Optimal Design of a Pico-hydroelectric Power Generation System with a Spiral Water Wheel at a Japanese Irrigation Canal and a Validation Experiment

Abstract

A spiral water wheel, which is a type of water mill, was a common power source for agricultural work in the Toyama Plain prior to the Second World War. In this study, we proposed a mechanical model of spiral water wheel when only a part of the water wheel sinks, and designed a pico-hydro electric power generation system with a spiral water wheel operated with an optimal gear ratio by utilizing the mechanical model and the generator’s characteristic data. Additionally, an experiment to verify the design method of the pico-hydro electric power generation system with a spiral water wheel was conducted. Voltages, electric currents, and rotational speeds of the water wheel were measured at each resistance, and almost all the values agree with the calculations of the mechanical model within the characteristic data of the generator.