The influence of water velocity and blade number variation on the performance of water vortex turbines

Zamzami Zamzami; Akhyar Akhyar; Suriadi Suriadi; Sarwo Edhy Sofyan; Khairil Khairil; Teuku Hasannuddin; Yassir Yassir

doi:10.31893/multiscience.2026068

Keywords:

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources has fueled increasing interest in harnessing water energy as a viable solution for power generation. However, traditional hydropower turbines face significant challenges related to both efficiency and environmental impact. The design and fabrication of turbine blades play a crucial role in determining the efficiency and overall performance of Hydro Water Vortex turbines. This dissertation was undertaken with the primary objective of exploring the design of Water Vortex turbines. Water vortex turbines offer a promising solution by utilizing the kinetic energy of water vortices, providing higher efficiency and a lower environmental impact compared to conventional turbines. This study examines the relationship between water velocity, the number of turbine blades, and output performance, including turbine speed and output voltage (Vdc) in Hydro Water Vortex turbines. Experiments were conducted using four turbine configurations with 3, 4, 5, and 6 blades under two valve opening conditions (100% and 75%). The results demonstrated a positive linear relationship between water velocity and output voltage across all configurations. Increasing the number of blades enhanced the efficiency of converting water’s kinetic energy into electrical energy, with the 6-blade configuration achieving the highest performance. At 100% valve opening, the 6-blade turbine generated a maximum voltage of 29 Vdc at a water velocity of 1.46 m/s. Meanwhile, at 75% valve opening, the highest recorded voltage was 21.06 Vdc at a water velocity of 0.74 m/s. This research confirms that both the number of blades and water velocity are critical parameters for optimizing the performance of Hydro Water Vortex turbines. Configurations with more blades are recommended for high water flow conditions to maximize energy efficiency, while fewer blades are better suited for low flow conditions. These findings contribute to the advancement of Hydro Water Vortex turbines as an efficient renewable energy solution.
References
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24. Wilcock, R. C., Young, J. B., & Horlock, J. H. (2005). The effect of turbine blade cooling on the cycle efficiency of gas turbine power cycles. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 127(1), 109–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.716
25. Zainuddin, H., Khamis, A., Yahaya, M. S., Basar, M. F., Lazi, J. M., & Ibrahim, Z. (2009). Investigation on the performance of pico-hydro generation system using consuming water distributed to houses. In: 1st International Conference on the Developments in Renewable Energy Technology (ICDRET). IEEE, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICDRET.2009.5454216
26. Zamzami, Akhyar A., Sofyan, S. E., Suriadi, & Khairil. (2025). A review of vortex water turbine design for sustainable energy generation (principles, optimization, and validation). Energy Conversion and Management: X, 26, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.100895
27. Zebra, E. I., van-der-Windt, H. J., Nhumaio, G., Faaij, A. P. (2021). A review of hybrid renewable energy systems in mini-grids for off-grid electrification in developing countries. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111036

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Zamzami, Z., Akhyar, A., Suriadi, S., Sofyan, S. E., Khairil, K., Hasannuddin, T., & Yassir, Y. (2025). The influence of water velocity and blade number variation on the performance of water vortex turbines. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 8(1), 2026068. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2026068

[1] Abdulkhaliq, H. S., Crawley, F., Luk, P., & Luo, Z. (2023). Piezoelectric energy harvester for harnessing rotational kinetic energy through linear energy conversion. Energies, 16(18), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16186504

[2] Beck, M. W., Claassen, A. H., & Hundt, P. J. (2012). Environmental and livelihood impacts of dams: Common lessons across development gradients that challenge sustainability. International Journal of River Basin Management. 10(1), 72–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/15715124.2012.656133

[3] Caban, J., & Gardyński L. (2013). Evacuation systems of screw-type water turbines in small hydropower plant. Advances in Science and Technology Research Journal. 7(19), 20–6. https://doi.org/10.5604/20804075.1062334

[4] Chen, L., Shu, X., Pater, Z., Li, Z., Xu, H., & Xia, Y. (2025). Analysis and prospects of efficient and precise forming technology for aeroengine turbine shafts. Advances in Science and Technology Research Journal. 19(1), 132–47. https://doi.org/10.12913/22998624/195277

[5] Dincer, I., & Acar, C. (2015). A review on clean energy solutions for better sustainability. International Journal of Energy Research. 39(5), 585–606. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.3329

[6] Domfeh, M. K., Gyamfi, S., Amo-Boateng, M., Andoh, R., Ofosu, E. A., & Tabor, G. (2020). Free surface vortices at hydropower intakes: A state-of-the-art review. Scientific African, 8, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00355

[7] Evans, R. G., & Sadler, E. J. (2008). Methods and technologies to improve efficiency of water use. Water Resources Research, 44(7). https://doi.org/10.1029/2007WR006200

[8] Hossain, M. S., Sultan, I., Phung, T., & Kumar, A. (2024). A literature review of the design, modeling, optimization, and control of electro-mechanical inlet valves for gas expanders. Energies, 17(18),1-30. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17184569

[9] Hunt, A., Strom, B., Talpey, G., Ross, H., Scherl, I., & Brunton, S. (2024). An experimental evaluation of the interplay between geometry and scale on cross-flow turbine performance. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114848

[10] Husaini, Lubis, M. O. N., Darwin, Akhyar. (2023). Numerical analysis of small-scale horizontal type wind turbine using the computational fluids dynamics (CFD) method. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Experimental and Computational Mechanics in Engineering. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering - Springer. Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3629-6_29

[11] Hwang, I. S., Lee, Y. H., & Kim, S. J. (2009). Optimization of cycloidal water turbine and the performance improvement by individual blade control. Applied Energy. 86(9),1532–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2008.11.009

[12] Jain, S. V, & Patel, R. N. (2014). Investigations on pump running in turbine mode: A review of the state-of-the-art. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 30, 841–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.11.030

[13] Jaworska-Jóźwiak, B., & Szymczyk, B. (2025). Analysis of energy consumption and cost savings in the process of transporting a hydromixture with the addition of a deflocculant. Advances in Science and Technology Research Journal, 19(1), 36–47. https://doi.org/10.12913/22998624/193613

[14] Maulana, M. I., Syuhada, A., & Hasan, A. (2024). Experimental investigation of the horizontal axis wind turbine with NACA4418 blade length. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 25(9), 272–81. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/191437

[15] Njiri, J. G., & Söffker, D. (2016). State-of-the-art in wind turbine control: Trends and challenges. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 60:377–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.01.110

[16] Rehman, S., Alhems, L. M., Alam, M. M., Wang, L., & Toor, Z. (2023). A review of energy extraction from wind and ocean: Technologies, merits, efficiencies, and cost. Ocean Engineering, 267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.113192

[17] Rosińska, W., Jurasz, J., Przestrzelska, K., Wartalska, K., & Kaźmierczak, B. (2024). Climate change's ripple effect on water supply systems and the water-energy nexus – A review. Water Resources and Industry, 32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wri.2024.100266

[18] Siddiqui, O. K., & Zubair, S. M. (2017). Efficient energy utilization through proper design of microchannel heat exchanger manifolds: A comprehensive review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 74, 969–1002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.074

[19] Strielkowski, W., Civín, L., Tarkhanova, E., Tvaronavičienė, M., & Petrenko, Y. (2021). Renewable energy in the sustainable development of electrical power sector: A review. Energies, 14, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14248240

[20] Tamiri, F., Yan, F. Y., Muzammil, W. K., Hong, M. G. J., Mahmod, D. S. A., Bohari, N., & Ismail, M. A. (2024). Performance analysis of a crossflow vortex turbine for a gravitational water vortex power plant. Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences. 116(2), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.37934/arfmts.116.2.1326

[21] Thakur, R., Kashyap, T., Kumar, R., Saini, R. K., Lee, D., & Kumar, S. (2024). Potential of the Archimedes screw to generate sustainable green energy for mini, micro, and pico hydro turbine power stations: An extensive analysis. Energy Strategy Reviews, 55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2024.101514

[22] Veers, P. S., Ashwill, T. D., Sutherland, H. J., Laird, D. L., Lobitz, D. W., & Griffin, D. A. (2003). Trends in the design, manufacture and evaluation of wind turbine blades. Wind Energy, 6(3), 245–59. https://doi.org/10.1002/we.90

[23] Wilberforce, T., Olabi, A. G., Sayed, E. T., Alalmi, A. H., & Abdelkareem, M. A. (2023). Wind turbine concepts for domestic wind power generation at low wind quality sites. Journal of Cleaner Production, 394. 1https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136137

[24] Wilcock, R. C., Young, J. B., & Horlock, J. H. (2005). The effect of turbine blade cooling on the cycle efficiency of gas turbine power cycles. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 127(1), 109–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.716

[25] Zainuddin, H., Khamis, A., Yahaya, M. S., Basar, M. F., Lazi, J. M., & Ibrahim, Z. (2009). Investigation on the performance of pico-hydro generation system using consuming water distributed to houses. In: 1st International Conference on the Developments in Renewable Energy Technology (ICDRET). IEEE, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICDRET.2009.5454216

[26] Zamzami, Akhyar A., Sofyan, S. E., Suriadi, & Khairil. (2025). A review of vortex water turbine design for sustainable energy generation (principles, optimization, and validation). Energy Conversion and Management: X, 26, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.100895

[27] Zebra, E. I., van-der-Windt, H. J., Nhumaio, G., Faaij, A. P. (2021). A review of hybrid renewable energy systems in mini-grids for off-grid electrification in developing countries. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111036

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