An Experience with Simulation Modeling for Vortex Flow in Micro Hydropower Systems

The Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant (GWVPP) is a small-scale hydropower system that uses a turbine to generate electricity from the free vortex. This study presents the simulation modeling process of a vortex turbine using commercial CFD software. The design study of a water vortex turbine with a cylindrical basin shape is adapted from the existing experimental setup. A geometrical model of the water vortex turbine was considered the computational domain. The tetrahedral mesh was applied to all flow domains, utilizing the advantage of good meshing capability for complex surface geometries. Three-dimensional steady-state equations and the k-epsilon turbulence model were implemented as the governing equations. The simulation and experimental results of the water vortex height show a significant difference with about 8.33 % of the percentage difference. The stable vortex region and the highest vortex velocity can visually in a water vortex height, velocity distribution, and vortex profile. It is anticipated that the finding of this study will assist in optimal turbine design for vortex flow type.