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

Wiroon Monatrakul, Kritsadang Senawong, Piyawat Sritram and Ratchaphon Suntivarakorn ()
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Wiroon Monatrakul: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Kritsadang Senawong: General Education Teaching Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Piyawat Sritram: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Surin Campus, Surin 32000, Thailand
Ratchaphon Suntivarakorn: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-15

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.

Keywords: spiral turbine; electrical power; torque (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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