Flow analysis and optimization study of main components of flow-type small hydro turbine system

Small hydro power generation refers to the production of electricity by harnessing the kinetic energy of water in small rivers or streams, typically generating up to 10 MW of power. The optimal shape combination of the watercone and turbine, according to the water flow rate, is crucial for maximizing the power generated. In this study, flow analysis using computational fluid dynamics was performed on Kaplan turbines to examine the effects of blade angle, volume flow rate and rotational speed on power generation. To ascertain the impact of variables on power generation, the internal flow field was examined. The findings demonstrated that an increased blade angle perpendicular to the flow direction resulted in a reduced incidence of vortices and cavitation formations within the turbine wake. A predictive model was generated using a design of experiment and response surface methodology to generate a predictive model to find the power generation for flow rates, blade angles and rotational speed within the experimental range.