Experimental Study on Enclosed Gravitational Water Vortex Turbine (GWVT) Producing Optimum Power Output for Energy Production

Abstract

Gravitational Water Vortex Turbine (GWVT) is an emerging concept and showing its future possibility in power production by utilizing the vortex produced in its casing. GWVT performance showed comparable power efficiency and yield with conventional hydropower turbine, thus it is applicable in rural area due to its portability. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of actual physical experiment of enclosed GWVT via horizontal orientation. Conical GWVT was designed in fully enclosed system with conical turbine basin. Different flow rates (5.33 L/s, 6.01 L/s, 6.3 L/s and 6.45 L/s) were manipulated by controlling the mechanical valves and loads with 1 kg increment until the turbine was forced to stop. The optimum rpm and torque were then identified for energy production. The experimental results showed that the enclosed GWVT turbine produced at the best operating condition under flow rate of 6.3L/s with torque produced at 5.47 Nm., shaft angular velocity of 12.71 rad/s, actual power produced of 69.39W and efficiency of 16.06%. Power efficiency found in this study was comparable with the conventional GWVT turbine studies. Thus, it is feasible to operate GWVT in an enclosed casing. The result explained that the turbine worked the best at 6.3 L/s flow rate for the vortex formation to be more stable, thus harnessing more power. The results are useful as a pilot scale design prior to the actual turbine implementation in rural areas.