Numerical 2D hydrodynamic optimization of channelling devices for cross flow water turbines
Abstract
This paper aims to present a two-dimensional numerical methodology to optimize a symmetrical two-foiled channeling device for vertical axis cross-flow water turbines. The methodology consists firstly on using a simplified steady approach based on a boundary elements method and a boundary layer analysis for a rotor-less configuration. Secondly, previous results will be validated by full RANS unsteady calculations. It will be shown that it is possible to drastically reduce the amount of geometries to be calculated with CFD tools in the optimization process