Cavitation Inception on Hydrokinetic Turbine Blades Shrouded by Diffuser

Diffuser technology placed around hydrokinetic rotors may improve the conversion of fluid’s kinetic energy into shaft power. However, rotor blades are susceptible to phenomenon cavitation, which can impact overall power efficiency. This paper presents development a new optimization model applied shrouded by diffuser. The proposed geometry takes account effect cavitation inception. main contribution this work state art is an procedure that effects diffuser efficiency, ?d, and thrust, CTd. authors unaware any other available in literature considering ?d CTd on blades. uses Blade Element Momentum Theory seek optimized blade order minimize or even avoid occurrence cavitation. minimum pressure coefficient used as criterion Additionally, Computational Fluid Dynamics investigation was carried out validate based Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes formulation, using ??? Shear-Stress Transport turbulence Rayleigh–Plesset models, estimate means water vapor production. methodology design 10 m diameter rotor, rated at 250 kW output flow velocity 2.5 m/s. An analysis with without evaluate changes terms chord twist angle distribution. It found diffuser-augmented doubles inception relative unshrouded case. completely remove occurrence, making it good alternative for free