A Case Study for Free Surface Effect of Hydrokinetic Turbine Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Transforming water energy to mechanical energy is hydro energy, a renewable form of energy obtained indirectly from the sun. Water has multiple uses, including irrigation and personal consumption. Water energy has been used for agriculture and sustenance for thousands of years. This study aims to find a tool to simulate different fluids and improve future parameters. The tool's effectiveness is validated using previous data. The design of the water wheel in this study is simple, but future research will enhance its performance with diagonal blades. The dimensions and water flow of the wheel are specified. A 3D model of the wheel is created using Flow-3D software, focusing on logical and flow domains. The rotational domain is positioned in the center to ensure water flow. The meshing technique used is FAVOR meshing employed by Flow-3D. The meshing process is divided into two sections, with different cell sizes. The structure will be submerged in water and consist of 110,400 meshes. The analysis suggests that the hydrokinetic turbine works well in shallow water with stream flow. The model aligns with previous research findings. Further refinement is needed to manipulate variables and improve turbine efficacy. The simulation findings align with the experimental findings. Flow-3D significantly improves the free surface effect of the hydrokinetic turbine.