EWB-UK National Research & Education Conference 2011 Our Global Future 4th March 2011

Low head pico hydro off-grid networks Sam Williamson+

Supervisors: B.H Stark+, J.D.Booker*
+

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bristol *Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol

Abstract
This paper describes the initial stages of a research project that investigates the development of a pico hydro powered off-grid electrical network. The grid is supplied by water turbines that operate within a head range of 0.5 - 3.5m, and generate up to 1kW of electrical power. Using a quantitative and qualitative selection criteria approach, a Turgo turbine is chosen for further study based on exhibiting the highest potential to satisfy the project requirements among 13 potential turbine types available in operation. The Turgo turbine is modelled and a test rig is built to validate the system model. Future work will include the development of a plug and play controller to connect a turbine to an off-grid network.

Keywords: Pico Hydro, Low Head, Turgo, Off-Grid Network

Introduction
There is a distinct link between poverty and access to modern energy sources. With electricity, people are able to improve their productivity and their income through better use of their time, which allows them t to o raise themselves out of poverty. In urban areas of developing countries, the percentage of the population with access to electricity is high, due to the low cost of connection to the grid. In rural locations, however, access is limited due to the high co cost st of extending grids to low density population centres. Therefore localised off-grid electrification is an attractive alternative for provision of electricity.

Figure 2 shows a study published by the World Bank [1] detailing the projected life-time cost of five electrical energy generation methods. It should be noted that taking into account the net present value would narrow the gap between diesel generator and pico hydro. Nevertheless, the data clearly shows that pico hydro systems represent the most costeffective way of generating off-grid electricity.

Diesel/Gasoline Generator Generator Type Solar PV

PV Wind Hybrid

Wind

Pico Hydro 0 20 40 US Cent/kWh

Figure 2 Projected operating cost in 2015 for electrical energy generators under 5kW [1].

60

80

All renewable technologies require a particular source of energy to be available. This restricts the use of pico-hydro to locations in close proximity to rivers, which reduces the potential sites significantly compared to solar or wind power. Many pico hydro installations are 1kW or less, which is not normally able to support income generation activities. Several low head pico hydro turbines can be installed along a river and, if connected together, then the combined power from all the units can be used to for income generation activities during the day and domestic loads in the evenings. This pico hydro network would also provide redundancy in the system, allowing for failure of a generating unit or maintenance of one or more units without interruption to the electricity supply.

Pico-hydro sites are divided up into high head and low head. High head sites are normally considered to be the most cost effective, with a small amount of water being consumed by the turbine, and so smaller and less expensive equipment is Panel Presentation: Energy Author: Sam Williamson Institution: University of Bristol

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EWB-UK National Research & Education Conference 2011 Our Global Future 4th March 2011

required. High head systems require a large drop of water, and therefore suited to very hilly or mountainous regions, which are often a long distance from any populated areas. By contrast, low head sites consume a larger quantity of water and therefore require a larger and more expensive turbine. As the site needs just a few metres drop, suitable locations are far more numerous, and more likely to be closer to populated regions [2]. These low head systems are the subject of this research.

Application and Specification for Low Head Pico Hydro Off-Grid Network

Figure 3 shows Bhanbhane village in central Nepal. The villagers currently operate five pro propeller peller turbines at four sites along a 3km length of river, each supplying between 10 and 15 households. There is no distinct load centre, with the households and businesses spread geographically across the transmission area. The current sites power only domestic applications, such as lighting, radios, televisions and mobile phone charging. There is the potential for four further sites in the locality.

Figure 3 Potential implementation site for low head pico hydro off-grid network in Nepal [3].

Using the pico hydro off-grid network concept, both the old and new sites can utilise a single turbine design able to operate over a range of flow rates and heads. At each location, one or more turbines are in installed, stalled, depending on the head and flow availability at the site, which can each produce a nominal power of 1kW at rated flow and head. For example, at site 8 there is enough head to cascade 3 units vertically and enough flow to place 2 units side side-by-side. All the turbines are connected to form a grid with a maximum power generating capacity of 17kW. The increased power will be able to support income generation activities, such as grain processing, a local wood workshop and saw mill and improved irrigation for fields. The local school can also use the power to provide computers for students and villagers. Panel Presentation: Energy Author: Sam Williamson Institution: University of Bristol

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EWB-UK UK National Research & Education Conference 2011 Our Global Future 4th March 2011

The specification for the pico hydro system was derived from the original project brief through discussions with project stakeholders. The key attributes the chosen pico hydro system is to possess are as follows: Power: 1kW generation at 3.5m head; Head range: 0.5 3.5m; High reliability; Modular design allowing unskilled labour to diagnose faults and replace modules as required; Plug-and-play capability of f a generator unit to form a network; Low cost.

It is initially assumed converter between the chosen turbine and the grid interface is approximately 75% efficient, therefore the turbine will have to generate 1.3kW at 3.5m head.

Turbine Selection Table 1 summarises the 7 main turbine types used over the different head ranges . Head Turbine Type High (>50m) Impulse Reaction Table 1 - Widely accepted use of turbines at head ranges [2]. Pelton, Turgo, Multi Multi-jet Pelton Medium (10-50m) Crossflow, Turgo, Multi-jet Pelton Francis Low (<10m) Crossflow Francis, Propeller, Kaplan

This suggests that the most suitable type for the above specification wou would ld be a propeller turbine, and indeed most commercially available turbines at low heads for pico hydro are propeller turbines. However, high head impulse turbines can be used at low heads [4], , but there are drawbacks with the s size ize of the machine and speed of rotation. Where there are alternative selection criteria that are important, such as cost, ease of manufacture or maintainability, these turbines may become more appropriate for the situation. To include these criteria here, a selection method was devised using quantitative and qualitative analyses to select a turbine type [5]. Following this methodology, a number of priority criteria (type of criteria given in brackets) were devised: Portability (Quantitative) How easy is the unit to transport in an area of limited transport infrastructure? Assessed using a power density function. Rated Flow Efficiency (Quantitative) What is the efficiency of the system at its rated conditions? Part Flow Efficiency iency (Qualitative) How does the system efficiency change when the flow rate is less than rated? Civil Works (Qualitative) How much civil works need to be constructed to realise the system? Modularity (Qualitative) What modules can the system be divi divided ded up into to aid transportation, fault identification and servicing? Maintainability and Serviceability (Qualitative) How easy is it for unskilled labour to maintain the system?

The scores from each of the analyses were combined at each of the differen different t heads within the range of 0.5m to 3.5m. An example set of combined results at 2.5m head is shown in Figure 4.

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EWB-UK UK National Research & Education Conference 2011 Our Global Future 4th March 2011

Single Jet Turgo Propeller (with DT) Francis (with DT) Propeller (no DT) Turbine Type Francis (no DT) Multiple Jet Turgo Multiple Jet Pelton Single Jet Pelton Archimedes Screw Crossflow Overshot Waterwheel Undershot Waterwheel Breastshot Waterwheel 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
90 80 70 1000 Power (W) 800 600 400 200 0 0 Turgo Schematic 100 200 Turgo cup Jet Power Torque 50 40 30 20 Direction of rotation 300 400 Rotational Speed (RPM) 500 10 0 600 Torque (Nm) 36 60

Score
Figure 4 Scores from combined quantitative and qualitative analysis at 2. 2.5m 5m head for a 1.3kW turbine (DT = Draft Tube).

Overall, the propeller turbine with a draft tube gave the best score in a head range from 0.5m to 1.5m, and the single jet Turgo turbine was the best between 1.5m and 3.5m. The propeller turbine has been used extensively at low heads, with many commercially available products. However, the single jet Turgo turbine has been shown to offer an alternative solution at low heads, so this turbine-based based solution will be investigated further. Turgo turbines are not normally no used at these low heads due to a low rotational speed and large size. However, when alternative criteria, such as serviceability or part flow efficiency are used then the Turgo turbine is shown to be a suitable solution.

Modelling
ling for the Turgo turbine has been carried out using velocity diagrams and the torque calculated using The initial modelling the change in momentum of the water jet [6]. This model provides the torque-speed speed and power-speed power characteristics, as shown in Figure 5. . The torque decreases from a high stall stall-torque torque to a low free running torque, whereas the power curve shows a preferred rotational speed of around 300 rpm where the system generates most power.

1400 1200

Max. Power: 1326 W Speed: 304 rpm (3.5m Head, 87mm Nozzle, 435mm wheel)

Figure 5 Turgo power and torque curves from initial modelling of full size turbine.

Panel Presentation: Energy Author: Sam Williamson Institution: University of Bristol

EWB-UK UK National Research & Education Conference 2011 Our Global Future 4th March 2011

From the literature research, it was found that the minimum ratio of jet to wheel diameter is 1:5, which keeps the volume of the unit to a minimum whilst ilst allowing for a high maximum power speed. The maximum power shaft speed is around 300 rpm, which is lower than normally chosen for pico hydro turbines, but for a 50 Hz output a 10 pole machine could be used. There are several losses that are currently not included in this model, such as:

Flow entering and exiting at different radii; Splashing; Non-ideal incidence on cup; Jet not impinging on the cup all the time; Jet obstructed by incoming cups.

These losses will be included in future extensions to the basic model. The model will then be validated against experimental data derived from a scaled test rig.

Experimental Test Rig A turbine testing rig (Figure 6) ) was designed and built to validate the Turgo turbine m model odel and assess its suitability for operation at low heads. It is divided into two parts:

Flow control and pipework Valves V1 and V2 are used to control the losses in the pipe, changing the head and flow to the turbine. The flow rate and static pressure are measured. Turbine The turbine is set up as would be in a site. The angle and position of the nozzle is adjustable. The torque output is measured with a torque transducer located in between the turbine and a generator. The load on the generator controls ls the speed of rotation. The frequency of the generator output is measured to give the rotational speed of the turbine.

The test rig is near completion, initial tests are required to assess its operating characteristics before testing the turbine. turbin

Future Work Once the turbine testing rig is operational the validation of the Turgo model will take place, followed by the optimisation of the turbine design for low head conditions. The grid connection unit for the generation unit will then be studied, assessing g how to control several independent generating units. To keep up to date with the research please visit http://saminnepal.blogspot.com or follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/saminnepal.

Acknowledgements This research is funded by Renishaw plc, and supported by Engineers Without Borders, UK.

References Off-grid, Mini-grid grid and Grid Electrification Technologies." [1] ESMAP., "Technical and Economic Assessment of Off December mber 2007. ESMAP Technical Paper 121/07. [2] Paish, O., "Micro-hydropower: hydropower: status and prospects." Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 2002, Issue 1, Vol. 216, pp 31 31-40. [3] Bing Maps, www.bing.com. [4] Harvey, A., et al., Micro-Hydro Hydro Design Manual: A guide to small small-scale scale water power schemes. ITDG Publishing, 1993. 1853391034. Multi-Criteria Criteria Analysis, World Renewable R [5] Williamson, S. J. et al, Low Head Pico Hydro Turbine Selection using a Multi Energy Congress 2011, 8-13 13 May, Sweden (accepted for publication). [6] Massey, B., Mechanics of Fluids. Stanley Thornes (Publishers) Ltd, 1998. 0748740430.

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EWB-UK National Research & Education Conference 2011 Our Global Future 4th March 2011

Figure 6 Experimental set up for turbine testing.

Panel Presentation: Energy Author: Sam Williamson Institution: University of Bristol

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