Austin Griffin presented “Experimental identification of reduced order model parameters for hydrokinetic energy system design” (Technical Presentation) at the ASME IMECE 2023.

[BibTeX]

Abstract

This study presents the ongoing development of experimental validation and identification of the reduced order model (ROM) parameters for the horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbine (HAHkT) in the context of design optimization. It is crucial to optimize the HAHkT scale, external and internal geometry, rotor and blade design, and control scheme simultaneously to achieve cost-efficient energy conversion. However, high-fidelity simulation models, such as three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD), are costly, making the ROM approach more practical in the optimization loop. Based on the existing circuit analogy ROM model for the ducted HAHkT, we focus on improving the model by incorporating previously ignored model parameters, such as turbine rotor resistance, to enhance the fidelity of the ROM. We use turbine blade hydrodynamic simulation results based on blade element momentum (BEM) theory to augment the ROM fidelity. The open channel experiment will test various geometries and blade pitches to validate and identify fine tuning parameters of the developed ROM. Additive manufacturing will be used to fabricate turbine components and ducts. Pressure, water velocity, turbine rotational speed, and torque on the shaft will be collected. The improved ROM, validated through experiments and simulations, can be used for a broader range of designs, contributing to the development of a cost-efficient HAHkT system for renewable energy system designers.