UDC 621.224 CFD (SOLIDWORKS) MODELING METHODS FOR PREDICTING TURBINE EFFICIENCY

Abstract

In this article, the hydrodynamic characteristics of a Banki (cross-flow) turbine designed for micro-hydropower plants operating under low-head water flow conditions were investigated using digital modeling methods. The main objective of the study is to simulate the operating process of a highly efficient micro-hydropower turbine suitable for irrigation canals, small rivers, and artificial water structures, as well as to determine its optimal design parameters. For this purpose, the SolidWorks Flow Simulation software was used to create a turbine model, and the flow of water through the blade passages was analyzed based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods. During the simulation, important parameters such as flow velocity, pressure gradient, inlet angle, rotational speed, and torque were examined.

In the study, hydrodynamic processes under low-head conditions (0.5–2 m water head) were recorded as stable. As the flow velocity increased, a linear rise in turbine rotational speed was observed: approximately 36–40 rpm at a flow velocity of 0.5 m/s and 145–160 rpm at 2.0 m/s. It was found that increasing the number of blades from 24 to 36 resulted in a 4–6% change in rotational speed, where a greater number of blades improved flow smoothness and torque stability. CFD simulation results demonstrated that the Banki turbine design operates efficiently in low-head water flow conditions.