Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-018-3625-0

RESEARCH ARTICLE - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Effect of the Converging Pipe on the Performance of a Lucid Spherical

Rotor
Mabrouk Mosbahi1,2 · Ahmed Ayadi1 · Ibrahim Mabrouki1 · Zied Driss1 · Tullio Tucciarelli3 ·
Mohamed Salah Abid1

Received: 25 June 2018 / Accepted: 22 October 2018

© King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals 2018

Abstract
Lucid spherical rotor is a cross-flow rotor developed to be installed within a pipeline. The purpose of installing this type of
rotor is to collect excess energy available in gravity-fed water pipelines. In order to enhance the efficiency of the rotor which
is installed in a channel, this paper aims to study the performance of Lucid spherical rotor with converging pipe. Numerical
investigations were carried out to analyze the effect of the converging pipe on the performance of the rotor. Numerical
simulations have been carried out using the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations in conjunction with the
realizable k − ε turbulence model. The validation of the numerical method with anterior published studies has been carried
out. The hydrodynamic characteristics of the flow around the rotor with and without converging pipe have been analyzed and
discussed. Numerical results indicated that the converging pipe increases the performance of the Lucid spherical rotor.

Keywords Hydropower · Lucid spherical rotor · Channel · Converging pipe · Performance · Validation

List of symbols k Turbulent kinetic energy, m2 s−2

Cm Torque coefficient, dimensionless l Fixed domain length, m
Cp Power coefficient, dimensionless Li Converging section length, m
C1ε Constant of the k − ε turbulence model Lo Pipe section length, m
c Blade chord, m M Rotor torque, N
d Rotating zone diameter, m p Pressure, Pa
D Rotor diameter, m P Rotor power, W
Di Converging section diameter, m S Rotor swept area, m2
Do Pipe section diameter, m t Time, s
e Blade overlap ui Velocity components, m s−1
Fi Force components, N u i Fluctuating velocity components, m s−1
Gk Production term of turbulence, kg m−1 s−3 V∞ Water velocity, m s−1
h Fixed domain height, m w Fixed domain width, m
H Rotor height, m xi Cartesian coordinate, m
x Cartesian coordinate, m
B Mabrouk Mosbahi y+ Non-dimensional parameter
mabrouk.mosbahi@gmail.com y Cartesian coordinate, m
1 Laboratory of Electro-Mechanic Systems (LASEM), National z Cartesian coordinate, m
School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS), University of Sfax, B.P. ε Dissipation rate of the turbulent kinetic energy,
1173, km 3.5 Soukra, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia W kg−1
2 Higher National Engineering School of Tunis (ENSIT), μ Dynamic viscosity, Pa s
University of Tunis, Avenue Taha Hussein Montfleury, 1008 μt Turbulent viscosity, Pa s
Tunis, Tunisia ρ Density, kg m−3
3 Department of Civil, Environmental, Aerospace and Materials ω Rotor revolution speed, rad s−1
Engineering (DICAM), University of Palermo, Viale delle λ Tip speed ratio
Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy

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