A Comparison Study of Hydro-Compact Generators with Horizontal Spiral Turbines (HSTs) and a Three-Blade Turbine Used in Irrigation Canals

Abstract

This study aimed to present the experimental results of two types of turbines and attachments used in a hydro-compact generator. Two Horizontal Spiral Turbines (HSTs) with blade angles of eighteen and twenty-one degrees, respectively, and a three-blade turbine were tested and experimented in a laboratory at five levels of water flow rate ranging from 1–2 m/s. After the efficiency and torque values of each turbine were identified, they were installed in two 200 W power generator systems: (1) with a “diffuser” attachment; and (2) with an “in-line+diffuser+nozzle chamber” attachment, and tested in a local irrigation canal with 1.2 m/s. The results from the laboratory indicated that the HST with a twenty-one degree blade angle had 38.10% efficiency at the water flow rate of 2 m/s. It could reach 120.0 rpm and produced 212 Nm of torque. The results from the field experiment revealed that the combination of the power generator with the twenty-one degree blade angle HST and the in-line + diffuser + nozzle chamber attachment was the most efficient, with 284 Nm of torque at 108 rpm and could generate 67.63 W of electrical power. When the water flow rate of the irrigation canal reached 1.5 m/s, it could reach 114 rpm and generate 129.2 W. This hydro-compact generator set is suitable for irrigation canals with a water flow rate ranging from 1–1.5 m/s.

The Effect of Blade Distances on the Performance of Double-Stage Gravitational Water Vortex Turbine

“…If the result in maximum efficiency was compared with the other experimental scale micro-hydro, this double-stage GWVT turbine was classified as having medium cluster efficiency of 28.92%. Comparatively, the efficiency of bidirectional crossflow turbines [36], conical Savonius [37], Savonius [38], and Horizontal Spiral Turbines (HSTs) [39] are 2.6%, 8.6%, 33%, and 38.10%. They were, moreover, remembering that GWVT turbines have been widely applied in this world, including Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Belgium, and Chile, with a range of output power issued by 1-20 kW [31],this technology has the opportunity to be developed for achieving the sustainable future.…”