Numerical Simulation of Micro Gravitational Hydro-turbine for Alternative Renewable Energy Resources in Rural Area

Abstract

Hydropower is one of the most reliable and efficient sources for the clean generation of renewable
energy. The increase of energy demand in developing countries has caused the extensive grow of
hydropower development. In this light, the usage of low head hydro vortex turbine has been
considered as a solution for the shortage of energy supply in rural areas. To alleviate the shortage
of energy supply, it is essential to fabricate a Micro Gravitational Hydro-turbine which allows the
conversion of energy in a moving fluid to rotational energy through the use of low head and low
flow rate with a relatively simple structure. Thus, we attempt to analyse the maximum output
power of the suggested model. The model was numerically simulated using commercial CFD
software. Different geometrical basin designs are being developed as well as the simulations are
varied with different flow rate parameter. The findings indicated that the maximum output
generated via the conical basin is 630.01 W while the cylindrical basin is 27.47 W. It is shown that
the conical basin design could increase power production and able to operate efficiently at a
different flow rate. In general, the current work could be used as a replacement for the traditional
small water turbine design in Malaysia