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Hydraulic efficiency of horizontal waterwheels: Laboratory data and CFD study for upgrading a western Himalayan watermill

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  • Pujol, T.
  • Vashisht, A.K.
  • Ricart, J.
  • Culubret, D.
  • Velayos, J.

Abstract

Traditional waterwheels are widely used in remote areas as a source of mechanical energy for grinding grain. The classical design suffers of a very low hydraulic efficiency. The basic challenge is to increase the power output but not the rpms, with a desirable working regime in the range of 120–160 rpm. We study the hydraulic efficiency of waterwheels with analytical expressions and measured data from two laboratory scale designs in a variety of cases that differ in 1) blade inclination angle, 2) inclination angle of the water conduit, 3) blade geometry and 4) impact point of the waterjet on the blade surface. A waterwheel with blades with a notch in the upper edge does not improve the straight blade results. A very simple curved blade profile may enhance the hydraulic efficiency up to 46%. We analyze the performance of the new designs when applied to a real waterwheel located in the western Himalaya by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The maximum power delivered by the traditional wooden made waterwheel is 1.97 kW at 120 rpm. The waterwheel having 36 curved iron blades generates a power equal to 3.2 kW also at 120 rpm.

Suggested Citation

  • Pujol, T. & Vashisht, A.K. & Ricart, J. & Culubret, D. & Velayos, J., 2015. "Hydraulic efficiency of horizontal waterwheels: Laboratory data and CFD study for upgrading a western Himalayan watermill," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 576-586.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:83:y:2015:i:c:p:576-586
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.04.060
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anupam Bhatt & Dipika Rana & Brij Lal, 2021. "Gharat: an environment friendly livelihood source for the natives of western Himalaya, India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(12), pages 18471-18487, December.
    2. Nishi, Yasuyuki & Yahagi, Yuichiro & Okazaki, Takashi & Inagaki, Terumi, 2020. "Effect of flow rate on performance and flow field of an undershot cross-flow water turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 409-423.
    3. Muhammad Asim & Shoaib Muhammad & Muhammad Amjad & Muhammad Abdullah & M. A. Mujtaba & M. A. Kalam & Mohamed Mousa & Manzoore Elahi M. Soudagar, 2022. "Design and Parametric Optimization of the High-Speed Pico Waterwheel for Rural Electrification of Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-22, June.

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