10.1007/s40095-014-0158-5

Numerical study for the use of different nozzle shapes in microscale channels for producing clean energy

HTML PDF
  • A. H. Elbatran1,
  • O. B. Yaakob*2,
  • Yasser M. Ahmed3,
  • H. M. Shabara1,
  1. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, 81310, MY
  2. Marine Technology Center, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, 81310, MY
  3. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, 81310, MY Marine Technology Center, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, 81310, MY
Cover Image

Published in Issue 2015-01-09

How to Cite

Elbatran, A. H., Yaakob, O. B., Ahmed, Y. M., & Shabara, H. M. (2015). Numerical study for the use of different nozzle shapes in microscale channels for producing clean energy. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 6(2 (June 2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40095-014-0158-5
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

HTML views: 32

PDF views: 93

Abstract

Abstract Nowadays, most rural and hilly areas use the small and microscale plants to produce electricity; it is cheap, available and effective. Utilizing hydrokinetic turbines in flow of rivers, canal or channel to produce power has been a topic of considerable interest to researchers for past years. Many countries that are surrounded by irrigation or rainy channels have a great potential for developing this technology. Development of open flow microchannels that suit these countries has a main problem, which is low velocity of current appears, hence deploying nozzle in-stream open channels flow is the brilliant method for increasing the channels current flow systems’ efficiency. The nozzle is believed to have an ability of concentrating the flow direction whilst increasing the flow velocity. In this study, the effects of nozzle geometrical parameters such as diameter ratio, nozzle configuration and nozzle edges shape on the characteristics of the flow in the microscale rectangular channels have been investigated numerically, using a finite volume RANSE code ANSYS CFX. The physical parameters were reported for a range of diameter ratio ( d 2 / d 1 ) from 5/6 to 1/6 and nozzle length ( L n ) of 0.8 m for various nozzle shapes. We also proposed a new approach which is the use of NACA 0025 aerofoils as a deploying nozzle in channels. The results of the current study showed that, although the decrease in the nozzle diameter ratio led to an increase of the flow velocity through the channel but it can affect drastically on the flow pattern, especially the free surface, at the nozzle area, which may reduce the amount of the generated power, thus the study concluded with optimum diameter ratio, which was 2/3. The flow patterns improved with the curved edges shape; the NACA shape gave the most preferable results.

Keywords

  • Microscale channel,
  • Deploying nozzle,
  • Clean energy production diameter ratio,
  • Convergence system,
  • Convergence–divergence system,
  • NACA shape
HTML PDF

References

  1. Sopian et al. (2011) Strategies for renewable energy applications in the organization of Islamic conference (OIC) countries (pp. 4706-4725) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.07.081
  2. Yaakob et al. (2014) A review on micro hydro gravitational vortex power and turbine systems 69(7) (pp. 1-7)
  3. Banos et al. (2011) Optimization methods applied to renewable and sustainable energy: a review (pp. 1753-1766) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.12.008
  4. Elbatran et al. (2015) Operation, performance and economic analysis of low head micro-hydropower turbines for rural and remote areas: a review (pp. 40-50) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.11.045
  5. Hammar et al. (2012) Simplified site-screening method for micro tidal current turbines applied in Mozambique (pp. 414-422) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.02.010
  6. Liu et al. (2011) A review on the development of tidal current energy in China (pp. 1141-1146) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.11.042
  7. Garrett and Cummins (2005) The power potential of tidal currents in channels (pp. 2563-2572) https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2005.1494
  8. Bryden and Couch (2007) How much energy can be extracted from moving water with a free surface: a question of importance in the field of tidal current energy? (pp. 1961-1966) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2006.11.006
  9. Sun et al. (2008) Laboratory-scale simulation of energy extraction from tidal currents (pp. 1267-1274) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2007.06.018
  10. Atwater and Lawrence (2010) Power potential of a split tidal channel (pp. 329-332) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2009.06.023
  11. Vennell (2011) Estimating the power potential of tidal currents and the impact of power extraction on flow speeds (pp. 3558-3565) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.05.011
  12. Vennell (2012) Realizing the potential of tidal currents and the efficiency of turbine farms in a channel (pp. 95-102) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.03.036
  13. Walters et al. (2013) Estimation of tidal power potential (pp. 255-262) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.09.027
  14. Draper et al. (2014) Estimate of the tidal stream power resource of the Pentland Firth (pp. 650-657) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2013.10.015
  15. Kumar et al. (2011) Cambridge University press
  16. Chamorro et al. (2013) On the interaction between a turbulent open channel flow and an axial flow turbine (pp. 658-670) https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2012.571
  17. Khan et al. (2009) Hydrokinetic energy conversion systems and assessment of horizontal and vertical axis turbines for river and tidal applications: a technology status review (pp. 1823-1835) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.02.017
  18. Kim et al. (2012) Efficiency improvement of a tidal current turbine utilizing a larger area of channel (pp. 557-564) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.06.018
  19. Khan et al. (2013) Flow acceleration by converging nozzles for power generation in existing canal system (pp. 548-552) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2013.06.005
  20. Kirke (2011) Tests on ducted and bare helical and straight blade Darrieus hydrokinetic turbines (pp. 3013-3022) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.03.036
  21. Furukawa et al. (2010) Development of ducted Darrieus turbine for low head hydropower utilization (pp. S128-S132) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2009.11.005
  22. Shimokawa et al. (2012) Experimental study on simplification of Darrieus-type hydro turbine with inlet nozzle for extra-low head hydropower utilization (pp. 376-382) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.09.017
  23. Yaakob, O.B.: Marine renewable energy initiatives in Malaysia and South East Asia. In: 13th Meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, 29 May–1 June 2012, New York.
  24. http://www.un.org/Depts/los/consultative_process/icp13_presentations-abstracts/2012_icp_presentation_yaakob.pdf
  25. (2012). Accessed 1 April 2014
  26. Munson et al. (2006) Wiley
  27. Kothandaraman and Rudramoorthy (2007) (pp. 383-393) New Age International Publishers
  28. Kiely, G.K., McKeogh, E.J.: Experimental comparison of velocity and turbulence in compound channels of varying sinuosity. Channel Flow Resistance: Centennial of Manning’s Formula, pp. 393–408. Water Resources Publications, Littleton (1991)
  29. Abbott, I.H., Von Doenhoff, A.E., Stivers, L.S., Jr.,: Report no. 824 summary of airfoil data. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Washington (1945)
  30. Sproles, D.W.: Computer program to obtain ordinates for NACA Airfoils, NASA Technical Memorandum 474, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Langley Research Center, Hampton (1996)