Operational design and economic factors impacting gravitational water vortex hydropower systems

This work investigates and assesses the main operational, design, and economic factors that influence the performance of Gravitational Water Vortex Hydropower Systems and their overall contribution to energy sustainability. The thesis highlights improving performance through turbine blade angle, basin design, and material selection -an essential aspect to overcome worldwide energy problems. The system's power output is evaluated based on experimental, numerical, and theoretical approaches for varying the flow rate, vortex height, and turbine configuration. The findings reveal that five blades with a 44° angle provide an efficiency of only 82%, and an advanced material-based turbine shows an improvement in torque of 1.23% concerning conventional components. Moreover, combining conical basins with optimized nozzles can gain power (60%) and reduce energy losses. The result helps develop renewable energy creative methods in regions with limited energy access. This study extends previous works in the scientific literature by proposing a complete analysis and optimization framework for turbine design and performance under the need for sustainable energy production. These findings lay the groundwork for future studies designed to enhance the efficiency of small hydropower plants and further the world's move to low-carbon energy.