Young-Do Choi

Bio: Young-Do Choi is an academic researcher from Mokpo National University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Turbine & Internal flow. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 98 publications receiving 593 citations. Previous affiliations of Young-Do Choi include Korea Maritime and Ocean University & Changwon National University.

Performance and Internal Flow Characteristics of a Cross-Flow Hydro Turbine by the Shapes of Nozzle and Runner Blade

Abstract: Recently, small hydropower attracts attention because of its clean, renewable and abundant energy resources to develop. Therefore, a cross-flow hydraulic turbine is proposed for small hydropower in this study because the turbine has relatively simple structure and high possibility of applying to small hydropower. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the turbine's structural configuration on the performance and internal flow characteristics of the cross-flow turbine model using CFD analysis. The results show that nozzle shape, runner blade angle and runner blade number are closely related to the performance and internal flow of the turbine. Moreover, air layer in the turbine runner plays very important roles of improving the turbine performance.

Performance and Internal Flow Characteristics of a Very Low Specific Speed Centrifugal Pump

Abstract: In very low specific speed range (n,<0.25), the efficiency of the centrifugal pump designed by the conventional method becomes remarkably low. Therefore, positive-displacement pumps have been widely used for long. However, the positive-displacement pumps remain associated with problems such as noise and vibration and they require high manufacturing precision. Since the recently used centrifugal pumps are becoming higher in rotational speed and smaller in size, there appear to be many expectations to develop a new centrifugal pump with high performance in the very low specific speed range. The purpose of this study is to investigate the internal flow characteristics and its influence on the performance of a very low specific speed centrifugal pump. The results show that large reverse flow at the semi-open impeller outlet decreases absolute tangential velocity considerably which in turn decreases the pumping head.

Suppression of Cavitation in Inducers by J-Grooves

Abstract: Cavitation is a serious problem in the development of high-speed turbopumps, and an inducer is often used to avoid cavitation in the main impeller. Thus, the inducer often operates under the worst conditions of cavitation. If it could be possible to control and suppress cavitation in the inducer by some new device, it would also be possible to suppress cavitation occurring in all types of pumps. The purpose of our present study is to develop a new, effective method of controlling and suppressing cavitation in an inducer using shallow grooves, called "J-Grooves." J-Grooves are installed on the casing wall near the blade tip to use the high axial pressure gradient that exists between the region just downstream of the inducer leading edge and the region immediately upstream of the inducer. The results show that the proper combination of backward-swept inducer with J-Grooves improves the suction performance of the turbopump remarkably, at both partial flow rates and the design flow rate. The rotating backflow cavitation occurring at low flow rates and the cavitation surge which occurs near the best efficiency point can be almost fully suppressed by installing J-Grooves.

Flow uniformity in a multi-intake pump sump model

Abstract: The head-capacity curves for pumps developed by the pump manufacturer are based on tests of a single pump operation in a semi-infinite basin with no close walls or floors and with no stray currents. Therefore, flow into the pump intake is with no vortices or swirling. However, pump station designers relying on these curves to define the operating conditions for the pump selected sometimes experience reductions of capacity and efficiency, as well as the increase of vibration and additional noise, which are caused by free air mixed with the pump inlet flow. Therefore, sump model test is necessary in order to examine the flow structure around pump intake. In this study, flow uniformity according to the flow distribution in the pump intake channel is examined to find out the cause of vortex occurrence in detail. A multi-intake pump sump model with 7 pump intakes and a single-intake pump sump model are adopted for the investigation. Furthermore, effectiveness of anti-submerged vortex device (AVD) for the suppression of the vortex occurrence in a single pump intake, as well as in a multi-intake pump sump model has been examined by the methods of experiment and numerical analysis. The results show that most high value of flow uniformity is found at the inlet of pump intakes #3 and 5 in the multi-intake pump sump with 7 pump intakes. Therefore, when the pump station is designed, the flow patterns at the upstream region of pump intake inlet in the forebay diffusing area should be to consider in detail because the unbalanced flow at the channel inlet region gives considerable influence on the vortex occurrence around bell-mouth. Strong submerged vortex can be successfully suppressed by AVD installation on the bottom of pump intake channel just below the bell mouth.

Effect of J-Groove on the Suppression of Swirl Flow in a Conical Diffuser

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of J-grooves in controlling and suppressing the swirl flow in a conical diffuser, for draft surge suppression in a Francis turbine, which is caused by the swirl flow from the runner outlet into the draft tube. "J-groove" composed of shallow grooves and mounted parallel to the pressure gradient on the diffuser wall is a very simple passive device to suppress several abnormal phenomena in turbomachinery. The experimental study has been performed using the conical diffuser with a divergent angle of 20 deg. The measured results of the velocity distribution in the diffuser show that a considerable reduction in the swirl intensity is attained by using J-grooves. Besides, the amplitude of pressure fluctuation caused by the rotation of the vortex core around the dead water region near the diffuser inlet is reduced by J-grooves.

Analysis of emerging technologies in the hydropower sector

Abstract: The paper reviews recent research and development activities in the field of hydropower technology. It covers emerging and advanced technologies to mitigate flow instabilities (active and passive a ...

Banki-Michell Optimal Design by Computational Fluid Dynamics Testing and Hydrodynamic Analysis

Abstract: In hydropower, the exploitation of small power sources requires the use of small turbines that combine efficiency and economy. Banki-Michell turbines represent a possible choice for their simplicity and for their good efficiency under variable load conditions. Several experimental and numerical tests have already been designed for examining the best geometry and optimal design of cross-flow type machines, but a theoretical framework for a sequential design of the turbine parameters, taking full advantage of recently expanded computational capabilities, is still missing. To this aim, after a review of the available criteria for Banki-Michell parameter design, a novel two-step procedure is described. In the first step, the initial and final blade angles, the outer impeller diameter and the shape of the nozzle are selected using a simple hydrodynamic analysis, based on a very strong simplification of reality. In the second step, the inner diameter, as well as the number of blades and their shape, are selected by testing single options using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, starting from the suggested literature values. Good efficiency is attained not only for the design discharge, but also for a large range of variability around the design value.

An Outlook on the Draft-Tube-Surge Study

Abstract: If large pressure fluctuation is observed in the draft tube of a Francis turbine at part-load operation, we have generally called it draft-tube-surge. As occurrence of this phenomenon seriously affects the limit of turbine operating range, extensive studies on the surge have been made since proposal of surge-frequency criterion given by Rheingans. According to the literature survey of related topics in recent IAHR symposiums on hydraulic machinery and systems, in which state-of-the-art contributions were mainly presented, a certain review of them may be desirable for an outlook on the future studies in this research field. Thus, in this review paper, the authors' previous attempts for the last three decades to challenge the following topics: a rational method for component test of a draft tube, nature of spiral vortex rope and its behavior in a draft tube and cavitation characteristics of pressure fluctuations, are introduced together with other related contributions, expecting that more useful and significant studies will be accomplished in the future.

Small Scale Hydro-Power as a Source of Renewable Energy in Malaysia: A Review

Abstract: Small scale hydropower is one of the technology options to generate and supply electricity to grid off and rural applications with almost zero emission. Malaysia is blessed with abundance of water sources and receives high rain volume per year which can be used to generate power. This paper is carried out to present the potential of small scale hydropower in Malaysia and its current status at low head location and rural electrification. Moreover, the relevant research literatures for small scale hydropower technology and the challenges facing by small renewable energy power in Malaysia are also reviewed. The review of available works display that the estimated hydropower resources in Malaysia are registered to be 29,000 MW, of which 500 MW is from small (mini)-hydro power. For this, a total of 149 sites for small hydropower potential have been identified in the country and the expected potential by 2020 is 490 MW. Despite hydro-power technologies are preferable choices for energy generation in Malaysia, they have not been fully exploited yet due to some technical, economical, and institutional challenges. Therefore, this paper can provide information for further investigations on the application of small scale hydropower for rural electrification in Malaysia.

PIV Measurements and CFD Computations of Secondary Flow in a Centrifugal Pump Impeller

Abstract: Two-dimensional particle image velocimetry measurements and three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses have been performed on the steady velocity field inside the shrouded impeller of a low specific-speed centrifugal pump operating with a vaneless diffuser. Flow rates ranging from 80% to 120% of the design flow rate are considered in detail. It is observed from the velocity measurements that secondary flows occur. These flows result in the formation of regions of low velocity near the intersection of blade suction side and shroud. The extent of this jet-wake structure decreases with increasing flow rate. Velocity fields have also been computed from Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the Spalart–Allmaras turbulence model using a commercial CFD code. For the considered flow rates, the qualitative agreement between measured and computed velocity profiles is very good. Overall, the average relative difference between these velocity profiles is around 5%. Additional CFD computations have been performed to assess the influence of Reynolds number and the shape of the inlet velocity profile on the computed velocity fields. It is found that the influence of Reynolds number is mild. The shape of the inlet profile has only a weak effect at the shroud.