Performance analysis of Gravitational water vortex power plant using scale-down model

Abstract

Gravitational water vortex power generation plant is ultra-low head micro hydro concept which requires mere 0.7-2m of height. GWVPP is based on the principle of power generation with rotation of turbine with the help of vortex generated due to basin structure when water can pass tangentially. This technology is in a primitive phase of development in various part of world. So, developers across the world are interested on how it performs in real site as only few real installations have been made far. This paper attempts to analyze the performance of different scale down model of GWVPP. First, the performance is compared among various experimental studies and pilot installations done so far in Nepal. After that the analysis of different computational studies is performed. To accesses the validation of the result obtained from the past researches, 1:20 scale down model of a plant which is to be installed in Johannesburg South Africa is developed and whose computational and experimental result is compared and predicted the model performance.