Performance of Draft Tubes for Small-Hydropower Turbines

by Gary S. Monacelli, Ingersoll-Rand Co, Phillipsburg, NJ, USA,
Paul Cooper, Ingersoll-Rand Co, Phillipsburg, NJ, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water Power '87

Abstract:

Tests of several conical and elbow-type draft tubes were conducted with varying degrees of upstream swirl. This swirl was generated by variable-geometry vanes. Draft tube efficiencies of over 90 percent were obtained, for which the optimum inlet swirl angle was found to be 15 degrees from the axial direction. The results, which include the kinetic energy correction factors associated with the consequent draft tube velocity profiles, should be applicable to the design of small hydropower turbines.

Subject Headings: Turbines | Hydro power | Hydraulic design | Rivers and streams | Kinetics | Velocity profile | Vanes

Services: Buy this book/Buy this article

 

Return to search