Sizing Assessment of an H-Darrieus Hydrokinetic Turbine Based on Computational Fluid Dynamics for the Electrification of a Small Base in Tumaco, Colombia

Abstract

Remote communities in Colombia face considerable challenges in accessing reliable electricity. The economic and logistical limitations of expanding centralized grids have hindered development in these areas, underscoring the need for decentralized renewable energy alternatives, such as H-Darrieus hydrokinetic turbines. However, their performance under specific local hydrodynamic conditions has not been thoroughly investigated, limiting their adoption. This study proposes the design and numerical evaluation of an H-Darrieus turbine intended for a tributary of the Mira River, where the average flow velocity is 1.5m / s. The turbine's swept area was estimated at 2m² based on a target output of 1000 W, an average water temperature of 25.3°C, and an assumed power coefficient of 0.3. The resulting configuration consisted of a 0.17 m chord, 1 m radius, 1 m blade height, and three blades. The design was analyzed using both two-dimensional and three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations. The 2D analysis predicted a power coefficient (Cp) at a tip-speed ratio (TSR) of 3.0, while the 3D simulation at TSR = 3.0 yielded a Cp of 0.37 and an output of 1279.3 W. With these results the required installed capacity was satisfied, demonstrating its viability as a solution for isolated regions.