STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF INLET NOZZLE LENGTH ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PORTABLE DARRIEUS HYDRO TURBINE

Abstract

This paper is presented the results of an experimental evaluation of the effect of the length of the inlet nozzle of a Darrieus turbine performance. The clogging problem, which is a practical issue in small hydropower generation, can be compacted by installing an inlet nozzle between the weir to provide an acceleration length which reduces the effect on performance deterioration the water channel is blocked. However, if the nozzle length is too long, a decrease in performance also occurs because of the possible effect of changes in the fluid flow field due to changes in the nozzle angle. So, additional investigation of this mechanism in terms of nozzle angle is needed.