VETT research presented at Oxford University Mathematical Institute

The intricate hydrodyanmic behaviour occurring in VETT is extremely complex, in particular, the mixing of the primary and secondary flows in the venturi and how this impacts performance efficiencies. VerdErg is supporting Graham Benham, a DPhil student at the University of Oxford’s Industrially Focused Mathematical Modelling (InFoMM) Centre of Doctoral Training who is developing a numerical model with the potential to identify geometric improvements to increase VETT’s efficiency further. His is supported by his supervisors Paul Bird (Brent Measurement Technology / VerdErg) and Prof. Ian Hewitt and Prof. Colin Please from the University of Oxford.

Graham presenting to the InFoMM CDT audience

Graham presented his talk "Ordinary Differential Equation Constrained Optimisation: Reshaping Low-Head Hydropower” to an academic and industry audience at the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford. This was an opportunity to showcase the reduced mathematical model he has developed using a set of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) to predict the relationship between VETT’s channel shape, the growth of fluid mixing layers and consequent pressure recovery. Using the insights from this model, it is possible to find improved channel shapes using a large number of control points.

An optimisation model output

Going forward, Graham will look to progress with the shape optimisation and validate the numerical model with the results from Computational Fluid Dynamics models and future experimental work.

VerdErg is delighted to announce that Graham was awarded the Siam Student Prize for Best Student Talk on his VETT research at the 2017 British Applied Maths Colloquium (BAMC). The conference was held at the University of Surrey and attendees benefited from plenary talks, mini-symposia and poster sessions presenting research in applied mathematics. Congratulations Graham!