Abstract
Archimedes Screws Turbines (ASTs) are a new form of small hydroelectric powerplant that can be applied even in low head sites. ASTs offer a clean and renewable source of energy and are safer for wildlife and especially fish than other hydro generation options. As with other energy solutions, ASTs are not a global solution for all situations. However, in terms of sustainable development, ASTs can offer many economic, social, and environmental advantages that make them an important option for providing sustainable hydropower development. Archimedes screws can operate in low water heads (less than about 5 m) and a range of flow rates with practical efficiencies of 60% to 80% and can generate up to 355 kW of power. ASTs increase the number of suitable sites where it is possible to develop sustainable hydropower, including in undeveloped, hard to access regions and small communities. At many low head sites, ASTs may be more cost-effective, with lower installation and operating costs than alternative hydropower systems. An AST may also reduce the disturbance of natural sedimentation and erosion processes and have smaller impacts on fish and other fauna. ASTs can often be retrofit to existing unpowered dams or weirs, providing new hydropower capacity for very little marginal environmental impact. This review outlines the characteristics of ASTs, then discusses and analyzes how they could benefit the sustainability of hydropower development.
Highlights
A novel study was conducted by Boys et al [56] on the physical stresses that would be experienced by fish species passing through a very low head (VLH) turbine, Archimedes screw, and horizontal Kaplan turbines
This study found that rapid decompression is not significant in VLH and Archimedes Screws Turbines (ASTs)
Most early ASTs were designed to operate at one fixed rotation speed [88]
Summary
Sustainable development is described as “the organizing principle for the achievement of human development objectives while at the same time preserving the capacity of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecological services on which the economy and community rely” [1]. Sustainable development often implies “a development that addresses current needs without influencing potential generations’ capacity to fulfill their own needs” [2,3]. In 1979 René Passet proposed a three-sphere framework for sustainable development projects [4] (Figure 1) According to this framework, development can be considered as sustainable only if it simultaneously has positive social, environmental, and economic impacts. If a project satisfies the economic and social aspects but fails to satisfy the environmental aspects, it is categorized as equitable. If a development project can satisfy the environmental aspects but fails one of the social or economic aspects, the development could still be bearable or viable, respectively. It is estimated that about 10% of global hydropower is generated from powerplants with less than 10 MW of capacity [18]. TThheirse mis ionfitmenizneso lnaenedd atondbusioldil edxepsternuscitvioend,atmhrseaatnsdtoflwooilddlmifea,scsliivmeaatreecahsafnogr etheeffreecstse,rvanodir.oTthheisr emnivniirmonizmesenlatanldimanpdacstosi,ledspesetcriualcltyioonn, tehcroesaytsstteomwsi[ld20li]fea,sclwimelaltaeschthaengsoeceifaflecimts,paancdtsoothf eRrOenRvhiryodnrmopenotwaleirmpplaancttss,. eNspeewciaRllOyRonheycdorsoypsotewmesr [t2e0ch] naos lwogeilelsassuthche saosciAalrcimhipmaecdtseosfSRcOreRwshyTdurrobpinoweser(ApSlaTnst)s.caNnewbeRpOaRrtihcyudlarrolpyoawdevratnetcahgneooluogs ieins sthuecshearsegAarrcdhsi.medes Screws Turbines (ASTs) can be advantageous in these regards
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
