Numerical Study of the Flow Upstream of a Water Intake Hydroelectric Dam in Stationary Regime

Tchawe Tchawe Moukam^1, , Djiako Thomas², Kenmeugne Bienvenu³ and Tcheukam-Toko Denis⁴

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering ENSAI, University of Ngaoundere

²Director of the Master’s school, University Institute of Guinea Gulf (UIG), Douala

³Department of Mechanical Engineering HTTTC-Kumba, University of Buea

⁴Department of Mechanical Engineering COLTECH, University of Buea

Cite this paper:
Tchawe Tchawe Moukam, Djiako Thomas, Kenmeugne Bienvenu and Tcheukam-Toko Denis. Numerical Study of the Flow Upstream of a Water Intake Hydroelectric Dam in Stationary Regime. American Journal of Energy Research. 2018; 6(2):35-41. doi: 10.12691/ajer-6-2-1

Abstract

The use of hydraulic power in the field of electricity generation has long been a majority, because it begins in antiquity by so-called traditional means. In this work, it is proposed to study the variation of the flow upstream of the intake of a penstock, at different Reynolds numbers. The objective is to understand the influence of the step upstream and the intake, on the structure of the flow in this zone. This study is conducted by a numerical approach under FLUENT (6.3.26) in 2D. There is an interesting variation of the velocity in the studied area. From this section comes out two zones classified as follows: a zone of elevated flow velocities towards the center of the dam (natural center of the intake), and a zone of diminishing of this one which is on both sides of the center of the dam and facing obstacles. Similarly upstream of the step, a recirculation zone is observed; its presence is clearly significant on the structure of the flow at the position x = 9m. We are just above the step at the beginning of a change in the flow regime.

Keywords:
water intake hydroelectric dam dynamic field 2D numerical modeling

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