Cavitation on hydrofoils with leading edge protuberances

• Grant number: 21/08401-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2021
• End date: September 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: Aluisio Viais Pantaleão
• Grantee: Arthur Augusto Alves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Experimental methods are essential for understanding fluid mechanics phenomena, because they generate resources that are useful to provide correlations, refine numerical methods, and complement theories. Furthermore, there is a demand for ways to mitigate the cavitation issue and one of the ways is to change the geometry bodies that undergo such issues. In the early 2000s, a vertical hydrodynamic tunnel was built on the premises of the Faculdadede Engenharia de Ilha Solteira, FEIS / UNESP, which allows surveys for this demand. With the premises raised, an experimental work is proposed that will continue the research carried out by the research group of the Auxílio Regular FAPESP 2019 / 07947-0 project involving the tunnel. The project has a proposal to investigate the hydrodynamic/aerodynamic characteristics of the NACA 63 4 021 foil, inspired by humpback whale fins, in which Leading-edge protuberances alter the pressure field on the foil. Consequently, protuberances can change the occurrence of cavitation, drag, and lift force, which has already been concluded in previous studies, in which there was an increase in lift and the possibility of avoiding cavitation. With regard to cavitation, the research group obtained preliminary results, which indicate the significant mitigation of cavitation in hydrofoils with protuberances. Thus, the objective is to understand how the protuberances can avoid this problem and generate relevant results for the validation of numerical methods. And then, find out which profiles are the most advantageous for using them in Francis turbines, enabling the repowering of national hydroelectric plants. (AU)