Performance Analysis of Rotor Blade Design Impact on OWC Impulse Radial Turbine

Khalid Elatife, Abdellatif El Marjani, Hamid Mounir

Abstract


This study builds upon our previous numerical investigations by incorporating an extensive experimental validation of bi-directional radial impulse turbines used in oscillating water column (OWC) systems for wave energy conversion. Two rotor blade profiles, circular and elliptical, were analyzed to assess their influence on turbine performance under inhalation and exhalation modes. The combined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experimental measurements provide detailed insights into flow angles, relative velocity distributions, and aerodynamic losses across turbine components, including the IGV, OGV, and rotor blades. Results confirm that circular blades deliver superior efficiency, particularly during inhalation, whereas elliptical blades exhibit significant local flow separation at the trailing edge. The enhanced experimental validation enables a more accurate assessment of the turbine’s operational behavior. Finally, a control strategy for dynamically adjusting the geometric angles of guide vanes is proposed to optimize efficiency throughout the operating cycle. This work strengthens the understanding of rotor blade effects and provides a foundation for future intelligent control integration and design optimization in OWC turbines.

Keywords


energy; renewable energy; wave energy

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References


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DOI (PDF): https://doi.org/10.20508/ijrer.v16i1.15166.g9156

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