PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HYDRO KAPLAN TURBINE PERFORMANCE BY USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

• Main Author: Muhammad, Zaid
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik (Rekayasa, enjinering dan kegiatan berkaitan)
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/81086
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Over the past two centuries, society heavily relied on 'dirty' energy sources like coal, natural gas, and petroleum, causing growing concerns about global warming due to their greenhouse gas emissions. In response, there has been a call for cleaner, renewable energy alternatives. In his work, ‘The Role of Hydropower in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: A Review’, Berga (2016) highlights the importance of hydropower as a renewable energy source, stating that it accounted for 19% of global electricity production in 2015. However, to further optimize its viability and competitiveness, this study focuses on a parametric analysis of a Kaplan turbine runner design, utilizing the work of Muhammad Febrillian as a foundational basis. The objective of this research is to conduct a parametric analysis of the Kaplan turbine design and its performance under varying input parameters. Specifically, the study aims to analyse the influence of input parameters such as head and rotational speed input on turbine performance, assess the impact of different design parameters on turbine characteristics, and observe resulting phenomena from changes in these parameters by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Key findings indicate that significant friction losses and flow separation were not evident in the data. The decrease in shaft power output beyond a certain head value was attributed to cavitation and impact force, suggesting the need for design modifications to mitigate this risk, such as optimizing blade thickness. Furthermore, the simulation parameters used in the study offer valuable insights into turbine performance, although adjustments are needed to align with real-world operational principles. Treating rotational speed as an output parameter and considering the operational range of Kaplan turbines in simulations would provide a more accurate representation of performance characteristics. In conclusion, this research successfully achieves its objectives by investigating the influence of input parameters, assessing the impact of design parameters, and observing resulting phenomena. Recommendations for future research are outlined.