We investigate the flow past a cross flow hydrokinetic turbine (CFHT)in which a helical blade turns around a shaft perpendicular to the free stream under the hydrodynamic forces exerted by the flow. The ability of a cross flow turbine to rotate in the same direction independent of the water flow direction gives an advantage for hydrokinetic applications. This type of turbine, while very different from the classical horizontal axis turbine commonly used in the wind energy field, presents advantages in the context of hydro kinetic energy harvesting, such as independence from current direction, including reversibility, stacking, and self-starting without complex pitch mechanisms.

1. Design & Analysis of a Helical
cross-flow Hydrokinetic Turbine (CFHT)
Using CFD
Project Guide
Dr. Pravin P Patil
(Dean Research)
Graphic Era University, Dehradun
Submitted by :
Arpit Dwivedi (2002689)
Himanshu Joshi (2003236)
Anish Anand (2002673)

2. CONTENTS
Introduction
Project motivation
Cross flow Turbine and Power Generation
Literature Survey
Important Parameters
Design Methodology
Design Parameters & Boundary Conditions
Results
Conclusions
Scope of Future Work
References

3. INTRODUCTION
Need for Untainted , environmentally benign
Energy . (Why Renewables ?)
K.E of water Currents in Rivers, Oceans &
Estuaries
Development of wind turbines & Research in
MHK.
Axial Flow Vs Cross Flow Turbines
Drag Type Vs Lift Types Turbines

4. Project Motivation
Energy Crisis and its impact
250000 MW hydro potential in India
Still only 14.5 % is utilized (a lot of scope there……………….!)
Research in Wind Turbine analysis has reached a saturation level .
The Industry for Marine Hydrokinetic Turbine is still in its
infancy
Concepts of wind turbine analysis are utilized there,
literature is still to be developed (intensive research going on)

5. Cross Flow Turbine and Power
Generation
Rotates at twice the velocity of water current flow.
Rotates in the same direction, independent of water flow direction
No fluctuations in Torque
No cavitation even at Higher speeds
Modular in Design
 In the report Gorlov prepared for the DOE(dept of energy) in
1998 he claims an efficiency value of “about 35%" for a 3 bladed,
24" diameter by 34" height turbine in free water flow of 5 ft/s .

6. Literature Survey
A wide variety of Literature regarding Design and Analysis of wind & MHK
Turbines was done.
These were the findings.
The power available is proportional to the velocity cubed.
The flow field is unsteady and 3-dimensional
Drag and lift coefficients are largely dependent on angle of attack.
NACA Symmetrical profiles are selected as forces reverse after 180 degrees
of rotation
The Drag and Lift forces generated due to flow, generate a torque about the
central axis.

7. Important Parameters
NACA 0018 Symmetrical
profile
With 18 % thickness to chord
length ratio
Blade Profile : Cubic Spline
Pitch = 706 mm
Taper angle = 2

8. Design Methodology
Solidity Ratio ( σ) = nC/пd
Inclination Angle (Φ) = tan‾1(nh/пd)
Figure 2 Top View (Gorlov Turbine)

9. Modelling was done in Catia V5 with modifications in Ansys 14.5

10. Design Parameters & Boundary
Conditions

11. MESHING
Meshing was chosen as fine and relevance was taken 0.
No of nodes obtained were 1329267, and no of elements
created were 7447633. Cross section of the turbine
Fine meshing across the region of
turbine cross section.
Meshing on Proximity and
Curvature

12. Aluminium 5086 (marine grade aluminium) was defined with density of
2660 kg/m3. Water was selected as a fluid medium.
After boundary conditions were applied the hydrostatic pressure was
defined according to the depth of the turbine from the free surface and the
inlet velocity was chosen as 1.5m/sec and the pressure was taken as
104255 pascals(Pa) which was kept uniform at inlet and outlet.

14. RESULTS
Figure : (a) Profile of Dynamic Pressure (b) Contours of
Pressure Coefficient

15. FIGURE : (a) Profile of Velocity Magnitude (b) Contours of Turbulent
Kinetic Energy

16. Figure : (a)Profile of Velocity in Y Direction (b) Velocity Vector Colored by
Velocity magnitude

17. Wall Shear Vector

18. SCALED RESIDUES

19. Cl and Cd

20. Conclusions and Future work
This project specifies the parameters on which the static analysis of a cross flow
turbine depends. It specifies the difference between usual wind turbine theories and
their applicability in tidal turbine analysis.
This successful implementation of this project will help in eradicating power
demands.
This project is capable of producing energy both in small and large magnitudes with
very less cost implementation than any other hydro power project which involve
constructions of large dams and then tunnels. Thus this project has a vast scope in a
country like India where number of seasonal and non seasonal river flows.

21. FUTURE SCOPE
The same analysis can be performed for varying solidity ratio, by
changing the no. of blades or the chord length of the profile or
changing the radius of the plate, it’s dependency can be checked and
verified.
We have performed the analysis for tip speed ratio = 0 , behavior
can be studied by varying it.
Torque and power can be calculated by defining specific UDF(user
defined functions)
Dynamic Analysis of the rotating turbine can be done by using
SRF(Single reference model), MRF(Multiple Reference model) and
Sliding Mesh Technique.

22. Due to it’s wide applicability in Hydrokinetic applications, the
analysis can be performed for different areas with different
boundary conditions.
As per literature Survey the Results obtained by CFD studies
are in accordance with the experimental investigations. However
with regard to local Flora and fauna , experimental investigation
can be performed by making a suitable scale model and
calculation of parameters.

23. REFERENCES
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