EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF 1 KW RIVER TURBINE IN NARAN AND GILGIT REGION

The goal of this project is to design and fabricate a model of hydrokinetic river turbine with convergent-divergent nozzle and to perform tests. Previously, two groups have been working on this project and collectively they came up with CD nozzle and blade design. Now, we have to complete model of r

Project Title

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF 1 KW RIVER TURBINE IN NARAN AND GILGIT REGION

Project Area of Specialization

Mechanical Engineering

Project Summary

The goal of this project is to design and fabricate a model of hydrokinetic river turbine with convergent-divergent nozzle and to perform tests. Previously, two groups have been working on this project and collectively they came up with CD nozzle and blade design. Now, we have to complete model of river turbine which includes fabrication of all parts such as blade, deck and support structure, also includes power drive through shaft and energy generation, testing of final model.

A cheap and yet a very effective and efficient design of a hydrokinetic turbine has been created in this project and the design has been validated through Computational Fluid Dynamics. Hydrokinetic turbine power production depends on the interaction between the rotor and water. Therefore, an optimum geometry of the rotor must be designed and constructed to capture the maximum water energy and convert it into a usable energy. The steps involved in the design and numerical simulation of a small horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbine rotor are presented based on the incompressible flow techniques. Three blades of 1kW horizontal axis hydro-kinetic turbine have been designed for a water velocity ranging between 0.7 to 2 m/s.

Project Objectives

Since, the whole world is shifting their resources from conventional to renewable energy due to greenhouse gas emissions, ozone layer depletion and its climatic impacts. Therefore, investing in renewable energy designs is more reliable, environment-friendly and cost efficient.

Hydrokinetic technology is best fitted in a place where we have sufficient water resources but limited electrical power and in this way, we can eliminate expensive  civil construction. Hydrokinetic turbine are very much feasible and designed for minimum depth and small velocity river applications. In a velocity range of 0.75 m /s to 3 m /s, all river turbines can be deployed.

The objective of our project is to provide the electricity facilities to the people of Naran and Gilgit since the electricity present there is not enough to meet their criteria. So, hydro energy is utilized to meet the criteria.

Project Implementation Method

Gilgit River passes through side of town of Gilgit and a tributary of Indus River. The Gilgit River starts from Shandur Lake joins the Indus River at the junction point of three mountain ranges near town of Juglot. The total length is 240 km.

The Kunhar River is 166 kilometers originates from Lulusar Lake, 48 kilometers upstream from Naran Valley.

For the proper placement of turbine in these rivers, a floating deck structure is required in order to maintain the level of turbine with changing level of river head.

In order to verify that whether their design is feasible or not or to find out the flaws in the design it is very much necessary to go through the experimentation process. Before jumping to final design, a scaled prototype will be tested for checking its feasibility and performance in water channel.

Benefits of the Project

Hydropower is a power that is derived from energy of moving water. Flowing water has enough kinetic energy that can be converted to electricity by using river turbines. It is the flow of water in rivers, driven by the force of gravity to move from higher to lower elevations that can be used to generate hydropower.

As the country's population grows and the economy expands, the demand for electric power increases. If this request is not properly met, a shortage will occur. This deficiency can assume a critical ratio. Pakistan has been facing an unprecedented energy crisis since the past few years. This problem gets worse during the summer. Many users must be separated from the power supply system to prevent overloading of the power plant.

Present generation of power in Gilgit-Baltistan is 90MW where the energy requirement is 200 MW.

City dwellers were sometimes forced to face shedding loads of 8 to 10 hours. Meanwhile, local consumers suffered for up to 20 hours in a row. Almost two years ago, the President of the Water and Power Authority (WAPDA) recognized that his organization was unable to meet current energy requirements. Also, there is 60,000 MW of hydropower potential in our country.

Generally speaking the major technical causes of the shortfall in the availability of electrical energy in Pakistan are: 

• Insufficient installed generating capacity. 
• Transmission system unable to transmit the greater load now imposed upon it. 
• Grid Stations and related equipment unable to carry the load imposed.
• Distribution System was built to carry a smaller power and hence unable to cater to existing demands.

The major management-related causes of the crisis are:

• Management Information System (MIS) not fully utilized.
• Failure to forecast and plan for the future.
• Failure to set up new generating stations in time.
• No new Transmission/Distribution networks & grid stations setup.
• Unexpectedly rapid growth of load

The axial flow turbine with submerged generator was selected for the proposed location. A fully submerged turbine with pump in parallel coupled to turbine shaft appears as a possible design solution.

AXIAL FLOW HYDROKINETIC TURBINE These turbines have the rotational axis parallel to the flowing direction of water.

It features rotors that resemble aircraft propellers and its driving force is lift.

Advantages:

1. Higher efficiency than cross flow turbines
2. Not required any startup force

Disadvantages:

1. Requirements for water sealed components
2. Blade size usually big

Expected outcome:

This design can come out as most attainable alternative for zones, which are improved with water resources and can be utilized on different little and huge- scale projects where budget may be a major factor.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

In addition, Our  Turbine design specs illustrated below

This is the design of the blade made using solidworks.

Design plays a vital role in fabrication of a model, a good design makes it for the fabricator to understand the complexities of the model as well as the entire fabrication process eases down. Our university has enabled us to work and learn a few designing software to meet up the requirement. After thorough understanding of principle of Buoyancy and making all the necessary calculations a floating deck model using AutoCad 3D has been designed.

The floating deck shall hold the entire assembly and will keep the diffuser submerged in river water. In order to prevent rusting and extend useful life of our assembly all of the metal regions shall be oil painted. 8inch in diameter, PVC pipes will serve as the floaters whereas the 2mm metal sheet is where the dynamo generator will be mounted.

Main material used here is PVC pipe. It can be cut and handled easily. Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) is a very durable polymer used for variety of purposes and float on water easily and can support 50 lb per 10 foot section of four inch pipe.

Nozzle is the one important component in a power plant, Nozzles are frequently used to control the rate of flow, speed, direction, mass, shape, and/or the pressure of the stream that emerges from them. Nozzle geometry and operating parameters are the main factors in convergent-divergent nozzle design, which affect the flow characteristics and properties, Velocity will increase as the river water flows through the reduced sectional cross area. The amount of thrust produced by the dynamo generator depends on the mass flow rate through the convergent-divergent nozzle, the exit velocity of the flow, and the pressure at the exit of the engine. The value of these three flow variables are all determined by the nozzle design. A throat section, between inlet and outlet sections, controls the outlet velocity of the water, throat size is chosen to choke the flow and set the mass flow rate through the system. Water speed exiting the diffuser augmented hydro turbine will be decelerated and this only provides very low pressure at the outlet and the water through the diffuser gradually blends back in the river. The efficient design of nozzle will improve the overall performance of turbine. 

Data Name

 

Rated Power

Max power output

Target current speed

Min. waterway width

Lowest water level

Output voltage

2 pipes

C clamps

Metal sheet

Metal Rods for framing

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Core Industry

Energy

Other Industries

Core Technology

Clean Tech

Other Technologies

Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and Clean Energy, Responsible Consumption and Production, Life on Land

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com