Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation Over Savonius Turbine Using Dynamic Mesh Technique

To meet the increasing demand for electricity, we have to increase the use of renewable energy sources as non-renewable energy sources are limited and gradually depleting. Water in rivers, canals, artificial waterways and hydroelectric farms has the kinetic energy and this kinetic energy could be converted into mechanical and then electrical energy. A Savonius turbine is a turbine capable of converting the kinetic energy of these resources into mechanical energy. In the present work, a Savonius turbine with optimized geometrical design parameters is proposed based on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling using the dynamic mesh approach. Dynamic mesh is frequently utilized in simulations of rotating equipment, oscillating structures or fluid–structure interactions. Firstly, 3D CFD investigation has been carried out to settle the geometrical parameters of the Savonius rotor which were taking hold of performance of the turbine. For this purpose, computational fluid dynamics investigation with dynamic mesh capability combined with 6dof has been exercised. Thereafter, experiments were carried out on the optimized turbine rotor for the validation of its output parameters. The results intimates that the aspect ratio (AR) 1.0–1.4 and overlap ratio (OR) 0.15–0.20 are better performance. The study concluded that, the dynamic mesh method combined with 6 DOF is more precise and accurate for simulating the Savonius hydrokinetic turbine than the static mesh method. The optimized parameters of the Savonius turbine are showing a considerable increase in the power output of the Savonius turbine.