A novel method of optimizing the Savonius hydrokinetic turbine blades using Bezier curve

Renewable electricity is increasingly gaining importance due to the quest for energy security and the harmful effects of fuel-based energy sources. Savonius hydrokinetic turbine (SHKT) can be a suitable means to provide electricity using rivers, canals, etc. Optimization of blade shape can play a vital role in enhancing the efficiency of SHKTs. A novel method to generate blade shapes has been proposed in this work using a Bezier curve with six control points. The method involves splitting a blade into two halves and optimizing those separately to simultaneously increase the pressure difference and the normal incoming velocity. The generated blade shapes were studied using a 3D transient computational model, which was validated with the obtained experimental results. Results showed that the blades generated using the proposed model show superior performance compared to conventional semicircular blades as well as the blades generated using four points Taguchi method. The most optimum blade profile achieved a maximum power coefficient of 0.21 at a tip speed ratio of 0.8. The efficiency of this new blade profile was found to be 16.7% higher compared to the semicircular blade, while the best blade using four points method was merely 2.1% more efficient than the semicircular blade. [Display omitted]