Efficiency Sensitivity Analysis of a Very Low Head Axial Turbine (VLH) considering Upstream Channel Geometrical Parameters

Time-consuming computational fluid dynamics problemswith complex geometries and a large number ofcomputational nodes can be challenging in parametricstudies. In this research, we integrate CFD with ResponseSurface Methodology to investigate the sensitivity ofhydraulic efficiency of a particular kind of water turbine toits upstream channel’s geometrical parameters. By choosingsamples through Design of Experiment (DoE) techniquesand then creating a Meta-Model, the effects of eachparameter is studied. In addition, we compared twodifferent Meta-Models and investigated how they influencethe accuracy of the response as another objective of thisresearch. The turbine installation angle has the mostsignificant influence on the turbine’s performance, and alsothe Kriging method predicted the response function moreaccurate than Second Order Model.