On the use of a laboratory-scale Pelton wheel water turbine in renewable energy education

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 33; no. 7; pp. 1517 - 1522
• Main Authors: Agar, D., Rasi, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Education; Energy; Energy of waters: ocean thermal energy, wave and tidal energy, etc; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; General, economic and professional studies; Hydroelectric power plants; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Mini hydropower; Natural energy; Pelton wheel; Staff. Occupational work. Work management. Control. Safety. Accidents. Professional diseases; Water turbine; Europe; Finland; Water turbine; Pelton wheel; Education; 01.50.Pa; Mini hydropower; Laboratory study; Construction; Methodology; Laboratory scale; Pelton turbine; Hydroelectric small power plant; Hydraulic power; Higher education; Acquired experience; Performance; Occupational training
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2007.09.003

A laboratory-scale Pelton turbine for hydroelectric generation has been constructed and used in the educational curriculum of The Renewable Energy Programme at the University of Jyväskylä. The construction of the Pelton turbine, the experimental apparatus and the measurement procedure are described. The apparatus is simple to make and uses inexpensive components, most of which can be found in standard science laboratories. From the experimental results, the turbine was found to have a maximum mechanical efficiency of 0.47 ± 0.02 for a water flow rate of 0.17 l / s . The Pelton turbine and apparatus demonstrate the principles of hydropower and are well suited for education in renewable energy.