5. Conclusions
The development of a 6.2 kW micro-hydro turbine unit and test
facility was presented. The turbine unit was designed to incorporate
a commercially available pump impeller operated in turbine
mode, together with custom spiral casing and guide vane mechanism
for inlet flow control. Steady state experimental testing over
the full operating range indicated a maximum overall efficiency of
79%, in good agreement with PAT theory. The net head and output
power at rated conditions were somewhat higher than predicted by
the method of Sharma [6], while the flow rate at rated was slightly
less than expected. Importantly, in the context of micro-hydro and
energy recovery systems, while slightly more complex than a
traditional PAT system the turbine demonstrated near peak efficiency
operation over a wide range of flow conditions, as indicated
by the weighted-average-efficiency. The designed micro-hydro
turbine unit thereby addresses the main drawbacks of pumps
operating in turbine mode, providing a low cost alternative
generating solution for application in remote area power supply
and industrial energy recovery systems.
5. ConclusionsThe development of a 6.2 kW micro-hydro turbine unit and testfacility was presented. The turbine unit was designed to incorporatea commercially available pump impeller operated in turbinemode, together with custom spiral casing and guide vane mechanismfor inlet flow control. Steady state experimental testing overthe full operating range indicated a maximum overall efficiency of79%, in good agreement with PAT theory. The net head and outputpower at rated conditions were somewhat higher than predicted bythe method of Sharma [6], while the flow rate at rated was slightlyless than expected. Importantly, in the context of micro-hydro andenergy recovery systems, while slightly more complex than atraditional PAT system the turbine demonstrated near peak efficiencyoperation over a wide range of flow conditions, as indicatedby the weighted-average-efficiency. The designed micro-hydroturbine unit thereby addresses the main drawbacks of pumpsoperating in turbine mode, providing a low cost alternativegenerating solution for application in remote area power supplyand industrial energy recovery systems.
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