Impact of Sizing in VAHT-SBC to the Channel Blockage

Abstract

The primary objective in this paper is to study the effect of Vertical Axis Hydrokinetic Turbine - Straight Blade Cascaded (VAHT-SBC) enlargement to the blockage effect that occur as a result of different clearance between the turbine and water channel walls. In this study, all the three-model turbine that examined have diameter of 0.4 m, 0.6 m and 0.8 m. Experimental testing was conducted in Umbulan water channel in Pasuruan. To obtain the additional data that cannot afford through experimental testing, simulation using CFD are performed to illustrate the blockage effect around the turbines. From the collected result, the enlargement in dimension of turbine leads to the increment of turbine performance.