Optimization study of the performance of an impulse-type turbine with CFD

Abstract

This project tries to find the optimal configuration of an impulse jet water turbine by researching the most influential parameters. We propose the application of the Taguchi method for being able to create a geometrical setup that produces a maximum power output. This statistical approach is necessary since there are six different elements that are expected to have a large influence on the transfer of the energy of the water, namely: 1) the number of blades, 2) the inclination angle of the blades, 3) the inclination angle of the water jet, 4) the height of the water jet with respect to a reference point (see further information in the next chapters), 5) the horizontal position of the nozzle and 6) the peripheral velocity of the water wheel. Each one of these six parameters may vary within a large range of values, so it is not feasible to simulate every combination. Therefore, we apply the Taguchi method to reduce the number of experiments (i.e., simulations) needed for determining an improved configuration