Water Wheel Research Articles

Conformal fluorine coated carbon paper for an energy harvesting water wheel

Utilizing the kinetic energy of a flowing river for irrigation could be tracked back to Hellenistic and Roman periods. In modern days, hydroelectric plants are built for harvesting the kinetic energy of the flowing river. However, a large investment is required in the hydroelectric plants for maximizing the power output. Here we present a low-cost and scalable TENG (triboelectric nanogenerators) based energy harvesting water wheel (ww-TENG). The water wheel works in a sliding freestanding TENG mode which generates power from the charges flow induced by contact electrification and electrostatic induction. A conformal fluorine coated carbon paper (f-CP) was employed to form the alternate electrodes. The deposited fluorine layer provides the benefits of high affinity to attract electrons as well as hydrophobicity for water repelling. The carbon paper offers a high electrical conductivity and rough structure to form a superhydrophobic property. These features enables a large charge induction and fast water/TENG separation for maximizing the power output of the energy harvesting water wheel. A lab-scale water wheel (diameter 10 cm and width 2.5 cm) is fabricated and a maximum 5.3 μW output power was measured under 50 MΩ resistance at a linear flow velocity of 2.6 m/s. The ww-TENG was employed for charging a 10 μF capacitor to 16 V and lighting up a commercial LED light bulb. As a comparison, an electromagnetic generator (EMG) could only charge the capacitor to 2.7 V with the same period of time. The EMG obtains a high power output at low load resistance case (< 100 kΩ) while the ww-TENG generates high power when the load resistance is large (> 10 MΩ). The present ww-TENG shows great potential for harvesting the kinetic energy from flowing river and targets for the applications with large load resistance like electrostatic systems.

Calculation of Water Wheel Design Parameters for Micro Hydroelectric Power Station

This paper is devoted to the issues such as modelling the design parameters and operating modes and improving the design of micro hydroelectric power plants operating in low-pressure water flow. Taking into consideration above-mentioned issues, it is possible to increase the efficiency of using low-pressure water energy systems. The main dimensions of the water wheel of a micro hydropower plant depend on the water flow velocityv, water volumeQ, acting at a fixed point in time on the water wheel blade, and also on the depth of the water levelH.

The installation Scheme of the floating water wheel for Surface-tidal Power Generation Systems

The installation Scheme of the floating water wheel for Surface-tidal Power Generation Systems

The implementation of small-scale hydropower stations in slow flow micro-rivers: a case study of Uzbekistan

Electric energy production in small-scale hydropower stations is attractive from both an ecological and an economical point of view. Technological innovations and measures to lessen environmental impacts make small-scale hydropower stations inexpensive and justified energy sources that provide renewable energy on an independent basis and help not only to protect the environment but also to weaken human dependence on fossil fuels. This study is devoted to finding solutions based on renewable energy technologies and innovations in Uzbekistan. This article is devoted to the development of a water wheel experimental model for the micro-hydroelectric power station. Experimental studies were carried out on the basis of this model and obtained results were used in the preliminary calculations. The results from the calculations showed that the installation can generate 7-11 kWh of electricity per hour, about 168-264 kWh of electricity per day and 61 to 96 MWh of electricity per year.

Experimental Study on Performance of Undershot Water Wheel in Snow Drainageway at Shiramine District by Field Test

Experimental Study on Performance of Undershot Water Wheel in Snow Drainageway at Shiramine District by Field Test

A full-packaged rolling triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator for energy harvesting and building up self-powered wireless systems

The newly invented triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) shows a significant potential to be a powerful technology for converting mechanical energy into electricity as a complementary usage for solving our future energy demanded for micro- and macro- grid. However, packaging and robustness are critical factors for TENG toward practical applications since the performance of TENG is affected by environmental conditions such as humidity. Here, a full-packaged waterwheel-like rolling triboelectric–electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator (TEHNG) for harvesting mechanical energy in harsh environment has designed. The integrated silicone rubber-magnet rods and electrodes laminated by a layer of nylon film, which worked as the triboelectric material, are used to fabricate a rolling friction free-standing triboelectric layer mode triboelectric nanogenerator (RFS-TENG) and combining with copper coils subtly, electromagnetic generator (EMG) is achieved. The rolling friction causes almost no damage to the triboelectric layers and there is no obvious normalized current decay found after 3-days continuous working at 0.5 Hz. Thus, this novel design makes the TEHNG easier to be packaged, and prevent from water interference revealing a superior robustness. It is also found that the developed TEHNG broadens the working frequency range as TENG can work more effectively for converting the mechanical energy at lower-frequencies less than 5 Hz energy scavenging while EMG can work much better at higher-frequencies above 5 Hz. Moreover, combining with hand shaking and water wheel, the device can be demonstrated to collect the energy of handy and water-flow flexibly. Furthermore, using current output signals of the EMG, a self-powered wireless frequency and revolution sensor systems are also demonstrated. This work presents a new platform of hybrid generator for harvesting mechanical energy in harsh environments with several desirable features such as the broadened frequency bands, better portability and for building up self-powered wireless sensor systems.

Historical evolution of modified technology in silk-reeling industry during the early Meiji era: case of Gifu

We empirically confirm the performance and diffusion of technology introduced from developed countries, and then, modified in developing countries. Using plant-level panel data, we focus on the machine-reeling segment with modified technology in Hida and Mino in Gifu prefecture, Japan in the early Meiji period to measure total factor productivity (TFP) growth and estimate production function. The TFP growth of Gifu prefecture’s machine-reeling industry in this era was relatively larger than that in the later Meiji era. This growth was achieved by rapid output expansion observed in Gifu prefecture, especially in Mino. In the estimation results of the production function, estimated parameters of deepening of the joint work; generation of steam, instead of a power source, for boiling cocoons; use of water wheel; and participation in the regional silk-reeling association in Hida are significantly positive as explanatory factors of the TFP. Factors, such as competitive environment and regional production share of cocoon, also have a significantly positive impact on TFP. Due to the flux in a fierce competitive market condition among small-scale plants, the estimated parameter of operational months is insignificant. In the measurement results of technical efficiency using the stochastic frontier model, no difference is found between the production efficiency of modified technologies used in Mino and Hida. In the early stage of industrialization, the private segment improved these modified technologies using region-specific resources through the local government’s indirect support, thus realizing their proliferation.

Communication: Inside the water wheel: Intrinsic differences between hydrated tetraphenylphosphonium and tetraphenylborate ions.

Tetraphenylphosphonium tetraphenylborate (TPTB) is a common reference electrolyte in physical chemistry of solutions allowing for a convenient partitioning of thermodynamic properties into single-ion contributions. Here, we compute on the basis of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations the infrared (IR) spectra for hydrated constituent ions of the TPTB assumption. Using spectral decomposition techniques, we extract important information pertaining to the state of the hydration water from the IR spectra. Within their physical radii, the ions manage to capture about a dozen H2O molecules, several of which penetrate deep into the grooves between the tetrahedrally oriented "sails" of the rotating ions. In accordance with previous IR and Raman experiments, we find a considerable blue shift of the ν OH stretching band of liquid water by 240 cm-1 for TB, due to the extensive O-H⋯π hydrogen bonding, which is much weaker for TP. On the other hand, both ions show a second prominent band in the ν OH vibration range, only mildly blue shifted with respect to bulk water and attributable to the general distortion of the hydrogen bond network of the neighboring solvent. Finally, spatially resolved IR spectra allow us to pinpoint the exact location around the solutes, from which different IR resonances of the solvent originate.

Characterization of the performance of a free-stream water wheel using computational fluid dynamics

The power characteristics of a water wheel operating in a free-surface stream are observed using two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations. The simulations are validated using an experimental model in a free-surface channel. The net power output of the wheel is decomposed in terms of the contribution of each single blade, and parametrized for comparison. This method allows the identification and quantification of phenomena such as entry splash, departure water pickup, water build-up, and interference between blades. It also helps identify and explain the effect on power output and efficiency of varying wheel depth, tip speed ratio, tip angle, or number of blades. This first analysis of free-stream wheel performance using numerical tools is a first step towards optimization.

Low Carbon Concept of Sruni Village through The System of Renewable Energy

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world. The highest population density exists in urban areas and gradually becomes lower in periphery or rural. Therefore the city in Indonesia often looks slum because of over density. The village is the smallest part of a city. In crowded cities there are often slum villages. This paper highlights a model of slum villages in Wonosobo, Sruni village, and solutions to transform socio-cultural communities through renewable energy design based on low carbon concept. The method used is quantitative method based on demographic data of Sruni village, Wonosobo. Based on data and analysis, it is found that renewable energy that can be applied in Sruni village are sanitation, drainage and water waste management, solid waste, rain water harvesting, water wheel and solar panel energy. At the end of the discussion, it is concluded that there are needs to be re-densification or verticalization of the house, in order to obtain more public green open spaces. Meanwhile, based on quantitative analysis, Sruni village needs rain water harvesting system, additional 1 unit of communal Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) serving 80-100 households gray and black water, and 1 units of water wheels to accomodate electricity need of four inhabitant RTs in Sruni village .

Unjuk Kerja Turbin Air Kaki Angsa Next-G dengan Variasi Lebar Sudu dan Jumlah Kaki Sudu Menggunakan Pendekatan Komputasional

This study to determine the efficiency of next-G geese foot turbine, the Angled Watermill is utilized in rural or remote areas, with potential rivers and local people to easily adapt the material. It is necessary to design a new turbine that can able to extract energy from free fluid flow or zero headwater power resources. The design and material of the design were done using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software. The method is to know the most optimal modification of goat water turbine design from the variation in width and number of feet of Next-G geese foot mill legs as follows: (1) 600; (2) 700 mm; (3) 750 mm, for the number of legs used 4 pieces, 6 pieces, 8 legs. The results of development the Next-G goose foot wheel mill blade is the moment pressure value increased for the width of the water wheel blade 750 mm, and the moment pressure decreases to 600 mm. The number of feet 4 blade the pressure moment is increased and decreasing for the number of feet of 8 blade. The optimum moment pressure is applied to the width 750 mm waterwheel blade and the number of 4 impeller feet.

Chaos in a non-autonomous nonlinear system describing asymmetric water wheels

We derive a water wheel model from first principles under the assumption of an asymmetric water wheel for which the water inflow rate is in general unsteady (modeled by an arbitrary function of time). Our model allows one to recover the asymmetric water wheel with steady flow rate, as well as the symmetric water wheel, as special cases. Under physically reasonable assumptions, we then reduce the underlying model into a non-autonomous nonlinear system. In order to determine parameter regimes giving chaotic dynamics in this non-autonomous nonlinear system, we consider an application of competitive modes analysis. In order to apply this method to a non-autonomous system, we are required to generalize the competitive modes analysis so that it is applicable to non-autonomous systems. The non-autonomous nonlinear water wheel model is shown to satisfy competitive modes conditions for chaos in certain parameter regimes, and we employ the obtained parameter regimes to construct the chaotic attractors. As anticipated, the asymmetric unsteady water wheel exhibits more disorder than does the asymmetric steady water wheel, which in turn is less regular than the symmetric steady state water wheel. Our results suggest that chaos should be fairly ubiquitous in the asymmetric water wheel model with unsteady inflow of water.

Numerical investigation on effect of blade shape for stream water wheel performance.

Stream water wheels are one of the oldest and commonly used types of wheels for the production of energy. Moreover, they are economical, efficient and sustainable. However, few amounts of research works are available in the open literature. This paper aims to develop numerical model for investigation of the effect of blade shape on the performance of stream water wheel. The numerical model was simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method and the developed model was validated by comparing the simulation results with experimental data obtained from literature. The performance of straight, curved type 1 and curved type 2 was observed and the power generated by each blade design was identified. The inlet velocity was set to 0.3 m/s static pressure outlet. The obtained results indicate that the highest power was generated by the Curved type 2 compared to straight blade and curved type 1. From the CFD result, Curved type 1 was able to generate 0.073 Watt while Curved type 2 generate 0.064 Watt. The result obtained were consistent with the experiment result hence can be used the numerical model as a guide to numerically predict the water wheel performance

Viability of Hydro Kinetic Turbine as an Alternative for Renewable Energy Harvesting in Nigeria

The rationale behind this research is the development of a zero-head floating system using a conventional hydrokinetic water wheel as a model to examine and determine its performance in an open channel condition for energy harvesting in Nigeria. The power is determined by flow of water in the stream which is responsible for rotating the blades. The research entails the water flow driven by a pump at 0.4[m/s] and 0.6[m/s] water velocities around a pool. The turbine is made to float under this free stream velocity. Feasibility study of its viability in Gari dam in Kano state of Nigeria was carried out and an average flow and discharge were determined during the dry season. Findings of this research were quite impressive and can be used to design a suitable floating zero-head turbine for energy harvesting in Nigerian rural areas where the head is low and energy is required not only for mechanization but also for lighting and irrigation purpose.

Punched belt hole position deviation analysis of float type water level gauge

The key parts of the float type water level gauge instrument is perforated belt, The size and tolerance requirements of its aperture is: (1) alternation of 100+0.2 and 100-0.2, (2) 200±0.1, (3) 1000±0.15, (4) 10000±0.2. The single hole position: alternation of 100+0.2 and 100-0.2; double: 200±0.1, and ensure the best hole position error avoidance tends to be one-way, that is to say: when the punched belt combined with a water wheel rotating line moving, The hole position error to single direction increase or decrease, caused the water level nail gradually and close to the edge of the hole, and then edge and final punched belt was lifted. This paper uses the laser drilling process of steel strip for data collection and analysis. It is found that this method cannot meet the tolerance requirements and the double stamping processing method with adjustable cylindrical pin is feasible.

Sagebien and Zuppinger water wheels for very low head hydropower applications

ABSTRACTIn rivers and at old mill sites there is a substantial amount of very low-head hydropower with head differences from 0.3 to 1.5 m. Much of this potential is unused since in these conditions modern hydropower technology is not cost effective. In the mid-nineteenth century, the Sagebien and Zuppinger wheels were developed for such situations. Recent model tests showed the Zuppinger wheel has a maximum efficiency of 85%. No such data are however available for the Sagebien wheel. At Southampton University, 1:10 scale model tests with Sagebien and Zuppinger wheels were conducted. Both wheels had maximum efficiency of 84%. The Sagebien wheel’s performance curve was less affected by the flow rate. Contrary to the Zuppinger wheel, the Sagebien wheel’s geometry avoids noise generation at the upstream blade entry. The results indicate that the Sagebien wheel is an attractive, although so far underestimated, hydropower converter for very low-head situations.

A study on flow fields and performance of water wheel turbine using experimental and numerical analyses

In this paper, an analysis of the performance and flow fields of water wheel turbines for tidal energy extraction is carried out using experimental and numerical methods. The purpose of this work is to develop a water turbine suitable for sites, where fast and shallow surface flows are available, such as rivers or tidal currents. For both methods, the water wheel turbine is tested over a range of tip speed ratios with a differing number of rotor blades, ranging between three and twelve. The results indicate that the numerical simulation shows agreement with the experiment in most cases. Also, the water wheel turbine operates effectively at a range of small tip-speed ratios, where the highest turbine efficiency is produced. Under the same working conditions, the turbines using between six and nine blades generate a greater efficiency and cause lesser reverse flows than others when submerged in water. In contrast, the 3-bladed turbine is the least efficient design as it produces the lowest amount of energy and causes intense vibrations and noises. These noises are a result of a collision between the incoming flow of the channel and the wheel blades during the experimentation, especially at high load conditions. By adding more blades, the torque generated is improved considerably; however, the upstream and downstream depths of the turbine, in this case, are also elevated significantly. Furthermore, in the inlet region, the 3-bladed and 6-bladed turbines have a smaller shock loss and a lower resistance to the main flow from the inlet than the others. Meanwhile, it is found that the flow in the outlet region on the turbines with between nine and twelve blades is in the opposite direction to the wheel’s rotation, significantly obstructing the main flow from the inlet.

Early Analysis of Jumping Water Effect on Breastshot Waterwheel for Microhydro Power Plant

Mostly, micro-hydro power plant installed in irrigation cannels which flat slope uses waterwheel. The flat slope mean low static head of the flow, thus impacts low rotation speed of the wheel and finally low power output generated. In order to encounter the problem, it is important to developed effective waterwheel for flat slope water channels. The aims of thus work are to design and fabricate a water wheel with jumping water unit and also early analysis of effect of jumping water angle on rotation speed and power output of waterwheel. The waterwheel is installed downstream the jumping water unit, Meanwhile, triangle shaped jumping water unit has variation angle of 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°. The result shows that the rotation speed and power output increase with increasing angle of jumping water. The maximum rotation speed and power output are 30.86 rpm and 38 Watt at the jumping water angle of 50°.

Utilization of the dethridge wheel as a low head power generator and loss analysis

Utilization of low head flow water has long been used to generate power by using water wheels and low head turbines. Dethridge wheel which is usually used as a tool to measure the flow of water has also been studied its potential to become hydro power generation. Therefore, this study aims to compare performance between overshot Dethridge wheel and undershot Dethridge wheel. For this purpose, a small scale channel for the operation of a water wheel is equipped with a digital flow meter, a pump that has a debit of up to 25 l/s, a pony brake for a torque meter, and an inverter to adjust the flow rate by changing the pump rotation. The research was conducted at Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering, UHAMKA in Jakarta, Indonesia. Flow rates vary from 5 to 11 l/s with head of 10 cm and 537 cm. The efficiency of undershot and overshot, at the peak, are 21% and 18%, respectively.

Clarification of Pumping Characteristics and Method for Utilization of Irrigation Water Wheel by Hydraulic Model Experiment

Clarification of Pumping Characteristics and Method for Utilization of Irrigation Water Wheel by Hydraulic Model Experiment