Reversing Centrifugal Pumps as Alternative to Conventional Turbines for Micro Hydropower: A Review (original) (raw)
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Study of Centrifugal Pump Operating as Turbine in Small Hydropower Plants
2013
This paper presents the benefits that can be obtained by replacing the conventional hydraulic turbines with reversible pumps in a micro-hydropower plant. To support these arguments the experimental data were presented collected after upgrading of such a hydropower plant located on a local medium-sized river.
Global Journal of Science Frontier Research: A Physics and Space Science , 2021
For thousands of years human beings have used the power of flowing water for various activities. However, there are several other ways we can generate energy using the power of water. This paper tends to demonstrate by experiment that the best efficiency point of a centrifugal pump both in direct and reverse mode can be investigated and used to determine electricity generation in a micro-hydro scheme to power rural areas that might not be connected to the national grid. Investigations were done to test and measure the fuel rate of consumption of the centrifugal pump running in pump mode. The results demonstrated that the efficiency is indirectly proportional to the fuel level. The pressure and velocity head were also determined. The maximum velocity of flow was 3 ∙ 90 m s ⁄ at a pressure gauge of 39 pal. Investigations were also done by testing the centrifugal pump in the pump mode to determine its best efficiency point (BEP) which was71%. In the pump mode investigation, the measured parameters were flow rate (8 ∙ 17m3 s ⁄ ), speed (3589 rpm), power output (129 ∙ 91 Watts), power input (183 ∙ 02 Watts), and velocity flow (3 ∙ 90m s ⁄ ). The investigation shows that for the generation of electricity, the centrifugal pump can be used as an alternative to a turbine. Keywords: centrifugal pump, small hydropower (SHP), pump as turbine (PaT), pump efficiency.
IJERT-Investigation of Centrifugal Pump as Turbine : A Review Report
International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology (IJERT), 2014
https://www.ijert.org/investigation-of-centrifugal-pump-as-turbine-a-review-report https://www.ijert.org/research/investigation-of-centrifugal-pump-as-turbine-a-review-report-IJERTV3IS10645.pdf Pump as turbine (PAT) is the best technique for satisfying the energy demands and providing the electrical energy in isolated and rural areas. Commercial development through renewable energy segment generates more employment and that leads to communal development of the country. Due to the economic constraints the micro hydro left undeveloped. Still the running cost for micro hydro range are extremely low, the initial capital cost are high when compare with turbine cost. Currently, applications of pump as turbine have been involved in energy recovery systems such as water distribution systems, sewage systems, Reverse Osmosis systems, farm systems, irrigation systems, as pressure dropping valves and as small pump storage power stations. Since 1930, the main dispute was the selections of PAT for a micro hydro application. During the study, work done in the region of pump running as turbine in reverse operation has been clearly explained. In the current review, the chronological improvement of PAT is studied. The technical report of the centrifugal pump running in turbine mode characteristics is presented. Theoretical, numerical and experimental investigations established by several researchers on PAT are reviewed. The existing trends and potential range for more development and implementation of PAT are also discussed.
Adaptation of Water Pump as a Micro Hydro-Turbine for Electricity Generation
FUOYE Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2018
The concern on the global environment has imposed restraints on the production of electricity. The emphasis recently is on the development of environmental friendly methods to promote sustainable power production as it is in micro hydro power generation. The running cost of such plants is low but initial capital cost can be relatively high. By reducing the equipment cost in micro hydropower system, micro hydro turbines can become more useful and easily affordable. Reducing the equipment cost by the use of centrifugal pump in reverse mode can be an alternative to conventional hydraulic turbine. This paper discussed the adaptation of a water pump to function as a small hydro-turbine to be utilized in small stream in rural areas. Annual rainfall data was obtained from a 14 year data from National Centre of Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) to obtain the discharge from river Odurun. By using the codrier graph method, a pump with a diameter of 245 mm was chosen from three pump obtained f...
Performance Analysis of Centrifugal Pump Operating as Turbine for Identified Micro/Pico
2016
— The research on ‗pumps as turbines ‘ at this critical phase of developing decentralized small hydro systems is appropriate for many reasons. The conventional turbine technologies like pelton and cross flow turbines that have been implemented in the micro hydro sector have to be custom-made and are therefore more expensive. They also need expert design and precise manufacturing skills for a good performance. This often becomes a bottleneck especially for smaller projects below 20 KWs of installed capacity. An alternative approach of using well-known ‗pump as turbine ‘ technology can be contemplated and popularized. Pumps are readily available all over the world in every shape and size, mainly due to the ever-increasing demand for pumping application [7]. This research presents CFD based prediction of performance analysis of PAT for Dabis Hydro site which is located in West Shewa zone of Ethiopia, at 8°52'38.97 " N latitude and 37°47'04.95 " E longitude. Accordin...
Elsevier, 2017
In the biotic world for human life next to basic needs, water plays a vital role for human survival and sustainability. Water is available in plenty, in our earth which covers 70 percent of the surface area. In that, nearly 98 percent of water in ocean, seas and rivers only. Less than 2 percent of water is used for all sort of human needs. Many rivers originated from the mountains crosses various types of terrains and finally reaching the sea. Between the start and end, the water stream possesses huge level of potential and kinetic energy. Many of our power engineers was not attracted towards these natural penstock in form of water streams which can be able to operate mini and micro hydro power plants. In north and northeastern areas of India, particularly in Himalayan range more than 6000 water streams are available, where large scale of hydro power project are not feasible. But the mini and micro level hydro power plants are possible. The success of any project is incorporated with the cost, in the way the hydraulic turbine cost also too high. In this perception this research paper an ordinary centrifugal pump was modified into the hydraulic turbine. This Pump-as-turbine (PAT) was studied experimentally and the numerical model was simulated and compared. The efficacy of PAT was 33.52 % with the head and discharge of 40 m and 45.40 Kg/s respectively. For the same head the PAT numerical model predicts the efficacy of 44.87 %.
Review Article End Suction Centrifugal Pump Operating in Turbine Mode for Microhydro Applications
This paper reviews the current research works on the end suction centrifugal pump coupled with induction generator running in turbine mode for microhydro application. The information can be used by practicing engineers, researchers, and plant managers to understand the potential of pump running as turbine. Review on experimental and simulation works was carried out encompassing end suction single stage low specific speed which is less than 10 kW. This is followed by review of their efficiency improvement through modifications. The results show that centrifugal pump can operate in turbine modes without any modification on mechanical components. However, to achieve the best efficiency point (BEP), it requires higher flow rate and head than pumping rating. Efficiency improvement is viable through geometric modification to improve hydraulic characteristic. The studies also show that pump as turbine (PAT) can be directly coupled with modified induction motor as generator by adding capacitor and electric control system, regulating voltage and frequency at the output terminal. It was found that PAT offers the best low cost solution for microhydro application especially for third world countries that do not have local microhydro manufacturer.
End Suction Centrifugal Pump Operating in Turbine Mode for Microhydro Applications
2014
This paper reviews the current research works on the end suction centrifugal pump coupled with induction generator running in turbine mode for microhydro application. The information can be used by practicing engineers, researchers, and plant managers to understand the potential of pump running as turbine. Review on experimental and simulation works was carried out encompassing end suction single stage low specific speed which is less than 10 kW. This is followed by review of their efficiency improvement through modifications. The results show that centrifugal pump can operate in turbine modes without any modification on mechanical components. However, to achieve the best efficiency point (BEP), it requires higher flow rate and head than pumping rating. Efficiency improvement is viable through geometric modification to improve hydraulic characteristic. The studies also show that pump as turbine (PAT) can be directly coupled with modified induction motor as generator by adding capacitor and electric control system, regulating voltage and frequency at the output terminal. It was found that PAT offers the best low cost solution for microhydro application especially for third world countries that do not have local microhydro manufacturer.
2015
The research on ̳pumps as turbines‘ at this critical phase of developing decentralized small hydro systems is appropriate for many reasons. The conventional turbine technologies like pelton and cross flow turbines that have been implemented in the micro hydro sector have to be custom-made and are therefore more expensive. They also need expert design and precise manufacturing skills for a good performance. This often becomes a bottleneck especially for smaller projects below 20 KWs of installed capacity. An alternative approach of using well-known ̳pump as turbine‘ technology can be contemplated and popularized. Pumps are readily available all over the world in every shape and size, mainly due to the ever-increasing demand for pumping application [7]. This research presents CFD based prediction of performance analysis of PAT for Dabis Hydro site which is located in West Shewa zone of Ethiopia, at 8°52'38.97" N latitude and 37°47'04.95" E longitude. According to sec...
Complex., 2021
Using a pump in reverse mode as a hydraulic turbine remains an alternative for hydropower generation in meeting energy needs, especially for the provision of electricity to remote and rural settlements. The primary challenge with small hydroelectric systems is attributed to the high price of smaller size hydraulic turbines. A specific commercial pump model, with a flow rate of 12.5 m3/h, head 32 m, pressure side diameter of 50 mm, impeller out, and inlet diameters of 160 mm and 6 mm, respectively, was chosen for this research. This research aimed to investigate a pump’s flow characteristics as a turbine to help select a suitable pump to be used as a turbine for micro- or small hydropower construction. Numerical methodologies have been adopted to contribute to the thoughtful knowledge of pressure and velocity distribution in the pump turbine performance. In this study, the unsteady flow relations amongst the rotating impeller and stationary volute of the centrifugal pump made up four...