Design, Fabrication and Testing of Pump Working in Turbine Mode for Micro Hydropower Plants

Abstract

In the world there are many villages without electricity. Due to remoteness of these communities it is di_cult to connect these with grid. This condition makes them eligible for the decentralized remote power technologies. Hydropower is the top most renewable energy source and micro hydropower plant is one of the best solutions for energy crisis in remote, rural and hilly areas. Micro hydro plants do not su_er from environmental and social problems, not just because of the scale of the technology, but due to the insigni_cant storage of water. Normally these schemes do not form a barrier to the passage of aquatic life, especially _sh. Mini, micro and pico hydropower are now recognized as key technologies in bringing renewable electricity to rural populations in developing countries, many of whom do not have access to electric power. In micro hydropower plants cost is equally important criteria as the e_ciency. The centrifugal pumps can be used as the hydraulic turbine as it has advantage of being mass production in many countries throughout the world and low cost. As centrifugal pump used as turbine has no ow control mechanism so the part load e_ciency is poor. In the present study introduction of small hydropower plant and pump as turbine(PAT) are given. The literature review pertaining to PAT is presented. The experimental investigation on PAT without and with modi_cation are presented.