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Axial-flow turbines for low head microhydro systems

Author

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  • Alexander, K.V.
  • Giddens, E.P.
  • Fuller, A.M.

Abstract

This paper describes the design of four different specific speed microhydro propeller turbines operating at heads between 4m and 9m, and their application to a wider range of heads and outputs by scaling. The features are specifically tailored for ease of manufacture and uniquely resistant to debris blockage. Test machines are described and test results given; hydraulic efficiencies of over 68% have been achieved in all test models despite the fact that these turbines’ blades are planar, further simplifying manufacture. Theoretical models show how closely these flat blades can be made to approach the ideal blade shapes. Outline drawings are given with key dimensions for each reference model, along with the equations for scaling to arbitrary sites. These turbines are the axial flow members of a family of turbines developed to cover the microhydro range from 2m to about 40m of head.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander, K.V. & Giddens, E.P. & Fuller, A.M., 2009. "Axial-flow turbines for low head microhydro systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 35-47.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:34:y:2009:i:1:p:35-47
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2008.03.017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexander, K.V. & Giddens, E.P., 2008. "Microhydro: Cost-effective, modular systems for low heads," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 1379-1391.
    2. Alexander, K.V. & Giddens, E.P., 2008. "Optimum penstocks for low head microhydro schemes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 507-519.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lahimer, A.A. & Alghoul, M.A. & Sopian, K. & Amin, Nowshad & Asim, Nilofar & Fadhel, M.I., 2012. "Research and development aspects of pico-hydro power," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 5861-5878.
    2. Uchiyama, Tomomi & Honda, Satoshi & Degawa, Tomohiro, 2018. "Development of a propeller-type hollow micro-hydraulic turbine with excellent performance in passing foreign matter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 545-551.
    3. Chica, E. & Agudelo, S. & Sierra, N., 2013. "Lost wax casting process of the runner of a propeller turbine for small hydroelectric power plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 739-745.
    4. Payambarpour, S. Abdolkarim & Najafi, Amir F. & Magagnato, Franco, 2020. "Investigation of deflector geometry and turbine aspect ratio effect on 3D modified in-pipe hydro Savonius turbine: Parametric study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 44-59.
    5. Sotoude Haghighi, M.H. & Mirghavami, S.M. & Chini, S.F. & Riasi, A., 2019. "Developing a method to design and simulation of a very low head axial turbine with adjustable rotor blades," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 266-276.
    6. Stark, B.H. & Andò, E. & Hartley, G., 2011. "Modelling and performance of a small siphonic hydropower system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 2451-2464.
    7. Hoghooghi, Hadi & Durali, Mohammad & Kashef, Amin, 2018. "A new low-cost swirler for axial micro hydro turbines of low head potential," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(PA), pages 375-390.
    8. Laghari, J.A. & Mokhlis, H. & Bakar, A.H.A. & Mohammad, Hasmaini, 2013. "A comprehensive overview of new designs in the hydraulic, electrical equipments and controllers of mini hydro power plants making it cost effective technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 279-293.
    9. Singh, Punit & Nestmann, Franz, 2011. "Experimental investigation of the influence of blade height and blade number on the performance of low head axial flow turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 272-281.
    10. Satou, Eiichi & Ikeda, Toshihiko & Uchiyama, Tomomi & Okayama, Tomoko & Miyazawa, Tomoaki & Takamure, Kotaro & Tsunashima, Daisuke, 2022. "Development of an undershot cross-flow hydraulic turbine resistant to snow and ice masses flowing in an installation canal," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 146-153.
    11. Schleicher, W.C. & Riglin, J.D. & Oztekin, A., 2015. "Numerical characterization of a preliminary portable micro-hydrokinetic turbine rotor design," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 234-241.
    12. Uchiyama, Tomomi & Gu, Qiang & Degawa, Tomohiro & Iio, Shouichiro & Ikeda, Toshihiko & Takamure, Kotaro, 2020. "Numerical simulations of the flow and performance of a hydraulic Savonius turbine by the vortex in cell method with volume penalization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 482-490.
    13. Oscar D. Monsalve-Cifuentes & Sebastián Vélez-García & Daniel Sanín-Villa & Josept David Revuelta-Acosta, 2024. "Fluid-Structure Numerical Study of an In-Pipe Axial Turbine with Circular Blades," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-53, July.
    14. Vinod, J. & Sarkar, Bikash K. & Sanyal, Dipankar, 2022. "Flow control in a small Francis turbine by system identification and fuzzy adaptation of PID and deadband controllers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P2), pages 87-99.
    15. Jawahar, C.P. & Michael, Prawin Angel, 2017. "A review on turbines for micro hydro power plant," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 882-887.

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