PROGRESS REPORT

Title WATER TURBINE PROJECT

Made by  Muhammad Omer Amjad

 Awais Ahmed
 Adnan Sattar
 Raja Irtaza-ur-Rahman
 Moeen Riaz
 Abdul Basit
 Anas Khan
 Hassan Ahmed
Submitted to Sir Hassan Elahi

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

INSTITUTE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY
ISLAMABAD

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Table of Contents

PROGRESS REPORT.....................................................................................................................1
WATER TURBINE PROJECT.......................................................................................................1
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Reaction Turbine.........................................................................................................................4
Kinetic Energy Turbine...............................................................................................................4
Project Background.....................................................................................................................4
Problem Statement.......................................................................................................................4
Project Scope...............................................................................................................................4
WORK PROGRESS........................................................................................................................4
Literature review..............................................................................................................................5
Hydropower Generation..............................................................................................................5
Micro-Hydro and Rural Development.........................................................................................6
Technical aspects.........................................................................................................................6
Turbines.......................................................................................................................................7
Reaction Turbines........................................................................................................................7
Physical principles of hydropower plants....................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................7

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ABSTRACT
The water turbine is a machine which converts fluid energy into electrical energy. Our aim is to
produce at least three watts of electrical energy by using the Under-head Turbine. The primary
components of turbine are two wheels, bearings, dynamo and shaft. The turbine will make use of
the fluid energy from a source which will create an impact on the wheels resulting in the rotation
of the wheels which through shaft and bearing will produce electricity at the other end. Water
turbine ranges from small structure to large structures depending upon the need. They are being
used for commercial production of electricity while small units are also installed for house to
fulfill domestic needs.

INTRODUCTION
Hydropower comes from converting energy in flowing water by means of a water wheel or
through a turbine into useful mechanical power that is conversion of water‘s potential and kinetic
energy into electrical energy. The hydraulic machines that convert hydraulic energy into
mechanical energy is called Hydraulic Turbine. Water turbines were developed in the 19 th
century and were widely used for industrial power to electrical grids. Now they are mostly used
for electric power generation. Water turbines are mostly found in Embankment dams to generate
electric power from water kinetic energy.

There are two main types of hydro turbines: impulse and reaction. The type of hydropower
turbine selected for our project is the reaction turbine which is based on lower head.

Reaction Turbine

A reaction turbine develops power from the combined action of pressure and moving water. The
runner is placed directly in the water stream flowing over the blades rather than striking each
individually. Reaction turbines are generally used for sites with lower head and higher flows than
compared with the impulse turbines. There are several different types of propeller turbines. Our
project consists of kinetic energy turbine.

Kinetic Energy Turbine

Kinetic energy turbines, also called free-flow turbines, generate electricity from the kinetic
energy present in flowing water rather than the potential energy from the head. The systems may
operate in rivers, man-made channels, tidal waters, or ocean currents. Kinetic systems utilize the
water stream's natural pathway. They do not require the diversion of water through manmade
channels, riverbeds, or pipes, although they might have applications in such conduits. Kinetic
systems do not require large civil works; however, they can use existing structures such as
bridges, tailraces and channels.

Project Background

This project is about fabrication of hydro turbine. Hydropower systems which produce on small
scale are appropriate in most cases for individual users or groups of users who are independent of

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the electricity supply grid Water is pumped from the source and channeled into a turbine. The
turbine blades are now turned by the flowing water and create a rotary movement of the turbine.
The rotary movement is then used to turn the generator. The generator converts the mechanical
rotary movement into electrical energy.

Problem Statement

Since the industrial revolution begun in the 18th century, fuel has become one of the vital energy
in our life. However the amounts of non-renewable fuels such as gasoline are shrinking day by
day and will eventually depleted at the end. In order to ensure having the sufficient alternative
energies for future, renewable energies should be produced. One of the most effective renewable
energy is the hydropower which uses hydro turbines to generate electricity.

Project Scope
1. To set up hydro turbine that will produce energy on small scale
2. To use water obtained through sources with lower head to drive turbine

Design Analyses
The water turbine project is the imitation of the water turbines used for greater efficiencies
although almost all the elements and processes are similar. For our project we designed the water
turbine to meet our need of our output that is 3 watts for which we have progressed in the
following way.

The project of constructing a water turbine was distributed in such a way:

1: Design
2: Construction

One of the most important phases for the respective project was the Design which laid the bases
of the future work and success. The Design of the turbine consists of the design of the wheel
with blades and its compatibility with the other apparatus. It was made sure for design to be
amendable for changes that could be possible as the result of experiment or in a result of any
error.

The construction of the turbine includes the augmentation of different parts in a manner to give
shape to a complete machine. It includes the joining of shaft member to the wheel then to the
dynamo which produces output at the other end. We bought a bicycle tire, made cuts at its rim
using hacksaw so that we can fix cups in those cuts. These cup acted as turbine blades. Blades
are installed on the wheel which rotates when water strikes them and whole other components
then starts to operate. More is the revolutions by the blade more will be the generation of
electricity.
Then we did gas welding to firmly attach these cups between the cuts. After that we passed a
steel rod through our wheel and attach it second wheel. The attached rod will act as a shaft. Later
we will attach dynamo to the wheel. Dynamo will generate output at the other end. We are in a
process to get maximum revolutions through the dynamo because of the required output. We
hope that we will be able to derive the maximum output in next few days.

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PROJECT COMPONENTS
 Bearings: The purpose of a ball bearing is to reduce rotational friction and
support radial and axial loads.

 Steel Rod: To connect two tires together.

Dynamo: Connected with tire to produce electricity up to 3W.

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 Bicycle tires: Two bicycle tires were used. On one tire turbine blade were attached.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The literature review is a comprehensive summary of the material covered through the project
research. It should give a good insight into the development of micro-hydro sites in general and
provide a sufficient foundation for the following analysis in the feasibility study.

Hydropower Generation
Energy developed by flowing water that may be captured and turned into electricity is termed as
hydro power. From ancient world to today hydropower has been used in operating mechanical
devices such as textile and ore mills to modern complex mechanical devices The basic principle
of hydropower is that by channeling the water from higher to lower level, the resulting potential
energy can be used to do work. The water head is then used to move a mechanical shaft, which
converts potential energy to mechanical energy. From here, the turbine is now moving and
electricity is generated. .There are many types of hydropower energy that include small
hydropower, large hydropower micro hydro powers etc.In the coming years, hydropower will be
most favorable of all the renewable energies as it is most economic method and it will help to
reduce co2 emmissions thus helping to decrease levels of carbon content in atmosphere.[1]
Close to a quarter of the energy of the sun that reaches the earth’s surface causes water to
evaporate and hence a proportion of this energy causes vapour to rise against the earth’s
gravitational pull. This vapour then condenses into rain and snow, which again falls back to the
earth’s surface. This is called the water cycle and is the fundamental reason why hydropower is
possible [2] When rain and snow fall onto any ground above sea level some of the sun’s energy
is conserved in the form of potential energy. This energy is then dissipated in currents as water
runs down in streams. By catching this water in the controlled form of pipes, we can exploit the
kinetic energy that becomes available with the movement of water. These pipes are then used to
direct the stream of water, under pressure, onto a turbine blade. The water then strikes the turbine
blade to create mechanical energy. [2] This mechanical energy is then transmitted to an electrical
generator through a rotating shaft.[3] This simple process is essentially how all hydropower is
generated – a process tried and tested over hundreds of years which currently supplies over
715,000 MW or 19% of the world’s total electricity. [4] The potential for hydropower expansion
is still enormous; the U.S Geological Survey estimates that 2/3 of the world’s hydropower

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resources remain untapped. [5] The main advantages of investing into further hydropower
development are summarized below:
 No fuel burnt causing minimal pollution
 Low operation and maintenance costs
 Reliable and historically proven technology
 Water is free and completely renewable through continued rainfall

Micro-Hydro and Rural Development

Access to electricity is one of the key recipes for rural development and a necessity for the
improvement of infrastructure. An estimated 1.5 billion people in developing countries do not
have access to electricity [6], severely limiting the possibilities of economic growth. An
increased focus on decentralized energy generation, where the state cannot viably connect
population centres to the main electricity grid, significantly improves the development prospects
of struggling communities. Micro-hydro provides a reliable, affordable, economically viable,
socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy alternative for rural development. Micro-
hydro is the small scale harnessing of energy from falling water, generating typically less than
100 KW [7] and powering small communities or factories. It is micro-hydro the
following literature review will focus on.

Technical aspects
A brief technical review of hydropower is provided below. Micro-hydro schemes generally
follow the scheme where no water storage is required. Instead water is deflected from a flowing
river into a canal before being “dropped” from the forebay tank to the turbine. This drop, from
the level of water at the forebay, to the level of turbine is defined as the available head:
(i) The potential energy of water is hence:
PE=mgh
Where PE = potential energy (Joules), g = acceleration due to gravity (9.81m/s2), m = mass of
water (kg) and H = available head (m).

(ii) The power available at a hydropower station will always be proportional to the product of
the available head and the volume flow rate of the site:
P= η ρ Q gH

Where P = Power (W), η = efficiency of system, Q = volumetric flow rate (m3/s) , ρ = density of
water (kg/ m3) and H = available head (m), g = acceleration of due to gravity(9.81m/s2)

Turbines
Water under pressure contains energy which can be captured by a turbine in two ways:
(i) Pressure can exert a force directly on the surface of the turbine blades which transfers energy
to the turbine and causes a corresponding pressure drop in the water as it goes through the
turbine. This type of turbine is called a reaction turbine.[8]
(ii) The pressure can first be converted into kinetic energy in the for speed jet of water blades,
transferring its momentum to the turbine blade surface before dropping to the tail-water with
little remaining pressure. These turbines are called impulse turbines.[8]

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Reaction Turbines
Reaction turbines run with a casing completely filled with water, exploiting the oncoming flow
of water. A draft tube is present to discharge the water below the runner. This slows the
discharged water and hence reduces the static pressure, effectively increasing the head.

Physical principles of hydropower plants

Water from the reservoir flows down through pipes to power stations downhill . Mechanical
energy stored in water due to its elevated position in reservoir as potential energy is converted
into kinetic energy . In powerstations by using hydropower turbines, this energy is converted
into mechanical energy and finally to electricity by using generators . this principle act as basis
for all kinds of hydropower plants.[26]In hydropower construction our major purpose is
transforming potential energy to electrical energy economically and efficiently. Some of the
important considerations in the decision making process whiether a hydropower project must be
built or not are pipe diameter , turbine efficiency and water inflow . Large dia pipes are
expensive though they cause less energy losses and turbine efficiency is largely dependent upon
inflow of water , inflow does not remain same everytime and varies throughout . Keeping in
view all the considerations above an investor has to make a bargain to invest in a project with a
profitable lifetime of atleast 30 years.[1]

CONCLUSION
The Turbine is set to produce at least 3 watts of power by the water head provided by the water
of the river. The turbine can work endlessly if the water head is sufficient and with the proper
maintenance. The project, however, is the miniaturization of the mega projects thus it can be
improved for greater efficiency.

REFERENCES
[1] T. Bøckman, S.-E. Fleten, E. Juliussen, H. avard J. Langhammer, and I. Revdal,
“Investment timing and optimal capacity choice for small hydropower projects,” Eur. J. Oper.
Res., vol. 190, no. 1, pp. 255–267, 2008.
[2] TAMBURRINI, M., 2004, A Feasibility Study for a Microhydro Installation for the
Strangford Lough Wildfowlers & Conservation Association, Thesis (Msc), University of
Strathclyde
[3]HydropowerFundamentals, http://www.alternative-energyresources. net/hydroelectricity.html,
retrieved 20 March 2009
[4] REN21, Renewables – Global Status Report 2006 Update,
http://www.ren21.net/globalstatusreport/download/RE_GSR_2006_Update.pdf, retrieved April
19 2009
[5] USGS, Hydroelectric Power Water Use, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html, retrieved
February 10 2009
[6] UN Economic and Social Council, Access to Electricity,
http://webapps01.un.org/nvp/frontend!polCat.action?id=50, retrieved February 15 2009
[7] ANDERSON, DOIG, REES and KHENNAS, Rural Energy Services - a Handbook for
Sustainable Energy Development, ITP 1999
[8] PAISH, O., Small Hydro Power: Technology and Current Status, Elsevier Science Ltd, 2002

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