Onsite performance testing of Archimedes hydropower screw for low head and ultra-low head hydro power project– A case study

Abstract A low head hydro project refers to hydropower sites operating at head less than 40 m and an ultra-low head refers hydropower sites operating at head less than 3 m or water flow greater than 0.5 m/s with a zero head. These hydro sites though ubiquitous, were not developed at the same pace as medium and high head sites. These sites can play a crucial role in the capacity addition of 45 GW per year for net zero by 2050 according to the International Hydropower Association report. With the introduction of Archimedes screw technology, these sites can be developed both technologically and economically. This paper presents a case study on first of its kind performance testing of electro-mechanical equipment at Archimedes screw projects located in the Vadodara Branch Canal of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited Gujarat. The performance testing was conducted on 4.3 m diameter Archimedes screw designed for a rated head of 6.5 m, and a rated discharge of 7.45 m 3 /s. The project is designed to deliver 410 kW turbine output, with an inclination angle of 26 degrees from horizontal. The onsite performance study carried out indicates that the achieved Archimedes screw efficiency is 86.6 %.