CFD Investigation of a Hybrid Wells Turbine with Passive Flow Control

In the past decade, there has been renewed interest in wave energy harvesting utilizing oscillating water columns (OWC), one of most well-studied harnessing technologies. OWC, pneumatic power from ocean waves is converted to mechanical by Wells turbines. It should be noted, however, that such turbines tend perform poorly, have a limited operating range, and low efficiency. present study, we incorporate rectangular Gurney flap (GF) at trailing edge (TE) turbine consisting hybrid airfoil (NACA 0015 NACA 0025) blades with variable chord distribution along span. This passive flow control mechanism was adopted achieve increased production turbine. study aimed determine aerodynamic performance GF compared constant chord. By using ANSYS™ CFX, three-dimensional, steady-state, incompressible Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations coupled k-ω SST turbulence model are solved. The evaluated through use non-dimensional coefficients torque, pressure drop, addition, numerical accuracy achieved grid independence study. There good agreement between computed results available experimental data. torque coefficient 18.6% 47.3% but expense peak efficiency 8.5% 7.4% for baseline turbine, respectively. Additionally, delayed onset stall ~3° angle attack (AOA).