Abstract
This study is concerned with the development of a hollow micro-hydraulic turbine excellent in foreign matter passage performance. The runner has a circular hollow around the central (rotating) axis so that foreign matter included in water can easily flow without blocking the turbine. The laboratory experiments are conducted to investigate the turbine performance. Though the turbine efficiency decreases with increasing the hollow ratio e when ε>0.25, it remains unchanged when ε≤0.25. The hollow of the runner effectively heightens the passage performance of the polyester fibers entrained into the turbine. The developed micro-hydraulic turbine of ε≥0.375 is not blocked by the fibers and maintains its function.
