Pico-Hydro Generation System: Empirical Investigation on a Novel Z-Blade Low-Head Low-Flow Water Turbine

Abstract

This article provides a parametric study of the turbine style output floe reaction, known as low-head Z-Blade turbine. A nomogram was developed to analyze the theoretical performance requirements by implementing the concepts of mass preservation, motion and energy. The mathematical model and governance formulas and analytical results have proved that the dynamic response rate, angular velocity, central fugitive head, energy production and efficiency to the water head, rotor length, pipeline size and pipe exit are dynamically determined. A turbine with a diameter of 1” gives a higher performance compared to a diameter of ½” and, when energy is provided, it certainly improves the performance of both pipe sizes. The maximum turning rate at this inventive turbine is at an ideal turbine diameter and is preceded by a point at which the water flow rate has suddenly decreased, when the water flow rate previously increased very high. The turbine Z-Blade was investigated and demonstrated high potential of low-head conditions (3m, 4m and 5m) as well as low-flow conditions (only about 2.5 L/sec).