Author(s): Olivier Cleynen; Stefan Hoerner; Dominique Thevenin
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: No keywords
Abstract: A series of numerical experiments is conducted to evaluate the effect of ducting on the hydraulic power production characteristics of a low-impact, low-power, free-surface hydraulic device. A methodology is presented to identify, for a given duct geometry, the relative duct size which maximizes the device power density. Results from this calculation-intensive method are compared with a previously-developed theoretical model. The duct drag behavior observed in experiments differs from that of the model, due to the wide range of flow patterns observed across size ratios. The accuracy of theoretical predictions may be increased with an improved, more complex duct scaling process.
Year: 2016