Design and Verification of a Micro Wells Turbine for Mediterranean Operations

M. Bassetti; A. Corsini; G. Delibra; F. Rispoli; M. Ruggeri; P. Venturini

11^th European Conference on Turbomachinery Fluid dynamics & Thermodynamics

Paper ID:

ETC2015-192

Main Topic:

Wind Turbines

Authors

M. Bassetti - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy
A. Corsini - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy
G. Delibra - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy
F. Rispoli - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy
M. Ruggeri - Faggiolati Pumps S.p.A., Italy
P. Venturini - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy

Abstract

In the framework of the Poseidone Project we have designed a Wells turbine for Mediterranean operations. Here we present RANS computations carried out with OpenFOAM at different operating conditions. Rotor-stator interaction was synthetized with MRF approach and RANS closure relied on the cubic eddy viscosity closure of Lien et al. The virtual test rig reproduced the ISO conditions of the laboratory and was able to correctly predict torque and efficiency at different operations. Computations moreover allowed to acquire information on the threedimensional velocity and pressure field that develops inside the Wells turbine. The aim was to have an insight on the secondary motions and on the possible stall mechanism that characterize the device at low flow rates. Results were successfully validated against experimental measures.