期刊名称：International Journal of Energy and Environment
印刷版ISSN：2076-2895
电子版ISSN：2076-2909
出版年度：2014
卷号：5
期号：2
页码：155-182
出版社：International Energy and Environment Foundation (IEEF)
摘要：The main aim of the study is to enhance the design of a Crossflow turbine, as an appropriate technology for small-scale power generation. This study evaluates the performance of a simplified Crossflow turbine at conditions other than the ‘best efficiency point’. It also explores the ‘reaction’ behavior of the Crossflow turbine as well as characterizes the torque transfer in the two stages of the turbine. The experiments were conducted on a physical simplified Crossflow turbine model using the test facilities in the Waterpower Laboratory at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The results show that the maximum turbine efficiency is 79%, achieved at a head of 5m and reduced speed of 13.4; making it a low speed turbine. This turbine efficiency compares well with some reported efficiency values. The result also show that the turbine is efficient when it operates with a degree of reaction and this is achieved at large valve openings; validating observations that the Crossflow turbine is not a pure impulse turbine. Performance evaluation outside the best efficiency point shows that the efficiency decreases with increase in head above the best efficiency head. The turbine efficiency is not sensitive to flow variations: except at a head of 3m, at all tested heads, 25% of the flow at best efficiency point still generates efficiency of above 50%. Torque characterization shows that the second stage plays a significant role in torque transfer, especially when at large valve openings. Therefore, design efforts must also look at how the flow inside the runner interior space can be controlled so that the jet enters the second stage with optimum flow angles. The use of strain gauge to characterize the torque produced using momentum principle as employed in this study presents an additional opportunity to analyze the trends in the torque transfer.
