Highly Efficient Cross flow Turbine Runner Design for Upgrading Traditional Water Mill in to Micro Hydro Power Plant (A case Study for Kersa-Minko Village)

Abstract

Cross flow turbines, which are suitable in upgrading traditional water mills in to hydro power generating systems in Ethiopia and in general in developing nations creates high interest, due to their simplicity for manufacturing in simple local metal workshops, suitable operating condition for large load variation conditions, the ease of operation and maintenance by low skill remote rural farmers in areas which are detached from the main grid line and apart from most hydraulic turbines their suitability for low head and flow rate conditions . Therefore, in this paper the design of highly efficient cross flow turbine runner for upgrading traditional water mill in to micro hydro power plant and water mill in Kersa-Minko village is conducted. The design includes calculations that determine runner diameter, runner length, runner speed, turbine power, water jet thickness, blade spacing, number of blades, radius of blade curvature, attack angle and the blade inlet and exit angles.