Microhydro Water Turbine Design and Construction for Energy Supply in Remote Rural Areas
Keywords:
Microhydro , Crossflow Turbine , Rural Electrification , Renewable Energy , Sustainable DevelopmentAbstract
Purpose: The design and development of microhydro turbines represent an effective solution for addressing energy access challenges in remote rural areas. This study focuses on the design, simulation, and laboratory testing of a Crossflow microhydro turbine tailored for rural electrification.
Subjects and Methods: Hydrological data from a representative rural site were analyzed to determine flow rate and head potential. Based on these parameters, a Crossflow turbine prototype was designed using locally available materials. The design was validated through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and prototype laboratory testing.
Results: The results indicate that the turbine operates with an efficiency range of 55–70%, with optimal performance achieved at a flow rate of 0.15 m³/s and a head of 12 meters, producing up to 8 kW of output power. While the efficiency is slightly lower than industrial-scale designs, the system remains sufficient to meet household and community-level electricity needs.
Conclusions: This research highlights the potential of locally fabricated microhydro systems to provide reliable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly energy solutions for rural communities. Limitations include the absence of field testing and economic feasibility analysis, which should be addressed in future studies.
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