Design and verification of a micro wells turbine for Mediterranean operations

摘要

In the framework of the Poseidone Project we have designed a Wells turbine for Mediterraneanudoperations. Here we present RANS computations carried out with OpenFOAM at differentudoperating conditions. Rotor-stator interaction was synthetized with MRF approach and RANSudclosure relied on the cubic eddy viscosity closure of Lien et al. The virtual test rig reproducedudthe ISO conditions of the laboratory and was able to correctly predict torque and efficiency atuddifferent operations. Computations moreover allowed to acquire information on the threedimensionaludvelocity and pressure field that develops inside the Wells turbine. The aim was toudhave an insight on the secondary motions and on the possible stall mechanism that characterizeudthe device at low flow rates. Results were successfully validated against experimental measures.