Towards efficient hydropower harvesting: Design modification and performance optimization of a spherical lift-based in-pipe turbine
The growing global demand for sustainable energy has intensified efforts to identify alternative power generation methods that can be integrated into existing infrastructure. One promising approach involves harvesting energy from high-pressure flows in water distribution networks using small-scale,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025024314 |
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| author | Mohammad J. Rostamani Peyman Sobhani Nima Hasanzadeh Amir F. Najafi |
| author_facet | Mohammad J. Rostamani Peyman Sobhani Nima Hasanzadeh Amir F. Najafi |
| author_sort | Mohammad J. Rostamani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The growing global demand for sustainable energy has intensified efforts to identify alternative power generation methods that can be integrated into existing infrastructure. One promising approach involves harvesting energy from high-pressure flows in water distribution networks using small-scale, lift-based turbines. However, conventional lift-based turbines typically exhibit low power output and efficiency when deployed within pipelines. To address these limitations, this study introduces a novel design that varies the chord length of the turbine blade's cross-section. The design maintains a consistent initial angle of attack along the blades, reducing flow blockage near the upper and lower hub and enhancing torque generation by increasing the chord length at the turbine mid-sections. Numerical simulations and experimental tests demonstrate that this configuration improves the power coefficient by 50 % compared to traditional designs. Following the validation of the approach, a comprehensive numerical dataset covering a wide range of geometric and operational parameters was developed to imply a multi-objective optimization process. This resulted in an optimized turbine design with a power coefficient of 0.53 and an efficiency of 22 %. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-59fca6a3482f41dc8a247edbd185acb6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-59fca6a3482f41dc8a247edbd185acb62025-08-20T02:47:03ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710636010.1016/j.rineng.2025.106360Towards efficient hydropower harvesting: Design modification and performance optimization of a spherical lift-based in-pipe turbineMohammad J. Rostamani0Peyman Sobhani1Nima Hasanzadeh2Amir F. Najafi3Small Scale Hydro-Devices Research Lab., School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365/4563, Tehran, IranSmall Scale Hydro-Devices Research Lab., School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365/4563, Tehran, IranSmall Scale Hydro-Devices Research Lab., School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365/4563, Tehran, IranCorresponding author.; Small Scale Hydro-Devices Research Lab., School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365/4563, Tehran, IranThe growing global demand for sustainable energy has intensified efforts to identify alternative power generation methods that can be integrated into existing infrastructure. One promising approach involves harvesting energy from high-pressure flows in water distribution networks using small-scale, lift-based turbines. However, conventional lift-based turbines typically exhibit low power output and efficiency when deployed within pipelines. To address these limitations, this study introduces a novel design that varies the chord length of the turbine blade's cross-section. The design maintains a consistent initial angle of attack along the blades, reducing flow blockage near the upper and lower hub and enhancing torque generation by increasing the chord length at the turbine mid-sections. Numerical simulations and experimental tests demonstrate that this configuration improves the power coefficient by 50 % compared to traditional designs. Following the validation of the approach, a comprehensive numerical dataset covering a wide range of geometric and operational parameters was developed to imply a multi-objective optimization process. This resulted in an optimized turbine design with a power coefficient of 0.53 and an efficiency of 22 %.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025024314Sustainable energy technologiesIn-pipe lift-base turbineExperimental studyComputational fluid dynamicsMulti objective optimization |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad J. Rostamani Peyman Sobhani Nima Hasanzadeh Amir F. Najafi Towards efficient hydropower harvesting: Design modification and performance optimization of a spherical lift-based in-pipe turbine Results in Engineering Sustainable energy technologies In-pipe lift-base turbine Experimental study Computational fluid dynamics Multi objective optimization |
| title | Towards efficient hydropower harvesting: Design modification and performance optimization of a spherical lift-based in-pipe turbine |
| title_full | Towards efficient hydropower harvesting: Design modification and performance optimization of a spherical lift-based in-pipe turbine |
| title_fullStr | Towards efficient hydropower harvesting: Design modification and performance optimization of a spherical lift-based in-pipe turbine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards efficient hydropower harvesting: Design modification and performance optimization of a spherical lift-based in-pipe turbine |
| title_short | Towards efficient hydropower harvesting: Design modification and performance optimization of a spherical lift-based in-pipe turbine |
| title_sort | towards efficient hydropower harvesting design modification and performance optimization of a spherical lift based in pipe turbine |
| topic | Sustainable energy technologies In-pipe lift-base turbine Experimental study Computational fluid dynamics Multi objective optimization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025024314 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohammadjrostamani towardsefficienthydropowerharvestingdesignmodificationandperformanceoptimizationofasphericalliftbasedinpipeturbine AT peymansobhani towardsefficienthydropowerharvestingdesignmodificationandperformanceoptimizationofasphericalliftbasedinpipeturbine AT nimahasanzadeh towardsefficienthydropowerharvestingdesignmodificationandperformanceoptimizationofasphericalliftbasedinpipeturbine AT amirfnajafi towardsefficienthydropowerharvestingdesignmodificationandperformanceoptimizationofasphericalliftbasedinpipeturbine |