Performance Testing of Low Head Small Hydro Power Development in Thailand

Abstract

This paper presents the development of low head small hydro power in Thailand. Hydropower is one of the renewable resources which spread across all regions in the country. Moreover, it is a source of renewable energy that cheaper than others. The development of local small hydropower design and manufacturing is important to the cost of generating electricity and the stability of domestic energy. The small hydro turbine designed as axial propeller turbine suitable for reservoir with water head range 10 to 20 meters. The runner blade designed as marine propeller shape with reversed mean camber line that obtained a high performance hydro turbine. The turbine has four fixed blades with a diameter of 0.4 meters, 0.35 hub to tip ratio and the 12 pieces of adjustable guide vanes. The turbine shaft directly coupling with a 160 kW induction generator at a rotational speed 1,000 rpm. The performance test results suited for water head all range of 10 to 20 meters with the guide vane angle 40 to 45 degrees and derived with the overall efficiency of 70% to 80%. Total cost of the small hydro turbine generator is USD513/kW.