Small, hydrokinetic systems generating between 0.5 and 10 kW of power are potentially capable of portable power generation. A propeller turbine 18 inches in diameter is paired with a flanged diffuser and numerically simulated as a potential portable hydrokinetic system. The diffuser augmented hydrokinetic turbine (DAHkT) is investigated with a response surface optimization method, where geometric parameters of the system are systematically varied to determine their effects on the system power generation and thrust. The simulations are determined using a central composite design of experiments to minimize the number of simulations required to fit a second-order regression to the results. Potential optimum designs are determined from the regression model, further verified with simulations, and characterized for their entire operating range.

Volume Subject Area:
Fluids Engineering Systems and Technologies
Topics:
Diffusers, Optimization, Turbines, Engineering simulation, Simulation, Energy generation, Composite materials, Experimental design, Hydraulic turbines, Propellers, Regression models, Response surface methodology, Thrust
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