Investigations on the aerodynamic aspects of wells turbine in a reciprocating flow

Abstract

This paper deals with the experimental and theoretical investigations on the aerodynamic performance of a Wells turbine. The two-dimensional cascade theory is used to estimate the thrust and torque of the turbine, and finally yield an efficiency of the turbine. The turbine is assumed to rotate steadily in a sinusoidally varying unsteady flow field. Experimental approach is made in a newly-built wave simulator, which produces a reciprocating air flow corresponding to the wave motion in OWC chamber. Performance data of the turbine measured at various operating conditions are analyzed and compared with numerical results in order to understand the overall features of the Wells turbine.