BACKGROUND
The issue of using energy resources efficiently and of increasing the share of ecologically clean renewable energy sources in energy production is growing more urgent with the depletion of fossil fuel reserves. In this connection, measures to introduce innovative solutions and technology allowing a more efficient use of resources, in particular, of hydro-energy potential, are timely, and the development of small-scale hydro power engineering is a pressing matter.
The development of micro hydropower stations based on free-flow turbines using water flow energy without building dams or reservoirs is one area of this energy sector.
SCIENTIFIC NOVELTY
The downside of conventional free-flow hydropower stations is that the capacity of their turbines equals the cube of the rate of flow and they are very ineffective in slow flowing waters. One way to boost the energy efficiency of free-flow turbines is to use a special hydrodynamic effect which results from accelerating the free flow of liquid and its transition from subcritical into critical condition.
The goal of our project is to create a hydraulic free-flow turbine that will be highly efficient using this hydrodynamic effect. The scientific sense of this effect has earlier been proven by a number of articles in scientific and technical publications in Uzbekistan. Some English-language articles on this topic have been presented in the International Water Association (IWA) website.
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/Usagesoffree-flowhyd...
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/Research+into+the+hy...
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/Anewdesignofahighlye...
A group of experts have designed a small prototype of this hydraulic turbine for preliminary tests. Tests have shown positive results and fully proven most of the theoretical calculations of this technology.
COMPETITIVENESS OF THE PROJECT
The use of our technology in the free-flow hydraulic turbines increases considerably (3-4 fold) their unit power and enhances their profitability. This is possible thanks to the more effective takeoff of the water current energy. In traditional turbines the water flow energy efficiency indicator (efficiency rate) is quite low and amounts to 10-15 per cent of the whole flow power, that most of the water flow energy is not used and flows idle through the turbines.
The turbines which operate under our principle are effective in slow water drifts – under 2 metres per second. Taking into account the fact that all flat land rivers usually flow at the speed of no more than 2 metres per second, our turbines will be widely used. Our estimates show that the efficiency rate of our turbines will amount to 30-45 per cent, that is 3-4 fold higher than the traditional turbines.
STRENGTHS
A low capital investment: roughly estimated, 300-600 USD/kW, while dam hydropower stations have a capital investment of over 1,000 USD/kW, and traditional free-flow hydropower stations - a capital investment from 3,000 USD/kW and more;
No reservoir (ecological effect). Free-flow turbines act as artificial water aerators saturating the water with oxygen which is beneficial for the fauna and for the ecosystem of the water flow overall;
Power density three or four-fold greater than traditional free-flow turbines;
Possibility of using in slow-flowing currents (from 0.2 to 2.0 m/s) in which traditional free-flow hydropower stations are very inefficient and so fuller use can be made of hydro-energy resources.
WEAKNESSES
Like any other hydro-power stations, this turbine is installed only on rivers or canals.
Due to the low frequency of rotation of this turbine, it is necessary to apply special converting devices in order to generate alternating current of commercial frequency. However, if there is no need to generate commercial frequency current, direct current can be generated with the use of standard 24-36-Volt generators and batteries. Also, the turbine can be applied without electricity generation, for example, for water pumping and supply for irrigated fields.
OPPORTUNITIES
Due to the low efficiency of traditional free flow hydraulic turbines, the competition of such turbines is low, therefore our product can be easily promoted on the market thanks to its high efficiency.
There is a possibility to sell low-power energy blocks of 2-3 kW for sole consumers, and middle-power energy blocks of 50 kW and more for large consumers, for example, for farmers and remote villages and settlements.
THREATS
Bureaucracy of authorities can impede issuing permits for installation of the turbines.
Dealers of solar panels and wind generators may claim that our turbines are of low or no use.
POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS
Potential consumers of these aggregates will be any consumer of electricity who want autonomous green energy sources of energy and consumers in remote areas that lack electricity, i.e. scattered settlements, farms, geological expeditions who can utilise water flow in nearby rivers, canals and so on.
BACKGROUND
The issue of using energy resources efficiently and of increasing the share of ecologically clean renewable energy sources in energy production is growing more urgent with the depletion of fossil fuel reserves. In this connection, measures to introduce innovative solutions and technology allowing a more efficient use of resources, in particular, of hydro-energy potential, are timely, and the development of small-scale hydro power engineering is a pressing matter.
The development of micro hydropower stations based on free-flow turbines using water flow energy without building dams or reservoirs is one area of this energy sector.
SCIENTIFIC NOVELTY
The downside of conventional free-flow hydropower stations is that the capacity of their turbines equals the cube of the rate of flow and they are very ineffective in slow flowing waters. One way to boost the energy efficiency of free-flow turbines is to use a special hydrodynamic effect which results from accelerating the free flow of liquid and its transition from subcritical into critical condition.
The goal of our project is to create a hydraulic free-flow turbine that will be highly efficient using this hydrodynamic effect. The scientific sense of this effect has earlier been proven by a number of articles in scientific and technical publications in Uzbekistan. Some English-language articles on this topic have been presented in the International Water Association (IWA) website.
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/Usagesoffree-flowhyd...
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/Research+into+the+hy...
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/Anewdesignofahighlye...
A group of experts have designed a small prototype of this hydraulic turbine for preliminary tests. Tests have shown positive results and fully proven most of the theoretical calculations of this technology.
COMPETITIVENESS OF THE PROJECT
The use of our technology in the free-flow hydraulic turbines increases considerably (3-4 fold) their unit power and enhances their profitability. This is possible thanks to the more effective takeoff of the water current energy. In traditional turbines the water flow energy efficiency indicator (efficiency rate) is quite low and amounts to 10-15 per cent of the whole flow power, that most of the water flow energy is not used and flows idle through the turbines.
The turbines which operate under our principle are effective in slow water drifts – under 2 metres per second. Taking into account the fact that all flat land rivers usually flow at the speed of no more than 2 metres per second, our turbines will be widely used. Our estimates show that the efficiency rate of our turbines will amount to 30-45 per cent, that is 3-4 fold higher than the traditional turbines.
STRENGTHS
A low capital investment: roughly estimated, 300-600 USD/kW, while dam hydropower stations have a capital investment of over 1,000 USD/kW, and traditional free-flow hydropower stations - a capital investment from 3,000 USD/kW and more;
No reservoir (ecological effect). Free-flow turbines act as artificial water aerators saturating the water with oxygen which is beneficial for the fauna and for the ecosystem of the water flow overall;
Power density three or four-fold greater than traditional free-flow turbines;
Possibility of using in slow-flowing currents (from 0.2 to 2.0 m/s) in which traditional free-flow hydropower stations are very inefficient and so fuller use can be made of hydro-energy resources.
WEAKNESSES
Like any other hydro-power stations, this turbine is installed only on rivers or canals.
Due to the low frequency of rotation of this turbine, it is necessary to apply special converting devices in order to generate alternating current of commercial frequency. However, if there is no need to generate commercial frequency current, direct current can be generated with the use of standard 24-36-Volt generators and batteries. Also, the turbine can be applied without electricity generation, for example, for water pumping and supply for irrigated fields.
OPPORTUNITIES
Due to the low efficiency of traditional free flow hydraulic turbines, the competition of such turbines is low, therefore our product can be easily promoted on the market thanks to its high efficiency.
There is a possibility to sell low-power energy blocks of 2-3 kW for sole consumers, and middle-power energy blocks of 50 kW and more for large consumers, for example, for farmers and remote villages and settlements.
THREATS
Bureaucracy of authorities can impede issuing permits for installation of the turbines.
Dealers of solar panels and wind generators may claim that our turbines are of low or no use.
POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS
Potential consumers of these aggregates will be any consumer of electricity who want autonomous green energy sources of energy and consumers in remote areas that lack electricity, i.e. scattered settlements, farms, geological expeditions who can utilise water flow in nearby rivers, canals and so on.
