Stefania Zanforlin

Università di Pisa | UNIPI · Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering

We present a novel 3D implementation of a horizontal axis tidal turbine (HATT) in the shallow water hydrostatic code SHYFEM. The uniqueness of this work involves the blade element momentum (BEM) approach: the turbine is parameterized by applying momentum sink terms in the x and y momentum equations. In this way, the turbine performance is the resul...

A Double Multiple Stream Tube (DMST) routine to predict the performance of cross-flow hydrokinetic turbines in real environments is presented, along with a site assessment application to identify the most efficient turbine aspect ratio, solidity and configuration (single, or paired) for a selected area of the Northern Adriatic Sea. The peculiarity...

A MATLAB routine, based on a Double Multiple Stream Tube model, developed to quickly predict the performance of cross-flow hydrokinetic turbine, here is presented. The routine evaluate flow data obtained with the open-source marine circulation code SHYFEM. The tool can establish the best locations to place tidal devices taking into account bathymet...

Literature suggests that cross-flow turbines (CFTs) could be suitable for off-shore wind farms because of the high power-density achievable by shortening the distance between arrays as allowed by a fast wake energy recovery experimentally detectable. By means of 3d-CFD, we analysed the effect of the rotation verse of CFTs in counter-rotating paired...

Our aim was to embed a 2D analytical model of a cross-flow tidal turbine inside the open-source SHYFEM marine circulation code. Other studies on the environmental impact of Tidal Energy Converters use marine circulation codes with simplified approaches: performance coefficients are fixed a priori regardless of the operating conditions and turbine g...

The present study is focused on modeling of dynamic stall behavior of a pitching airfoil. The deep stall regime is in particular considered. A model is proposed, which has a low implementation and computational complexity but yet is able to deal with different types of dynamic stall conditions, including those characterized by multiple vortex shedd...

With the aim of finding efficient solutions for cross flow turbine (CFT) bi-directional diffusers able to harvest non perfectly rectilinear tidal currents, a 2D CFD analysis of ducted CFTs was carried out with focus on the effects of diffuser shape and yaw angle. The HARVEST hydrofoil shaped diffuser, equipped with a pair of counter-rotating turbin...

The present work focuses on the numerical simulation of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines by means of an “in-house” BEM-based User Defined Function to be used 39ith the CFD code ANSYS Fluent. Typical VAWT unsteady and 3D phenomena, such as dynamic stall, flow curvature and tip losses, are taken into account by original and literature-based sub-models. Th...

A 2D CFD analysis of the hydrodynamic interactions between three closely spaced Vertical Axis Tidal Turbines is performed for two layouts: side-by-side and triangular. Three mechanisms determine a power increase with respect to isolated turbines: (1) turbine blockage that entails flow acceleration outside of the turbines and inside the aisles betwe...

Aspect Ratio (AR) is one of the main design parameters of straight-bladed vertical axis turbines. This paper will examine whether a high AR, with long blades and low tip losses, or a low AR, with a higher diameter and higher losses, is more suitable to achieve the maximum power output given a fixed cross-sectional area. Traditional Double-Multiple...

We present a comprehensive set of two-dimensional (2D) unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) simulations of flow around a pair of counter-rotating vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs). The simulations are performed for two possible configurations of the counter-rotating VAWT pair, with various gaps between the two turbines, tip-speed-rati...

In order to reduce the calculation time in the analysis of a diffuser augmented H-Darrieus wind turbine (DAWT), ahybrid CFD-source terms 2D approach,relying on a new experimental-based dynamic stall model, was adopted. This method consists in solving the blades load by means of an analytic model, whereas the overall flow field is calculatedthrough...

A CFD analysis of the hydrodynamic interactions between three vertical axis tidal turbines set in close proximity is performed for two layout: side-by-side and triangular. The following key mechanisms are found to determine a power increasing with respect to isolated turbines: (1) turbine blockage that entails flow acceleration outside of the turbi...

We investigated the effectiveness of combining the concentration effects generated by a dual-pitched roof and a diffuser-shaped wall mounted over a Darrieus turbine, which is rooftop mounted with horizontal shaft running close to the roof ridge. A2D CFD study was carried out in three steps: (1) we predicted the turbine basic performance with and wi...

The paper shows the results of the numerical tasks of a study aimed to evaluate the potential of low pressure (< 20 bar) direct injection systems for internal combustion engines fed with gaseous fuels. Starting from the geometry of a low-cost commercial injector already available for GDI uses, a 2D axisymmetric CFD analyses is performed to assess t...

The paper demonstrates the potential of an unsteady RANS 3D approach to predict the effects of skewed winds on the performance of an H-type vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT). The approach is validated through a comparison between numerical and experimental results for a full-scale Darrieus turbine, demonstrating an improved prediction ability of 3D...

The present study contributes to understand physical mechanisms involved in an achievable power enhancement by setting vertical axis wind turbines in close proximity. The turbines are straight-bladed Darrieus micro-turbines characterized by medium-high solidity and therefore low tip-speed ratio. Preliminary CFD simulations of the isolated turbine e...

A novel low-pressure hydrogen direct-injection system, characterised by low storage residual pressure and simple mechanical solutions, has been implemented in single and multi-cylinder engines. Based on two-step operation, this system keeps hydrogen metering apart from injection. The first step relates to the system with constant H<sub align="right...

The paper describes the CFD analysis, the arrangement and the first experimental results of a single-cylinder engine that employs an innovative low-pressure hydrogen direct-injection system, characterised by low fuel rail pressure (12 bar) and consequent low residual storage pressure. The injection is split in two steps: at first hydrogen is metere...

A low-pressure hydrogen direct-injection solution is presented that allows some typical benefits of direct injection, such as high specific power and backfire prevention, plus low residual storage pressure, that improves vehicle range and is a typical advantage of external mixture formation. Since the injection must end early enough to allow good c...

In this paper, a low-pressure hydrogen direct-injection solution is presented that entails low storage residual pressure (∼12 bar). The injection is realised in two steps. First, hydrogen is simply metered by an electro-injector (a conventional one for Compressed Natural Gas - CNG application) that feeds a small intermediate chamber. Next, hydrogen...

In the field of engines for light motorcycles, two-stroke cycle survival is submitted to the application of direct fuel injection and charge stratification, even in the case of low-cost small engines. However, charge stratification is a difficult target in two-stroke engines, chiefly because timings of late injection (necessary for charge stratific...

Direct fuel injection has become necessary in two-stroke S.I. engines, since it prevents one of the major problems of these engines, that is fuel loss from the exhaust port. Another important problem is combustion irregularity at light loads, due to excessive residual gas in the charge, and can be solved by charge stratification. High-pressure liqu...

In four-stroke engines direct injection increases power and fuel economy, which is further improved by charge stratification, due to pumping loss reduction and better combustion efficiency at partial loads. Charge stratification can be obtained by different techniques and injector designs. In every case late injection is necessary for stratificatio...

Direct fuel injection combined with charge stratification represents a must for two-stroke S.I. engines, since it prevents fuel loss from the exhaust port and incomplete combustion or misfire at light loads. The most difficult aims are keeping stable stratification when engine operating conditions change and, at very light loads, avoiding excessive...

Direct high-pressure liquid fuel injection is able to control the mixing process inside the cylinder for getting either stratified charge at partial loads or quasi-homogeneous conditions, as it is required at full load. This paper shows the development of this solution for small two-stoke engines, using multidimensional modelling. The aim is invest...

A study was performed that takes into account both turbulence and chemical kinetic effects in the numerical simulation of diesel engine combustion in order to better understand the importance of their respective roles at changing operating conditions. An approach was developed which combines the simplicity and low computational and storage requests...

The paper describes an experimental study concerning the feasibility of using bio-oil obtained from flash pyrolysis of wood for fuelling diesel power plants. The research is based on various tests aimed at verifying relevant operative characteristics of the fuel: spray analyses, engine tests, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), single-drop reactor te...