Impact of water wheel hydrokinetic unit spacing on hydraulic conditions in a rectangular canal under mild slope subcritical flow with physical modeling

Hydrokinetics in inland waterways has seen increased interest in recent decades as a source of renewable energy. Unlike traditional hydropower, which uses potential energy from the static head of a reservoir, hydrokinetics uses the kinetic energy from flowing water (e.g., wave tides, streams, canals). Previous research covered the hydraulic impacts and practical limitations of hydrokinetics through field studies, but had a limited understanding of appropriate installation locations and the minimum spacing between individual units. This study builds on previous testing by performing physical modeling at the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) Hydraulics Lab in a 60-foot-long adjustable slope flume. The discharge into the flume and the channel slope were limited to ensure that subcritical flow under a mild slope was prevalent for all tests to best represent real-world conditions. Two in-plane cross-flow hydrokinetic units were tested in various conditions in the flume by adjusting channel slopes and unit spacing, with or without a downstream control structure. Flow depth was measured at 14 piezometer points along the channel and used to calculate hydraulic parameters including the Froude number, power available per unit, and energy grade line. Data from the two-unit scenarios were compared with scenarios with no hydrokinetic units installed (i.e., baseline) and with a single unit installed. It was found that the backwater, or the rise in depth of the water upstream caused by the HK units, extended beyond the length of the model in every test. Furthermore, the backwater recovers more quickly in steeper channels tested, but did still not fully dissipate in the model. To represent canal conditions, the use of a downstream control structure was necessary. Although the backwaters overlap, more power was available when two units were installed compared to one. The reduction of canal freeboard by the stacked backwater is the most significant constraint. Further tests may assess the units’ power efficiency, flow conditions, and trapezoidal canal geometry.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geology and Geological Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Peau, Pesett

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Benson, David A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Panos, Chelsea Lynne
• Mortensen, Joshua D.

• cross-flow turbines
• hydraulic engineering
• hydrokinetics
• physical modeling
• subcritical flow
• water-wheel turbines

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright of the original work is retained by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Dc Identifier Other

T 9918

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.mines.edu:11124/180342