This paper presents our recent numerical simulations of a high-solidity Wells turbine under both steady and unsteady conditions by solving Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. For steady conditions, the equations are solved in a reference frame with the same angular velocity of the turbine. Good agreement between numerical simulation result and experimental data has been obtained in the operational region and incipient stall conditions. The exact value of stall point has been accurately predicted. Through analyzing the detailed fluid fields, we find that the stall occurs near the tip of the blade while the boundary layer keeps attached near the hub, due to the effect of radial flow. For unsteady conditions, two types of control methods are studied: constant angular velocity and constant damping moment. For the constant angular velocity, the behaviors of the turbine under both high and low sea wave frequency are calculated to compare with those obtained by quasi-steady method. The hysteresis characteristic can be observed and deeply affects the behaviors of the Wells turbine with high wave frequency. For the constant damping moment, the turbine angular velocity is time dependent. Under sinusoidal flow, the incident flow velocity in the operational region can be improved to avoid the stall.
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February 2018
Research-Article
Unsteady RANS Simulations of Wells Turbine Under Transient Flow Conditions
Qiuhao Hu,
Qiuhao Hu
Multifunctional Ship Model Towing Tank,
School of Naval Architecture
Ocean & Civil Engineering,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
800 Dongchuan Road,
Shanghai 201100, China
e-mail: huecu588755@sjtu.edu.cn
School of Naval Architecture
Ocean & Civil Engineering,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
800 Dongchuan Road,
Shanghai 201100, China
e-mail: huecu588755@sjtu.edu.cn
Search for other works by this author on:
Ye Li
Ye Li
Multifunctional Ship Model Towing Tank,
School of Naval Architecture
Ocean & Civil Engineering,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
800 Dongchuan Road,
Shanghai 201100, China
e-mail: ye.li@sjtu.edu.cn
School of Naval Architecture
Ocean & Civil Engineering,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
800 Dongchuan Road,
Shanghai 201100, China
e-mail: ye.li@sjtu.edu.cn
Search for other works by this author on:
Qiuhao Hu
Multifunctional Ship Model Towing Tank,
School of Naval Architecture
Ocean & Civil Engineering,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
800 Dongchuan Road,
Shanghai 201100, China
e-mail: huecu588755@sjtu.edu.cn
School of Naval Architecture
Ocean & Civil Engineering,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
800 Dongchuan Road,
Shanghai 201100, China
e-mail: huecu588755@sjtu.edu.cn
Ye Li
Multifunctional Ship Model Towing Tank,
School of Naval Architecture
Ocean & Civil Engineering,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
800 Dongchuan Road,
Shanghai 201100, China
e-mail: ye.li@sjtu.edu.cn
School of Naval Architecture
Ocean & Civil Engineering,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
800 Dongchuan Road,
Shanghai 201100, China
e-mail: ye.li@sjtu.edu.cn
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Ocean, Offshore, and Arctic Engineering Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF OFFSHORE MECHANICS AND ARCTIC ENGINEERING. Manuscript received January 23, 2017; final manuscript received August 11, 2017; published online September 29, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Ould el Moctar.
J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng. Feb 2018, 140(1): 011901 (11 pages)
Published Online: September 29, 2017
Article history
Received:
January 23, 2017
Revised:
August 11, 2017
Connected Content
A companion article has been published:
Discussion: “Unsteady RANS Simulations of Wells Turbine Under Transient Flow Conditions” (Hu and Li, ASME J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng., 140(1), p. 011901)
Citation
Hu, Q., and Li, Y. (September 29, 2017). "Unsteady RANS Simulations of Wells Turbine Under Transient Flow Conditions." ASME. J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng. February 2018; 140(1): 011901. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4037696
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