DEVELOPING THE NEXT-GENERATION OF HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGY

Fluid structure interaction

Fluid structure interaction (FSI) is an important research group located at the Waterpower laboratory (NTNU). The research group is headed by Chirag Trivedi (Associate Professor) since July 2020. Our research group, dedicated to advancing the field of hydropower, is driven by a mission "clean energy for all". Our activities are aimed to contribute United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The goals 4, 7, and 13 are highly relevant to our research. We focus on hydraulic turbines and pumps, addressing critical challenges through rigorous experimental and numerical studies. Our interdisciplinary team, composed of experts in mechanical engineering, sustainability, environmental science and biodiversity, collaborates with leading academic institutions and industry partners to translate our findings into practical applications. With a track record of securing highly competitive research grants, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of fluid structure interaction and exploring new frontiers in energy flexibility, storage and sustainability.

The group aims to advance understanding and predictive capabilities in FSI, developing the next-generation of hydropower technology for sustainable future.

Objectives

  • Educational Outreach: Provide high quality education and training in FSI for turbomachinery, equipping students and researchers with the knowledge needed to support the hydropower industry globally.
  • Sustainable Solutions: Develop sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions through FSI research, focusing on reducing losses in hydraulic turbines, minimizing CAPEX and OPEX, and creating sustainable technology for future hydropower with minimal environmental impact.
  • Collaborative Research: Foster collaborations with academic institutions, industry partners, and research organizations to leverage diverse expertise and resources, addressing complex FSI challenges together.
  • Knowledge Dissemination: Publish research findings in reputable journals and present at international conferences, contributing to the global scientific community and advancing the field of FSI.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The research group, dedicated to the field of hydropower, is driven by a mission "clean energy for all", and the activities are aimed to contribute United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4, 7, 9 and 13.

"Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." The research group is involved in education and teaching through different courses at NTNU. The courses include renewable energy, sustainability and Computational Fluid Dynamics. Moreover, the research group uses state-of-the-art research cases for the parictice in the courses, and enables students to join on-going research projects.

"Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." Around 675 million people still live in the dark! Main field for the research group is hydropower, where this goal is highly relevant and directly associated. The group focuses on conducting research that enables sustainable and affordable technological solution for the hydropower. The group conducts both experimental and numerical research on hydraulic turbines that provides clean and low cost energy to all.

"Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts." Hydropower has critical role in both reducing the climate impact and providing secured and stable energy. The turbine efficiency is high that means the losses are minimum. However, the current efforts are aimed to provide solutions that has minimum impact on the environment and enhance sustainability. The additional effort is also put up on reducing the carbon footprint for upcoming hydropower projects providing alternative approaches and technological solutions through research and development.


Collaboration

Our research group is dedicated to fostering collaborative partnerships with academic institutions, industry leaders, and research organizations worldwide. By leveraging diverse expertise and resources, we aim to tackle complex challenges related to fluid dynamics and structural mechanics, driving innovation in areas such as hydropower, marine engineering, and turbomachinery. We believe that through strong, interdisciplinary collaborations, we can achieve greater impact and contribute significantly to the global scientific community in FSI.

Sweden: The group presently collaborates with Luleå University of Science and Technology through a joint research project, store2hydro. Professor Staffan Lundström is the main contact person for the collaboration.

Education

Education and knowledge sharing are fundamental aspects of our research group, aligning with UN SDG 4: Quality Education. We incorporate real-time research cases into our courses, enabling students to engage with state-of-the-art knowledge in their respective fields. This approach not only enhances their learning experience but also supports their career development. We are actively involved in teaching following courses:

Key research area

  • Francis turbine: Flexible operations; fatigue loading; lifetime estimation
  • Reversible pump-turbine: Performance analysis; rim-driven thruster design; draft tube flow in pump mode
  • Hydrofoil: Boundary layer; hydrodynamic damping; vibrations and natural frequencies