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University of Kwazulu-Natal Design of a Novel Hydrokinetic Turbine for Ocean Current Power Generation

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University of Kwazulu-Natal Design of a Novel Hydrokinetic Turbine for Ocean Current Power Generation UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE DESIGN OF A NOVEL HYDROKINETIC TURBINE FOR OCEAN CURRENT POWER GENERATION Kumaresan Cunden Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Supervisor: Dr Freddie L. Inambao October 2014 “As the candidate’s Supervisor I agree/do not agree to the submission of this dissertation”. The supervisor must sign all copies after deleting which is not applicable. Dr Freddie L. Inambao NAME OF SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE I Form EX1-5 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE DECLARATION 1 - PLAGIARISM I, Kumaresan Cunden, declare that: 1. The research reported in this dissertation, except where otherwise indicated, is my original research. 2. This dissertation has not been submitted for any degree or examination at any other university. 3. This dissertation does not contain other persons’ data, pictures, graphs or other information, unless specifically acknowledged as being sourced from other persons. 4. This dissertation does not contain other persons' writing, unless specifically acknowledged as being sourced from other researchers. Where other written sources have been quoted, then: a. Their words have been re-written but the general information attributed to them has been referenced. b. Where their exact words have been used, then their writing has been placed in italics and inside quotation marks, and referenced. 5. This dissertation does not contain text, graphics or tables copied and pasted from the Internet, unless specifically acknowledged, and the source being detailed in the dissertation and in the References sections. Signed ……………………………………………………………………………… II COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE DECLARATION 2 - PUBLICATIONS DETAILS OF CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLICATIONS that form part and/or include research presented in this dissertation (include publications in preparation, submitted, in press and published and give details of the contributions of each author to the experimental work and writing of each publication). Publication 1: F. L. Inambao and K. Cunden, “Design and numerical simulation of a small scale helical cross-flow turbine,” in Proceedings of 13th Botswana Institution of Engineers Biennial Conference, [CD Rom], 15 to 18 October, 2013, Gaborone, Botswana, pp. 23-32. Publication 2: K. Cunden and F. Inambao, “Numerical simulation of a vertical axis cross- flow helical hydrokinetic turbine,” in Proceedings of First Eskom Power Plant Engineering Institute Student Conference Eskom Academy of Learning, 5 & 6, May 2014. III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The last two years of my life has allowed me to open my eyes to the depths of engineering. I have gained so much knowledge beyond what I would have expected. I dedicate this dissertation to my parents for all their time, patience, understanding and hard work to overcome the challenges which we have faced as a family throughout my life. Thank you for the infinite love, guidance and motivation – it has been my source of energy. To my lecturer, supervisor and someone who I regard as my second father, Dr Freddie L. Inambao: I thank you for all the guidance, support and motivation to strive for nothing but perfection in life. You have shown me what it is and how to be an excellent engineer as well as imparting an unimaginable amount of knowledge and leadership skills to me. Cпасибо, я желаю вам долгую и процветающее будущее. To my fellow postgraduate colleagues, thank you for all the assistance with my work and multiple favours when I really required them. I appreciate the time you have taken to help me in my times of need. To the many lecturers who have assisted and guided me during the duration of my studies, I thank you. You have opened my mind to a world I would never have dreamt of otherwise. To whoever is about to read this dissertation, I leave you with words from one of my role models: “The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.” ― Nikola Tesla IV ABSTRACT In a world with a growing need for energy, but also a growing need to decrease dependence on fossil fuel energy production, new methods of energy generation are required. The energy which exists in flowing rivers, ocean currents and various other artificial water channels is considered a viable option for a source of renewable power. Water energy harnessing systems are referred to as Hydrokinetic conversion systems. These types of systems are still in the infant stages of development as the main focus of renewable energy in recent years has been solar and wind energy harvesting. Research into ocean currents focusing on the Agulhas Current was conducted to be used as a basis for a Subsea Hydrokinetic system to be implemented off the coast of South Africa. The results obtained from Eskom’s Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) readings depict that the Agulhas current is a more than adequate source of renewable energy. The readings indicate that the Agulhas current varies from 0.3 m/s to 1.2 m/s throughout the year. A proposed Vertical-Axis Hydrokinetic turbine was designed to harness power from the Agulhas current. The design focuses on the selection of blade profile to exploit the lift force which is a result of the interaction with the flow medium. The blade’s helical structure is based on the relationship with the initial attack angle of the blade at a 0° azimuthal position based on the mathematical formulae derived by Gorlov. The study compares a toe-out angle which is not modelled by Gorlov. It was assumed that the turbine’s efficiency would be increased as long as the toe-out angle is within a specified range. Analytical and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations have been conducted on the designed hydrokinetic turbine. The analytical simulations implement double multiple stream tube models which have been used for predecessors of the vertical axis helical turbine. The analytical model was performed in QBlade which is software that implements the double multiple streamtube theory. The CFD model was conducted within Star CCM+TM which included complex vortex interaction and interference with the turbine. Results obtained from the analytical model show that the turbine with a toe-out blade pitch had a slightly lower performance coefficient than the turbine with no blade pitch within the range of 1° to 2°. The results from the CFD simulations and the analytical modelling were in good agreement. The results obtained for the performance of the turbine for toe-out blade V pitch from the analytical and CFD modelling were 50% and 52%, respectively. The results are in line with that of simulations and testing of similar type turbines conducted by previous researchers. Comparisons from the effect of toe-out angle on the turbine’s performance proved that the turbine does not experience an increase in efficiency; however, the torque fluctuations decreased for increasing blade pitch. The toe out angle reduced the amount of torque fluctuations on the turbine rotor which provides fewer fluctuations to the coupled generator. Keywords: Agulhas Current, Hydrodynamic, Vertical Axis, Numerical Modelling, CFD VI TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration 1 - Plagiarism ........................................................................................................ II Declaration 2 - Publications ..................................................................................................... III Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. IV Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... V Table Of Contents .................................................................................................................. VII List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... XI List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... XV Nomenclature ........................................................................................................................ XVI Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................................ XX Chapter 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Research Questions .................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Aims and Objectives of the Study ............................................................................. 2 1.4 Layout of the Dissertation .......................................................................................... 3 1.5 Scope of the Study ..................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Contribution of the Study to the body of Knowledge ................................................ 5 1.7 Publications ................................................................................................................ 6 1.7.1 Conference Proceedings......................................................................................
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