Uncertainty Analysis of Field Turbine Performance Measurements

by James B. Nystrom, Worcester Polytechnic Inst, Holden, MA, USA,
George E. Hecker, Worcester Polytechnic Inst, Holden, MA, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Waterpower '85

Abstract:

This paper presents comprehensive uncertainty analyses of two different flow measurement methods for field tests on turbines. The 'water to wire' efficiency was determined based on gross head. Estimates of precision indices are made from the standard deviation of the measurements, while bias uncertainties are estimated from comparative tests and experience. The bias and precision components are propagated separately from the measurements to the final result. The elementary error source uncertainties for each component are combined by the root sum square (RSS) method. Precision uncertainty is estimated as the precision index multiplied by the Student t factor to achieve a 95% confidence level. The overall uncertainty of the result is reported as the sum of the bias and precision uncertainties.

Subject Headings: Uncertainty principles | Flow measurement | Field tests | Turbines | Water conservation | Errors (statistics) | Water flow

Services: Buy this book/Buy this article

 

Return to search