EFFECT OF FLOW STEERING ANGLE TOWARD THE HYDROKINETIC TURBINE PERFORMANCE

The kinetic turbine is one of the solutions for use in low-speed river flows ranging from 0.01–2.8 m/s. This kinetic turbine is used as a conversion equipment to convert the water kinetic energy into an electrical energy. The working principle of a kinetic turbine is utilizing and relies on the water kinetic energy. Water flowing into the turbine area will produce a momentum on the turbine blades. This momentum change would then push the turbine blades and finally spin the turbine runner. The aim of research is thedetermination of the effect of water flow steering angle (a) and water flow rate variation in the kinetic turbine performance. This research uses vertical axis kinetic turbines with eight curve blade attached to the turbine runner. The variables used are two values of water flow steering angle, namely 25°and 35°. The water flow rate variation of 30 m³/h, 35 m³/h, 40 m³/h and 45 m³/h. The method used in this study uses a real experimental method. These two variations would then compare with the result of a hydrokinetic turbine performance done on the previous research.

The results show that the water flow steering angle a affected the kinetic turbine performance (power, efficiency and torque). From these several water flow steering angle and water flow rate variations, the turbine performance with a 35° water flow steering angle get the highest performance compared with the use of 25° and 14° water flow steering angle. The greater the flow angle and the greater the water flow rate, the greater the torque, power and efficiency. The highest turbine power produced, P=17.5 W, occurs on the 35° water steering angle, and on a Q=45 m³/h water flow rate and on a 80 rpm turbine rotation. While the highest turbine efficiency, h=27 %, occurred on the Q=30 m³/h water flow rate, on a 60 rpm turbine rotation and on a water flow steering angle a=35°. The highest turbine torque, 3.1 Nm, occurs at Q=45 m³/h water flow rate at a maximum turbine braking and on a water steering angle a=35°.