Numerical Study of a Hydraulic Turbine Designed from Centrifugal Atomizers Theory Varying Its Inlet Parameters

This study analyzes the feasibility of using pressure swirl atomizers at scale as energy generators. Likewise, the Ansys Fluent numerical simulation tool was used, configured based on the Volume of Fluid (VOF) multiphase model and six DOF motion for rigid bodies. In turn, three configurations of feeding flow were tested: upper manifold, lower manifold, and dual manifold. The numerical results show that it is possible to produce mechanical energy with 29.4% and 32.9% efficiency (using the SST k-ω and k-ε turbulence model, respectively), while generating a uniform spray effect at the outlet of the atomizer, even though this has certain ovoid-type deformities. Likewise, it was found that the addition of an internal rotor to the swirl chamber caused the generation of a very low-pressure contour, leading to an increase in the mass flow consumption of the atomizer. Also, four cases were analyzed, considering a hydraulic supply of both manifolds: 250 kPa, 300 kPa, 350 kPa, and 400 kPa, in order to obtain the characteristic curve of the turbine depending on the mass flow obtained for each case. Finally, this research proves how viable the use of this type of technology is in the field of renewable energy generation and the impact on its performance under different configurations of hydraulic supply.