Performance Improvement of Wells Turbine Using Variable Shaped Blades

G. Elmoslimany, Ahmed; Soliman Huzayyin, Ahmed; M. Saadeldin Eldalil, Khaled

doi:10.21608/bjas.2022.375729

Performance Improvement of Wells Turbine Using Variable Shaped Blades

Document Type : Original Research Papers

Authors

¹ Eng. Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology in El-Arish, MSC Student Benha University, Egypt.

² Mechanical Engineering Department, Benha Faculty of Engineering, Benha University, Egypt.

³ Dr. Former Major General, Armed Forces, Egypt.

10.21608/bjas.2022.375729

Abstract

The wave energy is considered one of the most promising future sources of energy. Using the oscillating water column coupled with the Wells turbine, which is unique in that it can rotate in the same direction regardless of the direction of air flow, it is used in one of the wave energy converters. This turbine has many advantages, but on the contrary, it also has many defects that affect its performance. An experimental method has been followed by using an open wind tunnel connected to the Wells turbine and changing air flow rates to test the performance characteristics of the turbine. During this research, work is done to get rid of these defects. The performance of blade geometry has been studied to reach the optimum design, and the best performance of the turbine has been achieved when using the self-pitch controlled blade with a horizontal tail trimer. The results show an increase in the average efficiency of about 26 to 48% for 1000 rpm at the same flow coefficient (∅), with respect to the traditional Wells turbine average efficiency. Further reduction of rotational speed is expected to increase average efficiency.

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