Screw turbine

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Reverse action of the Archimedean screw, the principle of the screw turbine gaining energy from water flowing down through the screw Archimedes-screw one-screw-threads with-ball 3D-view animated smal back.gif
Reverse action of the Archimedean screw, the principle of the screw turbine gaining energy from water flowing down through the screw
Screw turbines typically have three or four flights (second row) Helical screw single double triple quadruple start.png
Screw turbines typically have three or four flights (second row)
Two parallel screw turbines capable of producing 75 kW each, in Monmouth, Wales Monmouth New Hydro Scheme - geograph.org.uk - 1538784.jpg
Two parallel screw turbines capable of producing 75 kW each, in Monmouth, Wales
Video of a 40 kW screw turbine in Munich, Germany

A screw turbine (also known as an Archimedean turbine, Archimedes screw generator or ASG, or Archimedes screw turbine or AST) is a water turbine that converts the potential energy of water on an upstream level into work. This hydropower converter is driven by the weight of water, similar to water wheels, and can be considered as a quasi-static pressure machine. Archimedes screw generators operate in a wide range of flows (0.01 to 14.5 ) and heads (0.1 m to 10 m), including low heads and moderate flow rates that are not ideal for traditional turbines and not occupied by high performance technologies.

Contents

Archimedes' screw can be used to generate power if they are driven by flowing fluid instead of lifting fluid. Water transiting the screw from high to low elevation generates a torque on the helical plane surfaces, causing the screw to rotate. The Archimedes screw generator consists of a rotor in the shape of an Archimedean screw which rotates in a semicircular trough. Water flows into the screw and its weight presses down onto the blades of the turbine, which in turn forces the turbine to turn. Water flows freely off the end of the screw into the river. The upper end of the screw is connected to a generator through a gearbox. The Archimedes screw is theoretically a reversible hydraulic machine, and there are examples of single installations where screws can be used alternately as pumps and generators.

History

A screw turbine at a small hydro power plant in Goryn, Poland Turbina Archimedesa MEW Goryn.jpg
A screw turbine at a small hydro power plant in Goryn, Poland

The Archimedean screw is an ancient invention, attributed to Archimedes of Syracuse (287–212 BC.), and commonly used to raise water from a watercourse for irrigation purposes. In 1819 the French engineer Claude Louis Marie Henri Navier (1785–1836) suggested using the Archimedean screw as a type of water wheel. In 1916 William Moerscher applied for a U.S. patent on the hydrodynamic screw turbine. [1]

Application

12 kW screw turbine at the Cragside estate Cragside Archimedes' screw from top.jpg
12 kW screw turbine at the Cragside estate

The Archimedean screw turbine is applied on rivers with a relatively low head (from 0.1 m to 10 m) and on low flows (0.01 m3/s up to around 10 m3/s on one turbine). Due to the construction and slow movement of the blades of the turbine, the turbine is considered to be friendly to aquatic wildlife. It is often labelled as "fish friendly". The Archimedean turbine may be used in situations where there is a stipulation for the preservation and care of the environment and wildlife.

Design

An Archimedes Screw Turbine (AST) hydroelectricity powerplant can be considered as a system with three major components: a reservoir, a weir, and the AST (which is connected to the system by a control gate and trash rack). At most real AST locations, the incoming flow must be divided between the AST and a parallel weir. Typically, a minimum flow over the weir is mandated for the protection of the local environment. Other outlets as well as a fish ladder could be considered as the other components of this system. A comprehensive guide about the principles of designing Archimedes screw turbines and screw hydropower plants is available in "Archimedes Screw Turbines: A Sustainable Development Solution for Green and Renewable Energy Generation—A Review of Potential and Design Procedures". [2]

Flow rate

To design Archimedes screw turbines and hydropower plants, it is essential to estimate the amount of water is passing through the screw turbine since the amount of power generated by an Archimedes screw turbine is proportional to the volume flow rate of water through it. The volume of water that enters an Archimedes screw turbine depends on the inlet water depth and the screw's rotation speed. To estimates the total flow rate passing through an Archimedes screw turbine for different rotation speeds (ω) and inlet water levels the following equation could be used:

Where , and are constants related to the screw properties. Preliminary investigations suggest that , , and give reasonable predictions of for a wide range of small to full-scale AST sizes.

Examples

United Kingdom
United States

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydropower</span> Power generation via movement of water

Hydropower, also known as water power, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by converting the gravitational potential or kinetic energy of a water source to produce power. Hydropower is a method of sustainable energy production. Hydropower is now used principally for hydroelectric power generation, and is also applied as one half of an energy storage system known as pumped-storage hydroelectricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water turbine</span> Type of turbine

A water turbine is a rotary machine that converts kinetic energy and potential energy of water into mechanical work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archimedes' screw</span> Water pumping mechanism

The Archimedes' screw, also known as the Archimedean screw, hydrodynamic screw, water screw or Egyptian screw, is one of the earliest hydraulic machines named after Greek mathematician Archimedes who first described it around 234 BC, although the device had been used in Ancient Egypt. It is a reversible hydraulic machine, and there are several examples of Archimedes screw installations where the screw can operate at different times as either pump or generator, depending on needs for power and watercourse flow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small hydro</span> Hydroelectric project at the local level with a few MW production

Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale suitable for local community and industry, or to contribute to distributed generation in a regional electricity grid. Exact definitions vary, but a "small hydro" project is less than 50 megawatts (MW), and can be further subdivide by scale into "mini" (<1MW), "micro" (<100 kW), "pico" (<10 kW). In contrast many hydroelectric projects are of enormous size, such as the generating plant at the Three Gorges Dam at 22,500 megawatts or the vast multiple projects of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydroelectricity</span> Electricity generated by hydropower

Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower. Hydropower supplies 14% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and also more than nuclear power. Hydropower can provide large amounts of low-carbon electricity on demand, making it a key element for creating secure and clean electricity supply systems. A hydroelectric power station that has a dam and reservoir is a flexible source, since the amount of electricity produced can be increased or decreased in seconds or minutes in response to varying electricity demand. Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, it produces no direct waste, and almost always emits considerably less greenhouse gas than fossil fuel-powered energy plants. However, when constructed in lowland rainforest areas, where part of the forest is inundated, substantial amounts of greenhouse gases may be emitted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micro hydro</span> Hydroelectric power generation of 5 to 100 kW of electricity

Micro hydro is a type of hydroelectric power that typically produces from 5 kW to 100 kW of electricity using the natural flow of water. Installations below 5 kW are called pico hydro. These installations can provide power to an isolated home or small community, or are sometimes connected to electric power networks, particularly where net metering is offered. There are many of these installations around the world, particularly in developing nations as they can provide an economical source of energy without the purchase of fuel. Micro hydro systems complement solar PV power systems because in many areas water flow, and thus available hydro power, is highest in the winter when solar energy is at a minimum. Micro hydro is frequently accomplished with a pelton wheel for high head, low flow water supply. The installation is often just a small dammed pool, at the top of a waterfall, with several hundred feet of pipe leading to a small generator housing. In low head sites, generally water wheels and Archimedes' screws are used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pico hydro</span> Hydroelectric power generation under 5 kW

Pico hydro is a term used for hydroelectric power generation of under 5 kW. These generators have proven to be useful in small, remote communities that require only a small amount of electricity – for example, to power one or two fluorescent light bulbs and a TV or radio in 50 or so homes. Even smaller turbines of 200–300 W may power a single home with a drop of only 1 metre (3.3 ft). Pico-hydro setups typically are run-of-stream, meaning that a reservoir of water is not created, only a small weir is common, pipes divert some of the flow, drop this down a gradient, and through the turbine before being exhausted back to the stream.

Low-head hydropower refers to the development of hydroelectric power where the head is typically less than 20 metres, although precise definitions vary. Head is the vertical height measured between the hydro intake water level and the water level at the point of discharge. Using only a low head drop in a river or tidal flows to create electricity may provide a renewable energy source that will have a minimal impact on the environment. Since the generated power is a function of the head these systems are typically classed as small-scale hydropower, which have an installed capacity of less than 5MW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Settle Hydro</span> Hydroelectric power station in North Yorkshire, England

Settle Hydro is a micro hydroelectric scheme, owned by the community, in Settle, North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the River Ribble, at Settle Weir near Bridge End Mill. It generates 50 kW of electricity using a screw turbine in part of the former mill race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tidal stream generator</span> Type of tidal power generation technology

A tidal stream generator, often referred to as a tidal energy converter (TEC), is a machine that extracts energy from moving masses of water, in particular tides, although the term is often used in reference to machines designed to extract energy from the run of a river or tidal estuarine sites. Certain types of these machines function very much like underwater wind turbines and are thus often referred to as tidal turbines. They were first conceived in the 1970s during the oil crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monmouth New Hydro Scheme</span>

The Monmouth New Hydro Scheme, which incorporates the Osbaston fish pass, is a hydroelectric scheme in Osbaston, near Monmouth, in South-East Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Plant</span>

The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Plant is located just north of Snoqualmie in King County, Washington state, US. It is situated about 22 mi (35 km) east of Seattle. Located just below the Snoqualmie Falls, the power plant consists of two power houses, Plant 1 and Plant 2. Plant 1 was completed in 1899 and is located underground. It is the first completely underground hydroelectric power plant ever built in the world. Plant 2 was built in 1910 and is located along the right bank of the Snoqualmie River. Both plants receive water from a small reservoir created by a weir atop the falls. Plant 1 has an installed capacity of 13.7 MW and Plant 2 a capacity of 40.2 MW for a total installed capacity of 53.9 MW, enough to power 40,000 homes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dzoraget Hydroelectric Power Station</span> Hydroelectric power station in Lori, Armenia

The Dzoraget Hydroelectric Power Station is situated in Dzoraget village, Lori Region, Armenia. The plant is located on the coast of Debed River, but it uses the flows of the waters of Dzoraget River. Construction of the Dzoraget HPP started in 1927 and it was launched on 15 November 1932 with the full installed capacity of 22.32 MW. As of 1980, the plant uses three generators with an installed capacity of 26.2 MW. The Dzoraget Hydro Power Plant is considered to be small size power plant. There is a little water storage behind the weir, as Dzoraget HPP is a run-of-the-river plant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruswarp Hydro</span> Hydroelectric power station in North Yorkshire, England

Ruswarp Hydro or Whitby Esk Energy, is a Hydroelectric generation scheme that operates on the River Esk at Ruswarp, North Yorkshire, England. The project uses an Archimedes Screw in a reverse direction to generate electricity and was funded by people in the community. Around 4 tonnes of water pass along the screw per second, which generates enough electricity to power 45–48 homes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burley Hydro</span> Hydroelectric power station in West Yorkshire, England

Burley Hydro Scheme, also known as Greenholme Mill Hydro is a micro hydroelectric scheme installed on the River Wharfe at Burley-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire, England. The power output of the hydro scheme is 330 kW with an annual output of 1,400 MWh and is the fourth hydro scheme on the river after the opening of similar power plants at Linton near Grassington, and two further downstream from Burley at Pool-in-Wharfedale and Garnett Wharfe at Otley. All of these schemes have been located on sites previously used to generate power from the water flow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linton Lock Hydro</span> Hydroelectric power station in North Yorkshire, England

Linton Lock Hydro is a hydroelectric plant on the River Ouse in North Yorkshire, England, between the villages of Linton-on-Ouse and Nun Monkton. The first hydroelectric scheme was built here in 1923, but that was abandoned in the early 1960s. The second scheme to be sited at Linton Lock was installed in 2011 and a new generating unit came on stream in 2017. The combined output from the second and third generation plants is 380 kW, which is enough to power 450 homes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pump as turbine</span> Type of reaction water turbine

A pump as turbine (PAT), also known as a pump in reverse, is an unconventional type of reaction water turbine, which behaves in a similar manner to that of a Francis turbine. The function of a PAT is comparable to that of any turbine, to convert kinetic and pressure energy of the fluid into mechanical energy of the runner. They are commonly commercialized as composite pump and motor/generator units, coupled by a fixed shaft to an asynchronous induction type motor unit.

Kirkthorpe hydro is a hydroelectric generating plant located on the River Calder at Kirkthorpe Weir, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. The plant was opened in 2017 and expects to be generating electricity for 100 years. Kirkthorpe Weir is the highest industrial weir in Yorkshire and has prevented fish passing upstream to spawn; the new hydro project has a fish pass built into it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinau Hydropower Plant</span> Hydropower station in Nepal

Tinau Hydropower Plant is a run-of-river hydro-electric plant located in Rupandehi District of Nepal. The flow from Tinau River is used to generate 1.024 MW electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen Community Energy</span>

Aberdeen Community Energy operate a micro hydro scheme at Tillydrone on the River Don, Aberdeen.

References

  1. United States 1434138,William Moerscher,"Water-power system",issued October 31, 1922
  2. YoosefDoost, Arash; Lubitz, William David (2020-09-08). "Archimedes Screw Turbines: A Sustainable Development Solution for Green and Renewable Energy Generation—A Review of Potential and Design Procedures". Sustainability. 12 (18): 7352. doi: 10.3390/su12187352 . ISSN   2071-1050.
  3. "Woolston | Planning Application". Warrington Borough Council. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  4. "Woolston | Project Overview". renfin.eu. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  5. "Woolston | Local News Items". Warrington Worldwide. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  6. "Totnes | MannPower Consulting". www.mannpower-hydro.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
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  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Hydro Power Case Studies, Micro-Hydro Case Studies - Western Renewable Energy". www.westernrenew.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  10. "Hydropower returns to Cragside". National Trust. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  11. Philippa Gerrard (4 November 2016). "Powering Up". Press and Journal . Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  12. Andrew Ragall, Ancient technology in Meriden's Hannover Pond dam begins generating electricity, Meriden Record Journal, April 27, 2017
  13. New England Hydropower Energizes First Archimedes Screw Turbine in U.S., PR Newswire, April 27, 2017

Further reading