International Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics Micro-Hydro Generator using Eco-wheel system for Domestic and Industrial Building Applications Moglo Komlanvi, Mahmoud Shafik, and Mfortaw Elvis Ashu College of Engineering and Technology, University of Derby, Derby, DE22 3AW, UK Abstract—The paper presents the preliminary part of ongoing research to design and develop a 3D sustainable renewable power station model that is feasible, competent and of high efficiency at an affordable cost. The paper is focused on the optimization of a 1D micro hydropower system. The constant supply of green power is made possible through a combination of power plants using renewable energies resources. Studies reveal that water wheels are not as efficient as turbines but could offer efficiency in excess of 80% for overshoot & undershoot water wheels, with 75% for breastshot water wheels. The technical issues that limit the water wheel efficiency have been studied and a new design is presented in this paper. The simulation to the new design is hereby presented with some experimental measurements of the efficiency and power that can be delivered with this new design. Keywords—3D sustainable power station, Hydro wheels/ turbines, efficiency. I. INTRODUCTION HE biggest contributor to carbon emission still remains the power generation industry as 57% of World Co2 emission worldwide comes from the burning effect of fossil fuels, 17% from the decay of biomass & deforestation all used for power generation [1]. Considering the rising rate of these figures, the implementation of renewable energy technologies to aid in reducing carbon emission is now a matter of urgency. Renewable energy technologies hence are designed to be much efficient so as to increase public and industries reliance on renewable energy technologies. Hydropower generation of which production figures is widely encouraging is predicted by the International Energy Association, UN to rise up to 6000 Terrawatt-hours by 2050 [2], hence the technology innovation of hydro wheels/turbines and their designs needs to offer a self-reliant and above the already existing 80% average efficiency currently marketed so as to help meet the set world hydro energy generation target by 2050 [3]. Various types of hydrowheels and turbines with the probability of reaching above 80% efficiency will be evaluated using secondary research data and suggestions on how this could be improved will be made. The paper will equally present the 1D system which is the design of the new micro hydro generator coupled with a Kaplan turbine as the preliminary part of the 3D sustainable renewable power station. The element will be designed using Solidworks, where a simulation will be carried to study its flow analysis amounting in an improved efficiency of the entire system. The design will offer a better wheel turbine with an improved efficiency using high fatigue strength materials chosen due to their affordability, making the entire design cost effective. A. Existing water wheels There are three main categories of hydro wheels, overshoot, undershoot and breastshot equally known as Zuppinger wheel [4]. Secondary research data shows that the most efficient of the wheels is the overshoot wheel with an average output of 80% guarantying a good output power due to its distinctive geometry of cells and design inflow details and the Kaplan turbine for delivering an average output of 90% and above [5]. Considering the aim of this research to provide an above average improved efficiency at an affordable cost, an evaluation of the wheels and that of the Kaplan turbine will be conducted to analyze which will best fit the 3D renewable sustainable power station model with high efficiency and low cost. The design specifications of all the wheels and turbine herby named will be studied and an evaluation will be done considering the design likely to offer an improved efficiency B. Overshot Water wheel Figure 1 Efficiency Kauppert, 2003 [6] (a) Efficiency flow rate of any turbine, and (b) Efficiency against speed of overshot wheel The principle of operation of this wheel is to capture the water in its bucket or cells where its weight allows a constant rotation of the wheel converting mechanical energy to electrical energy. The buckets or cells shape play a significant role in obtaining a good efficiency hence the design needs to be done in such a way that air can escape allowing the water jet from the inflow to enter each cell at its natural angle [7]. Capturing the water makes the wheels effective almost immediately and in order to avoid loss of water the design should consider a perpendicular shape of the buckets allowing it to be filled up to 30-50% of its total volume. The efficiency of the overshot wheel for a given application is dependent of the head difference, the diameter and flow volume with the Corresponding author: Komlanvi Moglo (e-mail: M.Komlanvi@derby.ac.uk). This paper was submitted on December 11, 2013; revised on December 15, 2014; and accepted on December 18, 2014. T