Exergy analysis and performance testing of a gravitational water vortex turbine runner for small hydropower plants: An Experimental Approach

Authors

Adam Faraji, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Arusha Technical College, Junction of Moshi-Arusha and Nairobi Road, P. O. BOX 296, Arusha, TanzaniaFollow
Yusufu Abeid Chande Jande, Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy Futures Center, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Nelson Mandela Rd, P.O BOX 9124 Nelson Mandela, Arusha, TanzaniaFollow
Thomas Kivevele, School of Materials, Water and Environmental Sciences (MEWES), The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, NelsonFollow

Abstract

Gravitational water vortex power plants (GWVPPs) have recently gained popularity due to their low initial investment, simple design, ease of maintenance, and low head utilization. However, the technology suffers from poor performance issues caused by the non-optimized parameters of its crucial components, such as the runner. In this study, the performance of a runner (16° blade-hub angle, six blades, and a curved blade profile) for a GWVPP was experimentally examined. The study also employed an exergy analysis. The experimental results revealed that the efficiency of the GWVPP system was in the range of 9.84% to 25.35%, the torque was in the range of 0.08 to 0.23 Nm, and the output power was in the range of 2.96 to 7.33 W. Furthermore, an exergy analysis of the system showed an exergy efficiency of 43.58%. Additionally, the error analysis of the GWVPP revealed ranges of 0.1 - 0.5 W for power, 0.01 - 0.03 Nm for torque, and 1.3–3.1% for efficiency, suggesting that the experimental setup and instrumentation of this study were reasonably accurate. Based on the results, the new vortex runner and GWVPP system are recommended for energy generation in low-head, low-flow small hydropower plants.

Recommended Citation

Faraji, Adam; Jande, Yusufu Abeid Chande; and Kivevele, Thomas (2024) "Exergy analysis and performance testing of a gravitational water vortex turbine runner for small hydropower plants: An Experimental Approach," Tanzania Journal of Science: Vol. 50: Iss. 3, Article 10.
Available at:https://doi.org/10.4314/tjs.v50i3.13