%0 Journal Article
%T Numerical Investigation of the Internal Flow in a Banki Turbine
%A Jes¨²s De Andrade
%A Christian Curiel
%A Frank Kenyery
%A Orlando Aguill¨®n
%A Auristela V¨¢squez
%A Miguel Asuaje
%J International Journal of Rotating Machinery
%D 2011
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2011/841214
%X The paper refers to the numerical analysis of the internal flow in a hydraulic cross-flow turbine type Banki. A 3D-CFD steady state flow simulation has been performed using ANSYS CFX codes. The simulation includes nozzle, runner, shaft, and casing. The turbine has a specific speed of 63 (metric units), an outside runner diameter of 294£¿mm. Simulations were carried out using a water-air free surface model and k-¦Å turbulence model. The objectives of this study were to analyze the velocity and pressure fields of the cross-flow within the runner and to characterize its performance for different runner speeds. Absolute flow velocity angles are obtained at runner entrance for simulations with and without the runner. Flow recirculation in the runner interblade passages and shocks of the internal cross-flow cause considerable hydraulic losses by which the efficiency of the turbine decreases significantly. The CFD simulations results were compared with experimental data and were consistent with global performance parameters. 1. Introduction Small hydroelectric power plants ( £¿Mw) are a solution to the power needs of small communities. The cross-flow turbines may gain acceptance, and as they can be used in these power plants due to their simple construction, low cost of initial investment and modest efficiency (~84%). The utilization of these turbines in large-scale power plants has been limited due to its low efficiency compared to other turbines used commercially ( ). In order to make them more competitive, it is imperative that their efficiency be improved. This can only be achieved by means of studying the turbine operation and determining the parameters and phenomena that affect their performance. Nowadays, numerical tools are regarded as an industry standard for this process. The improvements in CFD tools have allowed the modeling and obtaining of numerical accuracy of flow fields in turbomachines than previously attained. Turbomachinery designers regularly use numerical methods for predicting performance of hydraulic reaction pumps [1] and turbines [2]. However, numerical methods for predicting the action turbine performance with free surface flow conditions have slowly emerged due to the complex nature of this physic phenomenon. One-dimensional (1D) and quasi-three-dimensional (Q-3D) approaches for turbomachinery design and analysis can be considered well adapted and powerful enough for most applications. Researchers such as Mockmore and Merryfield [3] have used 1D theoretical analysis methods and experiments to improve the cross-flow turbines
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijrm/2011/841214/