The Efficiency Comparison of Hydro Turbines for Micro Power Plant from Free Vortex

Abstract

In this research paper, the relationship between a crossflow turbine and propeller turbine size changes and the pond size in a free vortex power generation system was investigated. This relationship can be written in the form of a new mathematical equation using the principles of the response surface methodology (RSM) method. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of a crossflow turbine and propeller turbine to enhance a micro power plant from free vortex. The pond size in a micro power plant from free vortex was 1 m in diameter and 0.5 m in height with a 0.2 m outlet drain at the bottom. All turbines were tested at different water flowrates of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6 m3/s to identify the rpm, water head, voltage, and electric current to access the waterpower, power output, and overall efficiency. At a 0.02 m3/s water flowrate, the crossflow turbine had greater overall efficiency than the propeller turbine, reaching 9.09% efficiency. From the comparison of the results of the two turbines used in the 0.5 m high cylinder-shaped generator pond, the turbine type, turbine size (height and diameter), number of blades, and water flowrate are key factors that affect the overall efficiency. The crossflow turbine can achieve greater efficiency than the propeller turbine in this generator system.

Performance Analysis of a Crossflow Vortex Turbine for a Gravitational Water Vortex Power Plant

“…Figure 1 shows a crossflow vortex turbine with 18 number of blades. Particularly, the number of blades was based on the Sritram and Suntivarakorn [12] study which found that the 18-blade configuration yielded an optimum efficiency performance. These blades are designed in a curved shape with relative and absolute velocity vectors fixed to both the leading and trailing edge at the blade tip, where: U is the blade velocity, β is the blade angle, α is the absolute angle, V is the absolute velocity, Vr is the radial velocity, Vω is the whirl velocity and Vf is the flow velocity.…”

“…This turbine has a crossflow shape that has been adapted from Sritram and Suntivarakorn [12] previous studies. An overview of the crossflow vortex turbine is illustrated in Figure 8.…”

Understanding the Potential Impact of Climate Change on Hydropower Generation in Rwanda

“…Where E is the voltage (volt, V), I is the current (Ampere, A) and Pe is the electrical power (Watts, W) (Sritram, P. et. al.…”

A Review of Gravitational Water Vortex Hydro Turbine Systems for Hydropower Generation

“…Until 2019, no top energy journals had published any studies on GWVHT systems. However, since 2019, six papers have been published in Renewable Energy [36][37][38][39][40][41] and four papers have been published in Energy [42], Energy Conversion and Management [43], Applied Energy [44], and Energies [45], which are among the top journals in the energy field.…”

“…Sritram and Suntivarakorn [45] investigated the performance of GWVHT systems with both crossflow turbines and propeller turbines using experiments and the response surface methodology (RSM) method. The RSM method has been widely used in many laboratory experiments to determine the correlation between independent and dependent factors by forming equations to numerically simulate the experiment, and additionally, it is able to provide better levels and degrees of independent factors with satisfactory accuracy.…”