Adaption of schottel instream turbines for river-applications

Abstract

In the present thesis paper today‟s state of the art of River Hydrokinetic Energy as a potential emerging renewable source of energy is presented as well as challenges regarding the establishment of the technology. River resources have been analyzed investigating flow data of over 15 Brazilian rivers and an analytical method which categorizes a river‟s flow regime been developed. Several CFD-Simulations have been carried out to conceptualize a 1-MW River Hydrokinetic Power Plant in the Amazon, Brazil. The case study revealed that there exist river sites which from a resource perspective allow a commercial operation of hydrokinetic energy extraction devices at market competitive costs.