller Rotational Region of an Unbaffled Vessel Agitated with an Unsteadily Angularly Oscillating Impeller

Characteristics of the liquid flow were studied in the impeller region for an unbaffied vessel agitated with an angularly oscillating impeller whose rotation proceeds while periodically reversing its direction at the set angle, namely, rotating unsteadily with sinusoidal variation of the set amplitude. Measurement of the velocity of the liquid flow was performed, abreast of that of the torque of the shaft attached with the impeller. A disk turbine impeller with six flat blades was used in angular oscillation mode at the different amplitudes. The power characteristics were analyzed with the power number during one cycle of the angular oscillation consisting of a process for the impeller to stop and to reverse and that to rotate with a certain acceleration-deceleration in a uniform orientation. The power number in the process for the impeller to rotate exhibited slightly lower values compared with that of the identical design of impeller used in unidirectional rotation mode in a fully baffled vessel, being higher values in its process to stop and to reverse. Under such an operating condition in the amplitude, a time series of images was analyzed by particle tracking velocimetry （PTV） to characterize the fluctuation components of the velocities of the circumferential and radial flows inside the impeller rotational region. The impeller in its rotation process produced flows having a relatively large turbulence, independent of the amplitude condition. For the radial flow relating to the discharge flow, which contributes to transport of the turbulence throughout the vessel, operation at higher amplitude was clarified to be successful.

On-Cam Operation of Counter-Rotating Type Hydroelectric Unit

The counter-rotating type hydroelectric unit, which is composed of the axial flow type tandem runners and the peculiar generator with double rotational armatures, has been proposed. In the unit, the front and the rear runners counter-drive the inner and the outer armatures of the generator, respectively. Besides, the flow direction at the rear runner outlet must coincide with the direction at the front runner inlet, because the angular momentum change through the rear runner must coincides with that through the front runner. In this paper, the tandem runners work at on-cam conditions in keeping the induced frequency constant, to provide the hydroelectric unit for the power grid system. The output and the hydraulic efficiency are affected by the adjusting angles of the front and the rear blades. Both optimum angles giving the maximum output or efficiency were presented at the various discharge/head circumstances, accompanying with the turbine performances.

Pressure Variation in the Fluid inside a Tesla Turbine

The recent technological developments being applied to Tesla like turbines for converting fluid energy into mechanical （axis） energy often lead to non-frequently used models. Given a disk shaped machine rotating around its own symmetry axis, part of the machine energy is transferred to the fluid itself, pushing it to the disk periphery. This way the farther the exhaust orifice is from the disk outside contour, the larger will be the pressure loss experienced by the system. This work studies the overall energy balance and momentum exchange between fluid and machine. Simple calculation shows that for total pressure gradients above two bar the machines become inefficient for having tangential velocity whose intensity is 50% higher than the intensity of the jet velocity prior to the interaction. For values of the pressure gradient above 5.7 bar, the machine peripheral velocity is equal to the incident jet velocity. In this case it is not possible to deliver power under permanent regime. Finally it is shown that when the feeding pressure of an impulse turbine is enough for more than one stage, then one should use this option to obtain thermal efficiencies similar to those of reaction machines. The jet of fluid to move a Tesla like turbine should enter the unit as close as possible to the direction tangential to the movement, （i.e., normal to the radius at the considered position）. This fluid should leave the machine right after interacting with it. Any permanence of the fluid after transferring its momentum to the machine can be extremely prejudicial to the system behavior.

Flow around Wells Type Runner Installed in Floating Type Unique Ocean Wave Power Station

The authors have proposed the unique ocean wave power station, which is composed of the floating type platform with a pair of floats lining up at the interval of one wave pitch and the power unit where the runners are submerged at the middle of the platform. Such a profile can make the flow velocity at the runner twice faster than that of OWC （oscillating water column） type constructed adjacent to the seashore. The behavior of the platform in the wave has been reported, and this paper continuously investigates the effects of the runner casing on the runner work and the platform behavior. Besides, the flows around the Wells type, not only single runner but also tandem runners are investigated numerically. It was confirmed that the runner work attenuates the platform amplitude and the runner casing contributes to increase the output. The flow simulation suggests that the tandem runners may be appropriate for the floating type ocean wave power station to get enough output.

固定以应急 轮流练战术——天津预备役一师探索训练改革新路子

天津预备役一师,着眼区域特点和未来战争中可能担负的任务要求,积极探索现有装备条件下的训练路子,总结出“应急分队训练固定式、战术分队训练轮流式”的经验,得到总部、军区和天津警备区肯定。 这个师地处天津市改革开放的“窗口”和前沿。怎样才能有效提高预备役官兵应付突发事件和遂行作战任务的能力?一直是该师多年潜心研究的课题。他们依据《训练大纲》。

发挥“家”的导向作用 培育“四有”民兵

四川开江县真武宫村依托“青年民兵之家”,引导民兵学习和宣传党的路线、方针、政策,开展健康有益的活动,陶冶民兵思想情操。民兵连利用广播每周1—2次主要播讲《国防理论》、《英模事迹》、《法律常识》和村里的好人好事。采取问答式、抽签式、轮流式,分成学习小组,开展各种知识竞赛活动,寓教于乐。对外出务工的民兵。

Study on an Undershot Cross-Flow Water Turbine

This study aims to develop a water turbine suitable for ultra-low heads in open channels, with the end goal being the effective utilization of unutilized hydroelectric energy in agricultural water channels. We performed tests by applying a cross-flow runner to an open channel as an undershot water turbine while attempting to simplify the structure and eliminate the casing. We experimentally investigated the flow fields and performance of water tur- bines in states where the flow rate was constant for the undershot cross-flow water turbine mentioned above. In addition, we compared existing undershot water turbines with our undershot cross-flow water turbine after at- taching a bottom plate to the runner. From the results, we were able to clarify the following. Although the effec- tive head for cross-flow runners with no bottom plate was lower than those found in existing runners equipped with a bottom plate, the power output is greater in the high rotational speed range because of the high turbine ef- ficiency. Also, the runner with no bottom plate differed from rtmners that had a bottom plate in that no water was being wound up by the blades or retained between the blades, and the former received twice the flow due to the flow-through effect. As a result, the turbine efficiency was greater for runners with no bottom plate in the full ro- tational speed range compared with that found in runners that had a bottom plate.

Study on Performance and Flow Field of an Undershot Cross-Flow Water Turbine Comprising Different Number of Blades

Recently, small hydroelectric generators have gained attention as a further development in water turbine technology for ultra low head drops in open channels. The authors have evaluated the application of cross-flow water turbines in open channels as an undershot type after removing the casings and guide vanes to substantially simplify these water turbines. However, because undershot cross-flow water turbines are designed on the basis of cross-flow water turbine runners used in typical pipelines, it remains unclear whether the number of blades has an effect on the performance or flow fields. Thus, in this research, experiments and numerical analyses are employed to study the performance and flow fields of undershot cross-flow water turbines with varying number of blades. The findings show that the turbine output and torque are lower, the fluctuation is significantly higher, and the turbine efficiency is higher for runners with 8 blades as opposed to those with 24 blades.

Influence of rotating wakes on separation in turbine exhaust diffusers

Highly efficient turbine exhaust diffuser cannot be designed without taking into account the unsteady interactions with the last rotating row of the turbine. Former investigations described in the literature show a very high potential compared to that of other parts of turbomachines for improving the diffuser. A scale model of a typical gas turbine exhaust diffuser is investigated experimentally. To investigate the influence of rotating wakes, measurements without a spoke wheel as well as measurements with a variable-speed rotating cylindrical spoke wheel with 2 mm- or 10 mm-spokes simulating turbine rotor wakes were made. Miniaturized 3-hole pneumatic probes as well as a 2D-Laser-Doppler-Velocimeter （LDV） were used to investigate velocity profiles. 122 static pressure tapings were used to measure several axial and circumferential static pressure distributions. Without a spoke-wheel the annular diffuser separates at the shroud for all swirl configurations. For the measurements with the 2 mm spoke wheel, the separating diffuser was unstable while keeping the test rig operating parameters constant. For a non-rotating 10 mm spoke wheel and at rotational speeds less than 1,000 rpm, the annular diffuser separated at the shroud. Increasing the rotational speed of the 10mm spoke wheel, flow did not separate at the shroud and much higher pressure recovery than without spoke wheel has achieved.

Turbine efficiency test on a large hydraulic turbine unit

The flow rate measurements are the most difficult part of efficiency tests on prototype hydraulic turbines.Among the numerous flow rate measurement methods,the Winter Kennedy method is preferred for measuring turbine flow rates,since it is convenient,practical and economical.This paper describes efficiency tests on a large 300 MW Francis turbine,with the flow rate measured using the Winter Kennedy method and the Winter Kennedy flow rate coefficient calibrated using the Gibson method.The measured turbine efficiency curve is then compared with the curve provided by the manufacturer.The CFD calculations including the spiral case are then used to analyze the influence with the coefficient K and index n in the Winter Kennedy flow rate formula on the flow rate measurement.The uncertainty values of n and K are a key reason for the differences between the curves obtained from the efficiency test and the curves provided by the manufacturer.

An optimization method on runner blades in bulb turbine based on CFD analysis

In this paper an optimization method of the runner blades in a bulb turbine based on CFD analysis is proposed.In the method the main scales of the turbine including guide vane,runner and draft are maintained.Only the runner blades are modified based on the present method.In the optimization method the runner blade is expressed by spline surface with a gather of coordinate points.The B-spline curve is used to keep the modified blades smooth.In order to make the blade optimization simple and ef- ficient,one of the coordinates is fixed and only the angles of the points are changed according to different modification purposes.Three main optimization principles based on flow diagnosis are presented here.These three principles are all based on the CFD analysis of the internal flow in bulb turbine.For the purpose of method verification,the optimization method is used in a model bulb turbine.A three dimensional steady turbulent computation is carried out through the whole passage including the bulb body,guide vanes,runner and draft tube of the bulb turbine under seven different work conditions.An SST k-ωturbulence model is used during the CFD analysis and the performance of the turbine can be achieved.The runner blade is optimized according to the three optimization principles based on flow diagnosis.The CFD analysis is conducted again on the optimized turbine and another modification is needed if the new turbine can’t satisfy the required performance.Comparison of the computational results between the original turbine and an optimized one indicates that the optimization method is practical and does improve the performance of the bulb turbine.

Numerical Simulation of Clocking Effect on Blade Unsteady Aerodynamic Force in Axial Turbine

To give an insight into the clocking effect and its influence on the wake transportation and its interaction, the unsteady three-dimensional flow through a 1.5-stage axial low pressure turbine is simulated numerically by using a density-correction based, Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations commercial CFD code. The 2nd stator clocking is applied over ten equal tangential positions. The results show that the harmonic blade number ratio is an important factor affecting the clocking effect. The clocking effect has very small influence on the turbine efficiency in this investigation. The difference between the maximum and minimum efficiency is about 0.1%. The maximum efficiency can be achieved when the 1st stator wake enters the 2nd stator passage near blade suction surface and its adjacent wake passes through the 2nd stator passage close to blade pressure surface. The minimum efficiency appears if the 1st stator wake impinges upon the leading edge of the 2nd stator and its adjacent wake of the 1st stator passes through the mid-channel in the 2nd stator. The wake convective transportation and the blade circulation variation due to its impingement on the subsequent blade are the main mechanism affecting the pressure variation in blade surface.

Numerical predictions and stability analysis of cavitating draft tube vortices at high head in a model Francis turbine

Draft tube vortex is one of the main causes of hydraulic instability in hydraulic reaction turbines,in particular Francis turbines.A method of cavitation calculations was proposed to predict the pressure fluctuations induced by draft tube vortices in a model Francis turbine,by solving RANS equations with RNG k-turbulence model and ZGB cavitation model,with modified turbulence viscosity.Three cases with different flow rates at high head were studied.In the study case of part load,two modes of revolutions with the same rotating direction,revolution around the axis of the draft tube cone,and revolution around the core of the vortex rope,can be recognized.The elliptical shaped vortex rope causes anisotropic characteristics of pressure fluctuations around the centerline of the draft tube cone.By analyzing the phase angles of the pressure fluctuations,the role of the vortex rope as an exciter in the oscillating case can be recognized.An analysis of Batchelor instability,i.e.instability in q-vortex like flow structure,has been carried out on the draft tube vortices in these three cases.It can be concluded that the trajectory for study case with part load lies in the region of absolute instability(AI),and it lies in the region of convective instability(CI)for study case with design flow rate.Trajectory for study case with over load lies in the AI region at the inlet of the draft tube,and enters CI region near the end of the elbow.

Performance estimation of bi-directional turbines in wave energy plants

Oscillating water column （OWC） based wave energy plants have been designed with several types of bidirectional turbines for converting pneumatic power to shaft power. Impulse turbines with linked guide vanes and fixed guide vanes have been tested at the Indian Wave Energy plant. This was after initial experimentation with Well＇s turbines. In contrast to the Well＇s turbine which has a linear damping characteristic, impulse turbines have non-linear damping. This has an important effect in the overall energy conversion from wave to wire. Optimizing the wave energy plant requires a turbine with linear damping and good efficiency over a broad range of flow coefficient. This work describes how such a design can be made using fixed guide vane impulse turbines. The Indian Wave Energy plant is used as a case study.