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Development and Numerical Performance Analysis of a Micro Turbine in a Tap-Water Pipeline

Author

Listed:
  • Huixiang Chen

    (College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
    Key Laboratory of Fluid Machinery and Engineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
    College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Kan Kan

    (College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
    College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Haolan Wang

    (Rugao Banjing Town Water Service Station, Rugao 226500, China)

  • Maxime Binama

    (College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Yuan Zheng

    (College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
    College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Hui Xu

    (College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
    College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

Abstract

The induction faucet has been widely used in public due to its advantages of convenience, sanitation, water, and electricity saving. To solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by dry batteries used in induction faucets, a suitable micro pipe mixed-flow turbine installed in a tap-water system with only 15 mm in diameter, that uses the pipeline water pressure to generate electricity for the induction faucet was designed and developed, based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and model tests. According to the specific speed, a preliminary design of each flow component of the turbine was first produced. Then, using the multi-objective orthogonal optimization method, the optimum test schemes were determined, and the influence of various test factors on the turbine’s hydraulic performance was revealed. Under the design flow rate, the turbine’s power output and efficiency were 6.40 W and 87.13%, respectively, which were 34.45% and 4.99% higher than those of the preliminary scheme. Both the power output and efficiency of the optimized turbine met the design requirements. Numerical and model test results showed good agreement, where the deviation in turbine power output predictions was below 5% under large flow condition. Model test results also showed that the turbine can be started as long as the inlet flow is greater than 0.14 kg/s. Overall, the micro-pipe turbine designed in this paper exploits the (mostly wasted) water kinetic energy in induction faucets for power production, contributing to environmental pollution reduction and realizing energy conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • Huixiang Chen & Kan Kan & Haolan Wang & Maxime Binama & Yuan Zheng & Hui Xu, 2021. "Development and Numerical Performance Analysis of a Micro Turbine in a Tap-Water Pipeline," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10755-:d:644806
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    References listed on IDEAS

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