Site Test Performance and Numerical Study of Vertical Axis Hydrokinetic Turbine Straight Blade Cascaded (VAHT–SBC)

Abstract

This study designed a hydrokinetic energy conversion system (HECS), which connects a permanent magnetic synchronous generator with a vertical axis turbine through a pulley and belt transmission system. The developed model of the Vertical Axis Hydrokinetic Turbine -Straight Blade Cascaded (VAHT-SBC) can potentially produce a maximum power potential of 174.058 W on site with a current velocity of 0.92 m/s, however, in this condition the turbine efficiency is the lowest (22.25%). A pulley ratio of 1:3 had the highest performance in this integration system, due to its ability to generate a load of 50 W on site with a current velocity of 0.82 and 0.92 m/s.