“Diseño de un sistema de energía hidrocinética en aplicaciones a pequeña escala en la comunidad ancestral de San Isidro en la provincia de Cotopaxi

Abstract

The current project focuses on the design of a hydrokinetic turbine that would mitigate regional energy deficit and would replace the use of petrol generators, thus reducing fossil fuel dependence. By providing a clean and sustainable energy supply, this proposed solution will support the operation and implementation of other planned and ongoing community projects. During the design process, data were collected detailing the flow rate and variations in overall flow; these measurements were taken at the water-capture point at the start of the irrigation system. These parameters are fundamental for assessing the potential use of the kinetic energy of water; by applying theoretical principles such as Betz’s law and Houlsby’s theory, the current project further calculates system performance rates and also estimates the effects of system blockages or disruption. This research, and the proposal developed herein, identifies and designs a system that would meet critical energy needs at the community level. Through technical calculations, this work determines critical variables such as the amount of power generated, the angular velocity, and the acting torque on the rotor axis. Additionally, a CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation model was used to analyze flow mechanics around the turbine itself. Based on these calculations, an estimated output power was obtained of 98.46 Wh. This represents a viable alternative for renewable energy generation – suitable not only for the specific needs of The Ancestral Community of San Isidro, but also more broadly for off-grid rural communities elsewhere in Ecuador and around the world.