DESIGN, FABRICATION AND

INSTALLATION OF A
WATER VORTEX
HYDROPOWER GENERATOR
IN ADAMS, ILOCOS NORTE
JARON OLIVER G. INGAN
BSME V
Background of the Study

Hydropower or hydroelectricity refers to the conversion

of energy from flowing water into electricity. It is considered
a renewable energy source because the water cycle is constantly
renewed by the sun.
Historically, one of the first uses of hydro power was for mechanical
milling, such as grinding grains. Today, modern hydro plants
produce electricity using turbines and generators, where mechanical
energy is created when moving water spins rotors on a turbine. This
turbine is connected to an electromagnetic generator, which
produce electricity when the turbine spins.
 The vortex turbine uses both kinetic (run-of-river) and static
potential energy (head) principles and promises to provide a power
generation system resulting in minimum interference with the river and
aquatic life.
Mini hydropower generator have good potential for providing
electricity to remote communities. The water vortex hydropower
generator is an economic and clean energy system allowing for the
conversion of the low-head potential energy into kinetic energy to
drive power turbines by means of a gravitation vortex pool
Objectives of the Study
General Objectives
 To design, fabricate and install a
water vortex hydropower
generator in Adams, Ilocos Norte
Specific Objectives
 To design a water vortex
hydropower generator
 To fabricate a water vortex
hydropower generator
 To install a water vortex
hydropower generator
 To evaluate the water vortex
hydropower generator
Significance of the Study

This study aims to introduce a clean, reliable and

affordable energy for remote communities, without
harming the environment.
Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study will focus on the design, fabrication and installation of a

water vortex hydropower generator. The materials to be used in this
study will only be acquired locally.
 Input
• Depth of water
• Volume flow of water
• Velocity of water

Process
• Design of water vortex hydropower generator
• Fabrication of water vortex hydropower generator
• Installation of water vortex hydropower generator

Output • Evaluation of water vortex hydropower generator

Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the related literature and

studies after the thorough and in-depth search
done by the researchers.
 The Gravitation Water Vortex Power Plant

The gravitation water vortex power plant is a type of micro hydro

vortex turbine system which is capable of converting energy in a
moving fluid to rotational energy using a low hydraulic head. The
technology is based on a round basin with a central drain. Above the
drain the water forms a stable line vortex which drives a water turbine.
 Design Parameters
Blade Design
Design Speed:
Turbine speed for an impulse type turbine is given by:
𝑵𝒕 = 𝑯 ÷ 𝑶𝑫
Where, 𝑁𝑡 = Design Speed
H = Head
OD = Outer Diameter

Vortex Theory for Runner Design:

𝑲
𝑽Ѳ =
𝟐𝝅𝒓
Where K is the strength of the vortex and is defined as volume flow per
unit depth,
𝑸
𝑲 =
𝒉
Calculations at Inlet:
𝑽𝟏 = 𝟐𝒈𝒉 𝑽𝒕 = 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽Ѳ
𝑽𝒇𝟏 = 𝑽𝒕 × 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜷𝟏 𝑽𝒘𝟏 = 𝑽𝒕 x 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜷𝟏
𝑽𝒇𝟏 𝝅(𝑶𝑫)(𝑵𝒕 )
𝜶𝟏 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 𝑽𝒘𝟏 =
𝑽𝒘𝟏 − 𝑼𝟏 𝟔𝟎

Calculations at Outlet:
𝝅(𝑶𝑫)(𝑵𝒕 )
𝑼𝟐 = 𝑽𝟐 = 𝑽𝒇𝟏 = 𝑽𝒇𝟐
𝟔𝟎
𝑽𝒇𝟐
𝑽𝒘𝟐 = 𝑽𝒕 x 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜷𝟐 𝜶𝟐 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 𝑼𝟐
Where, V = Absolute velocity of water (head velocity)
Vf = Velocity of flow
𝑉𝑡 = Total velocity
𝛽1 = Inlet jet angle
𝛽2 = Outlet jet angle
𝛼1 = Inlet blade angle
𝛼2 = Outlet blade angle
𝑉𝑤 = Velocity of whirl
OD = Outer diameter
ID = Inner Diameter
𝑁𝑡 = Design Speed
U = Blade Velocity
𝑉Ѳ = Vortex tangential velocity
Calculation of Theoretical Power
Neglecting pressure and head losses, the theoretical hydraulic power can
be calculated using:
𝑷𝒊 = 𝝆 × 𝑸 × 𝑮 × 𝑯
Where, 𝜌 = Density of liquid
Q = Flow rate
G = Gravity, 9.81
H = Piezometric height in meter of water

Calculation of Theoretical Efficiency

The theoretical hydraulic efficiency can be calculated using:
𝑽𝒘 𝟏 𝒙𝑼𝟏
ŋ𝒉 =
𝑮𝒙𝑯
Calculation of Radius of Curvature
The radius of the blade can be calculated using:
𝑶𝑫𝟐 − 𝑰𝑫𝟐
𝑹=
𝟐 𝒙 𝑶𝑫 𝒙 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜷𝟏

Design of Shaft
The torque of the shaft can be derived from:
𝟐𝝅𝑻𝑵𝒕
𝑷𝒊 =
𝟔𝟎
Using the derived torque, the diameter of the shaft can be calculated
using:
𝟏𝟔𝑻
𝝉 =
𝝅𝒅𝟑
Design of Canal (Inlet for the Basin)

Area:

A=BxH

For the discharge or volume flow rate:

Q = AV

Wetted Perimeter:

P = b + 2h

Hydraulic Radius:

𝑩𝒙𝑯
𝑹𝒉 =
𝒃+𝟐𝒉

Velocity:

𝟐 𝟏
𝟏.𝟎
V= 𝒙 𝑹𝒉 𝒙 𝑺
𝟑 𝟐
𝒏
Design of Basin
Calculation of Orifice Diameter
The equation of continuity
Q = 𝑪𝒅 x A x V
The assumption of free vortex enables the use of Bernoulli Equation
𝑷 𝒗𝟐
+ + 𝑮𝒛 = 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕
𝝆 𝟐
Since the system is open, pressure at inlet and outlet is the same,
the equation is reduce to
𝑽𝟐𝟏 𝑽𝟐𝟐
+ 𝑯𝟏 =
𝟐𝑮 𝟐𝑮
From the velocity obtained above (𝑉2 ), the vortex core diameter at
exit can be solved using
𝒅𝟐 𝟐
𝑸𝟏 = 𝑸𝟐 = 𝝅 × × 𝒗𝟐
𝟒
 Fabrication
Forebay
The water in front of intake will serve as a forebay for the system
Trash Rack
The objective of the trash rack is to protect the whole system from logs and
other large waterborne objects from entering the canal. In addition to this, it
will dissipate the energy of incoming water to ensure that flow in the system will
be as designed.
Intake System
The water passes tangentially through the notched canal and flows
around the basin and finds its exit at the hole at the bottom of the basin. The
length, breadth, height and notch of the canal, top diameter of the basin and
the exit hole at the bottom are the important parameter that should be
considered in the design of basin and canal.
Basin
The rotation tank for the water vortex hydropower system shall be
made up of a metal sheet concrete structure. The size of the basin is
designed to meet the requirement of head drop and flow in the
hydropower. The basin would be strong and sufficiently waterproof to
prevent the dynamic pressure and impact of flowing water in the
basin.
Turbine Runner
The runner is an important part of the water vortex hydropower
system that is used to extract the power from the swirling water and
convert it into the shaft power. Though runner of the system is also an
impulse type of turbine, it is different from generally available impulse
turbine like cross flow, turgo due to the rotational flow of the water. The
design of runner is based on the flow rate, head and position of the
runner.
Generator
An induction motor can be used as a generator in micro hydro
installations as it does not have brushes or other parts that need
maintenance and is less expensive. Capacitor banks are required for
generating reactive magnetizing current in order to create rotating
field.
 Evaluation
Power Coefficient (𝐶𝑝 ):
𝜔×𝐷
𝐶𝑝 =
2 ×𝑉
Where, 𝜔 = Angular velocity of blade
V = Velocity of flow
D = Runner Diameter

Power Output:
𝑃𝑜 = 𝑃𝑖 × 𝐶𝑝