Harvesting mechanical torque and electrical power in a micro-hydro power system: effect of multiplier gear train

摘要

Low hydraulic head has been attributed as the limiting challenge to hydropower generation in many rural settlements situated to natural water bodies. This study presented speed boosting innovation (multiplier) system designed and constructed to compensate for the low head. Pelton turbine and artificial water-body with the 3m head were constructed for the experimental rig set-up. The multiplier gear-train ratios of 1 : 2, 1 : 4, 1 : 6, 1 : 8 and 1:10. Average speed, torque and voltages of different multiplier ratios showed 536.25 rpm, 23Ncm, 0.05 V; 643.75 rpm, 63 Ncm, 0.11 V; 751.25 rpm, 103 Ncm, 0.16 V; 1251.9 rpm, 183 Ncm, 0.28 V for the respective gear-train ratios. The speed of the turbine shaft without and with multiplier was 200 rpm and 1253 rpm respectively with the efficiency of 63%. The shaft-torque increased with increasing gear-train ratio while output-voltage increased with increased speed.