Design and evaluation of a vertical-axis turbine for renewable electricity generation in water distribution systems

Abstract

This article presents the design, simulation, and experimental validation of a compact vertical-axis water turbine for in-pipe hydrokinetic power harvesting. The turbine is specially designed to be inserted into standard 200 mm PVC water pipes without requiring pipe modification. A four-bladed design was optimized for performance with minimal pressure loss. The turbine was tested at two water flow speeds (6.67 m/s and 8.9 m/s) with direct mechanical coupling to a 3.5 kVA generator for measurement of power output. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to model the flow of water and examine the generation of torque. At the same time, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) assessed mechanical strength, equivalent strain, distribution of stress, and factor of safety. Experimental results confirmed a maximum flow velocity power output of approximately 2.42 kW, demonstrating the viability of the system. The design incorporates an affordable, plug-and-play clean energy generation alternative for high-rise building pipe systems and municipal water supply systems, especially well-suited for urban development in developing countries like Bangladesh.