NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF PITCH SPACING VARIATION ON THE TORQUE OUTPUT OF A PORTABLE SCREW TURBINE USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (CFD) SIMULATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31000/mbjtm.v10i1.16832.g%25gAbstract
Archimedes screw turbines are widely used for low-head hydropower applications due to their simple construction and ability to operate under low-flow conditions. However, studies on the effect of pitch variation on the performance of portable screw turbines remain limited. This study investigates the influence of pitch variation on the torque performance of a portable Archimedes screw turbine using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Simulations were conducted on a single-blade turbine with a 45° inclination angle and an inlet flow velocity of 1 m/s. Two pitch configurations, 60 mm and 90 mm, were analyzed using the k-ω SST turbulence model. The results show that the 60 mm pitch configuration produced the highest torque of 2.083 Nm, while the 90 mm pitch generated 1.337 Nm. The smaller pitch provided a more uniform pressure distribution and more stable flow characteristics, resulting in better fluid interaction with the blade surface. These findings indicate that pitch variation significantly affects turbine performance, and the 60 mm pitch configuration is recommended for low-head portable micro-hydropower applications.
Keywords:Archimedes Screw Turbine, Portable Screw Turbine, Pitch Variation, CFD, Torque
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