Author(s): T. Tucciarelli; M. Sinagra; G. Morreale; P. Amato

Linked Author(s): Tullio Tucciarelli

Keywords: Hydraulic regulation; Banki turbine; PRs prototype; Lab experiments

Abstract: The hydraulic regulation system of the new in-line Banki turbine, named PRs, is designed and tested in the lab of the University of Palermo for a 10 kW prototype. A new device, named PRs (Power Recovery system), has been recently proposed for pipe in-line hydroenergy production. PRs is a Banki type turbine with positive outlet pressure, that can be installed inside pressurized pipes. PRs is aimed to provide, along with electric energy production, also the same functionalities of Pressure Reducing Valves (PRV) and of flow meters. Pressure and discharge control are obtained by means of a Cink type mobile flap, which is controlled by an actuator powered by the battery of the PRs. The system is completed by two pressure sensors, located on the pipe immediately before and after the turbine case, as well as by an ICT system for the flap automatic and/or long distance control and for sensor monitoring. When the turbine is placed at the inlet of a Water Distribution network (WDN), discharge is given by the total demand and PRs works in “passive” mode. In this case the flap regulation allows to fix the head jump, with the same functionality of a PRV. When the turbine is placed immediately before a storage tank, PRs works in “active” mode and it can be used to fix the discharge, by changing the head jump between the turbine inlet and outlet. The change provided by the flap position on the characteristic curves of the turbine has been already investigated by means of CFX numerical simulations. For the validation of the previous formulas, a PRs prototype has been constructed and installed in the lab facility of the University of Palermo in the context of the “Pressure Management System – PMS”.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-981-11-2731-1_218-cd

Year: 2018