Session: 16-01-01 Offshore Wind Energy and Renewables

Submission Number: 182271

Experimental Analysis of a Vertical H-Type Darrieus Hydrokinetic Turbine: Test Bench Assembly, Model Manufacturing, and Preliminary Results 

This experimental study investigates the performance of a vertical H-type Darrieus hydrokinetic turbine, a technology suited for riverine and offshore applications due to its omnidirectional operation and geometric simplicity. The research addresses key challenges in the field, including the hydrodynamic characterization of such turbines and the impact of operational parameters on their efficiency, which is critical for future integration into multi-turbine floating systems. A central component of this work was the design and assembly of a specialized test bench for vertical axis turbines. The process involved the CAD modeling and fabrication of structural components, followed by the integration of instrumentation to directly measure flow velocity, shaft torque, rotational speed, and hydrodynamic drag. The rigid H-Darrieus turbine model was manufactured using additive manufacturing to ensure precise geometric replication. The complete apparatus was installed in the Circulating Water Channel at the University of São Paulo. Preliminary investigations focus on characterizing the performance of the single turbine. The systematic variation of the turbine's blade pitch angle is a key aspect of the study, allowing for the quantification of its effect on power extraction and rotor loading. The initial results will establish the relationship between the pitch angle and the non-dimensional coefficients of power and drag across a range of tip-speed ratios. This foundational performance data is essential for validating computational models and will directly inform the design and optimization of future turbine arrays and their supporting platforms.

Presenting Author: Felipe Santos De Castro Univeristy of São Paulo

Presenting Author Biography: Felipe holds a BSc in NAME from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2017) and an MSc in Naval and Oceanic Engineering from the University of São Paulo (2021). Since 2024, he has been a PhD student in Naval and Oceanic Engineering at the University of São Paulo. He is also a Researcher at the Institute for Technological Research of the State of São Paulo. He has experience with hydrodynamic model instrumentation and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation. He is an enthusiast for developing methods for renewable energy generation.

Authors:

Felipe Santos De Castro Univeristy of São Paulo
Gustavo Roque Da Silva Assi University of São Paulo