Development and performance testing of a new in-pipe hydropower prototype towards Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6

Abstract

A new in-pipe hydropower prototype having a novel internal flow separator, denominated as P20, was developed and tested to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. The P20 separates water into main channel where the water flow is uninterrupted and two power generation (PG) purpose channels with nozzle and turbine system, respectively, at each side. The P20 also has valves for turbines maintenance and service work purposes at the PG channels’ inlets and outlets. From the performance test, 28.8% of pressure loss is created at the maximum flow condition (0.076 m³s⁻¹ flow rate that produced 1.25 bar of stagnation pressure). At this condition, each turbine produced mechanical power of 55 W with 35.9% of turbine efficiency. The highest turbine efficiency recorded in this study was about 42% obtained at a flow rate 59% of the maximum condition, where less water filled the turbine casing as compared to the maximum flow condition. PG channel size also affects the turbine efficiency. Overall, the P20 has been functioning according to the design that allows the majority of water to flow uninterruptedly while concurrently generating in-pipe hydropower.

Keywords:

• Hydropower
• in-pipe hydropower
• technology readiness level (TRL) 6
• turbine efficiency
• performance test

Review Editor:

• D T Pham, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Subjects:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering Design
• Power & Energy

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to Malaysia Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources for the financial support under grant Akaun Amanah Industri Bekalan Elektrik (AAIBE) and Department Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Malaya for facilities and support during experiment and fabrication processes.

Patent

This prototype has been patented with Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), pattern number: PI2019007588.

Disclosure statement

We, the authors declare that we have no conflict of interest for this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Malaysia Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources under grant Akaun Amanah Industri Bekalan Elektrik (AAIBE) [grant number: GA012-2019]