DuoTurbo: Implementation of a Counter-Rotating Hydroturbine for Energy Recovery in Drinking Water Networks

Daniel Biner, Vlad Hasmatuchi, Laurent Rapillard, Samuel Chevailler, François Avellan and Cécile Münch-Alligné
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Daniel Biner: Institute of Systems Engineering, School of Engineering, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Rue de l’Industrie 23, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
Vlad Hasmatuchi: Institute of Systems Engineering, School of Engineering, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Rue de l’Industrie 23, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
Laurent Rapillard: Institute of Systems Engineering, School of Engineering, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Rue de l’Industrie 23, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
Samuel Chevailler: Institute of Systems Engineering, School of Engineering, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Rue de l’Industrie 23, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
François Avellan: Technology Platform for Hydraulic Machines PTMH, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Avenue de Cour 33bis, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
Cécile Münch-Alligné: Institute of Systems Engineering, School of Engineering, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Rue de l’Industrie 23, 1950 Sion, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-26

Abstract: To enhance the sustainability of water supply systems, the development of new technologies for micro scale hydropower remains an active field of research. The present paper deals with the implementation of a new micro-hydroelectric system for drinking water facilities, targeting a gross capacity between 5 kW and 25 kW. A counter-rotating microturbine forms the core element of the energy recovery system. The modular in-line technology is supposed to require low capital expenditure, targeting profitability within 10 years. One stage of the DuoTurbo microturbine is composed of two axial counter-rotating runners, each one featured with a wet permanent magnet rim generator with independent speed regulation. This compact mechanical design facilitates the integration into existing drinking water installations. A first DuoTurbo product prototype is developed by means of a Computational Fluid Dynamics based hydraulic design along with laboratory tests to assess system efficiency and characteristics. The agreements between simulated and measured hydraulic characteristics with absolute errors widely below 5% validate the design approach to a large extent. The developed product prototype provides a maximum electrical power of 6.5 kW at a maximum hydraulic head of 75 m, reaching a hydroelectric peak efficiency of 59%. In 2019, a DuoTurbo pilot was commissioned at a drinking water facility to assess its long-term behavior and thus, to validate advanced technology readiness levels. To the best of the authors knowledge, it is the first implementation of a counter-rotating microturbine with independent runner speed regulation and wet rim generators in a real-world drinking water facility. A complete year of operation is monitored without showing significant drifts of efficiency and vibration. The demonstration of the system in operational environment at pre-commercial state is validated that can be attributed to a technology readiness level of 7. The overall results of this study are promising regarding further industrialization steps and potential broad-scale applicability of the DuoTurbo microturbine in the drinking water industry.

Keywords: counter-rotating microturbine; drinking water facilities; system engineering; CFD; performance measurements; prototype endurance tests (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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