Optimizing Wave Energy Capture: Utilizing Variable-Pitch Turbine Blades in Wells Turbine.pptx

TechnicalAlex 1 views 31 slides Oct 15, 2025
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About This Presentation

This is the Final project of WELLS turbine which has variable blades depends upon flow direction In IIT kharagpur . Wells turbine concept is about static geometry but this is unique new and constructive way to maximize the effeciency of wells turbine , total schematic is mentioned with arduino board...


Slide Content

Optimizing Wave Energy Capture: Utilizing Variable-Pitch Turbine Blades in Wells Turbine Under guidance of Prof. Swapnadip De Chowdhury Arijit Biswas 22NA60R10 M.Tech Final Year

CONTENTS OF SLIDES INTRODUCTION OF WELLS TURBINE OSCILLATING WATER COLLUMNS (OWC) PROBLEM STATEMENT LITERATURE SURVEY SOLUTION (PROPOSED MODEL) COMPONENTS OF THIS SYSTEM METHODOLOGY USING FOEMULAS SIMULATION RESULTS RESULTS DATA COMPARING INSIGHTS OF RESULTS CONCLUSION & DISCUSSION FUTURE PROGRESS REFERENCE

INTRODUCTION What is a Wells Turbine The Wells turbine is a type of reaction turbine specifically designed for use in wave energy conversion systems. It was invented by Alan Arthur Wells in the 1970s and has since become a prominent technology in the field of renewable energy. How Does it Work? The Wells turbine operates on the principle of capturing the kinetic energy from oscillating or irregular water flow, typically found in ocean waves. It consists of a rotor with a series of fixed blades arranged in a helical pattern. As the water flows through the turbine, it causes the rotor to rotate, converting the kinetic energy of the water into mechanical energy. Unique Features One of the distinctive features of the Wells turbine is its ability to operate efficiently with varying flow rates and directions, making it suitable for capturing energy from unpredictable wave patterns. Unlike traditional turbines, the Wells turbine does not require complex control systems or mechanisms to adjust to changing conditions, making it more robust and reliable in harsh marine environments.

OSCILLATING WATER COLLUMNS Definition: OWCs are devices used to convert ocean wave energy into usable mechanical or electrical power. Structure: Consists of a partially submerged chamber open to the sea. As waves enter the chamber, air is forced in and out, creating oscillating air pressure variations. Principle of Operation: Wave action causes water levels inside the chamber to rise and fall. The oscillating water column compresses and decompresses the air in the chamber. The air flow drives a turbine or an air-driven generator to produce electricity.

PROBLEM STATEMENT Issue: Despite advancements in wave energy technology, Wells turbines face challenges in achieving optimal performance under varying wave conditions. Inefficiencies : Current Wells turbine designs may experience performance inefficiencies, particularly in low and fluctuating flow rates, leading to suboptimal energy conversion. Issue: Wells turbines encounter performance degradation when operating at high angles of attack, particularly in conditions of increased wave height or irregular wave patterns. Flow Separation: High angles of attack can lead to flow separation on turbine blades, causing aerodynamic inefficiencies and reduced energy conversion efficiency. Stall Phenomenon: At extreme angles, the airflow over the turbine blades can stall, leading to a significant decrease in power generation and potential damage to the turbine components. Loss of Efficiency: Operating at high angles of attack decreases the overall efficiency of the Wells turbine, limiting its ability to effectively capture wave energy and convert it into electricity.

LITERATURE SURVEY Title : Effect of Rotor Blade Sweep on Variable-Pitch Wells Turbine Performance Objective: The paper examines the impact of rotor blade sweep on the performance of a variable-pitch Wells turbine designed for Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave energy systems. Blade Configuration Comparison: The research compares the performance of two blade configurations: Unswept NACA 0015 airfoils. 30° backward swept blades with symmetrical constant chord. Variables Studied: The study investigates the effects of rotor solidities and blade pitch angles (0° and 20°) on turbine performance. Measured Parameters: Performance evaluation includes measurements of: Flow rate Pressure drop Torque Rotor speed Detailed Data Collection: The research employs a directional total static pressure probe to obtain detailed performance data. Focus on Efficiency: By comparing the performance of different blade configurations and pitch angles, the study aims to identify the most efficient configuration for variable-pitch Wells turbines in OWC wave energy systems.

LITERATURE SURVEY Title : A modified Wells turbine for Wave Energy Conversion Zero-Blade Pitch Setting: Wells turbines, known for their zero-blade pitch setting, are utilized to convert low-pressure pneumatic energy from OWC systems into mechanical shaft power. Discrepancies in Airflow Velocity: Research in India and Japan has uncovered differences in airflow velocity between exhalation and inhalation phases, suggesting potential inefficiencies in turbine performance. Modification Focus: Recent investigations have focused on modifying Wells turbines by asymmetrically setting rotor blade pitches to address these discrepancies. Numerical Simulations: Numerical simulations have been employed to predict turbine performance under varying airflow conditions, identifying an optimum blade setting angle of 2°. New Turbine Designs: Recent efforts have explored the development of new turbine designs, incorporating fixed setting angles, with promising results indicating superior efficiency compared to traditional Wells turbines. Efficiency Comparison: These new designs, particularly those with guide vanes, show superior efficiency compared to traditional Wells turbines, indicating potential advancements in wave energy conversion technology.

PROPOSED MODEL ARDUINO UNO SERVO MOTOR VARIABLE PITCH TURBNIE OWC SENSOR

COMPONENTS OF THIS SYSTEM VARIABLE WELLS TURBINE MECHANICAL DESIGN ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT TURBINE DESIGN CRANK SHAFT DESIGN ARDUINO UNO ULTRASONIC ANEMOMETER SERVO MOTOR

METHODOLOGY CREATE OCEAN WAVES FOR OWC IN ANSYS DEFINE THIS WAVE MESHING AS MOVING MESH AND CREATING UDF FOR MOVING WALL SIMULATING AND TAKING THE RESULTS OF AIR VELOCITY VS TIME DATA AT OWC EXPERIMENT NO 1

METHODOLOGY PLOTING THIS DATA AND EXTRACTING THE MOST SUITABLE DATA OF HALF CYCLE DESIGNED 10 DIFFERENT TURBINES WITH 10 DIFFERENT PITCH VALUE SIMULATING THOSE TURBINES WITH THE VARIABLE FLOW ACCORDING TO EXTRACTED DATA TAKE RESULTS AND COMPARE WITH NORMAL WELLS TURBINE RESULTS EXPERIMENT NO 2

METHODOLOGY DESIGN VARIABLE PITCH TURBINE AT OPTIMAL ANGLE WITH BOTH DIRECTION FOR BIDIRECTIONAL FLOW DESIGN THE CRANK SHAFT MECHANISM WITH SERVO MOTOR FOR CONTROLLING TURBINE DESIGN THE CONTROLLING MECHANISM WITH ARDUINO THAT CONTROLS THE TURBINE BASED ON SENSOR DATA EXPERIMENT NO 3

USING FORMULAS T*= Torque Coefficient, T= Torque, ɸ = Flow Coefficient, P*= Pressure Coefficient, X= Velocity along the x axis, Y= Velocity Along y axis Using equation X = 0.5 sin (1.57t),ꞷ = 1.57 V x = 0.50*1.57*(1.57t)

SIMULATION SETUP EXPERIMENT 1 GEOMETRY - Bottom wall – 34043 mm Transient Boundary Wall – 10000 mm OWC wall height – 7000 mm Total distance wave travelled – 27869.5 mm Element size – 0.1 m Growth Rate – 1.2 Elements Number - 272589 User Defined function that contained this code

SIMULATION RESULT EXPERIMENT 1 ANIMATION OF WAVE (WATER) ANIMATION OF WAVE (AIR)

SIMULATION RESULT EXPERIMENT 1 VELOCITY vs TIME

SIMULATION SETUP EXPERIMENT 2 VELOCITY vs TIME FULL RESULT Then Extracted the best half cycle data from this excel, this data set about 41 data points VELOCITY vs TIME HALF CYCLE RESULT

SIMULATION SETUP EXPERIMENT 2 O DEGREE 9 DEGREE 7 DEGREE 5 DEGREE 3 DEGREE GEOMETRY OF DESIGNED TURBINE

SIMULATION SETUP EXPERIMENT 2 11 DEGREE 19 DEGREE 17 DEGREE 15 DEGREE 13 DEGREE GEOMETRY OF DESIGNED TURBINE

SIMULATION RESULT 0 DEGREE PITCH ANGLE TURBINE PRESSURE AND VELOCITY CONTOUR WITH FLOW TRAJECTORY 0 DEGREE PITCH ANGLE TURBINE FLOW TRAJECTORY EXPERIMENT 2

SIMULATION RESULT EXPERIMENT 2 O DEGREE 3 DEGREE 5 DEGREE 7 DEGREE 11 DEGREE 13 DEGREE 15 DEGREE 19 DEGREE 17 DEGREE 9 DEGREE

VARIABLE WELLS TURBINE ( MECHANICAL )

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ARDUINO UNO R3 Ultra Sonic Anemometer SERVO MOTOR

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT( TINKARCAD SIMULATION)

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT( TINKARCAD SIMULATION) ARDUINO CODES IN IDE INTERFACE

RESULTS COMPAIRING COMBINE EXCEL RESULT AGAINST PITCH ANGLE

RESULTS COMPAIRING

INSIGHTS OF RESULTS Based on our experimentation, it has been observed that Wells turbines featuring blade angles ranging from 9 to 11 degrees exhibit superior efficiency and performance across various parameters compared to other turbine configurations. This suggests that there exists an optimal range for Wells turbine operation, particularly in unidirectional flow scenarios, maximizing energy capture. Therefore, this range of blade angles represents an optimal operational zone for Wells turbines, ensuring enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in converting wave energy into usable power.

CONCLUSION & DISCUSSION As observed in the results, as the pitch angle gradually increases, the power factor, torque, and efficiency also increase progressively. However, beyond a certain angle, typically after 13 degrees, these parameters exhibit a decline due to stall occurrences. Consequently, it can be inferred that the optimal pitch angle range lies between 9 to 13 degrees, where maximum work can be extracted according to software simulations. However, practical implementation is necessary to ascertain precise performance figures. The objective of this project was to enhance the performance of the Wells turbine, which has been achieved. This validates that increasing the pitch angle contributes to improved performance. Unfortunately, practical implementation has not yet occurred due to time constraints and possibly financial limitations

FUTURE PROGRESS Firstly, refining optimization algorithms becomes pivotal. These algorithms should dynamically adjust the pitch angle in real-time, responding to factors like wind speed, turbine load, and environmental conditions. Such adjustments aim to maximize energy capture efficiency while minimizing structural loads. Secondly, attention is directed towards developing robust control systems that seamlessly integrate with turbine operation. These systems should facilitate smooth and efficient pitch angle adjustments, possibly employing predictive control strategies or machine learning algorithms for improved performance. Moreover, extensive field testing and validation studies are imperative to assess the real-world performance and reliability of variable pitch turbines. Deploying prototype turbines across various wind regimes and environments helps evaluate their effectiveness. Efforts to reduce the cost of variable pitch turbine technology are also essential.

REFERENCE 1. Curran, R., & Gato, L. M. C. (1997). The energy conversion performance of several types of Wells turbine designs. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 211(2), 133-145. 2. Gato, L. M. C., & Falcao, A. D. O. (1989). Aerodynamics of the well’s turbine: Control by swinging rotor-blades. International journal of mechanical sciences, 31(6), 425-434. 3. Finnigan, T., & Auld, D. (2003, May). Model testing of a variable-pitch aerodynamic turbine. In ISOPE International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference (pp. ISOPE-I). ISOPE. 4. Raghunathan, S., Curran, R., & Whittaker, T. J. T. (1995). Performance of the Islay Wells air turbine. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 209(1), 55-62. 5. Salter, S. H. (1993, July). Variable pitch air turbines. In Proceedings of the 1993 European Wave Energy Symposium (pp. 21-24). 6. Santhakumar, S., Jayashankar, V., Atmanand, M. A., Pathak, A. G., Ravindran, M., Setoguchi, T., ... & Kaneko, K. (1998, May). Performance of an impulse turbine-based wave energy plant. In ISOPE International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference (pp. ISOPE-I). ISOPE. 7. Setoguchi, T., Santhakumar, S., Maeda, H., Takao, M., & Kaneko, K. (2001). A review of impulse turbines for wave energy conversion. Renewable energy, 23(2), 261-292. 8. Finnigan, T., & Auld, D. (2003, May). Model testing of a variable-pitch aerodynamic turbine. In ISOPE International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference (pp. ISOPE-I). ISOPE.