A Theoretical Study of the Performance of an Axial Flow Turbine for a Microhydro Installation

Abstract

The Bernoulli-with-loss equation, with the losses represented by a constant times the velocity head, has been applied to each section of the flow through a small turbine system consisting of inlet guide vanes, axial flow turbine and draft tube. Using experimental data and the sets of equations, the flow angles around the turbine blades and the loss coefficients in the turbine and in the draft tube were determined. These were used to predict the effect of varying the guide vane angle and the turbine blade angle on performance. They were also used to predict the effects on the performance of a geometrically similar prototype system.