Improving Turbine Performance by Optimizing Nozzle Design

Microhydropower plants are a solution to overcome the energy crisis, and they are efficient and environmentally friendly renewable energy sources. The choice of cross-flow turbine in micro hydro was based on a simple design but could produce excellent performance in various workload variations. The turbine performance assessment was based on the power and efficiency produced by the turbine, and nozzle design played an important role. An optimal design ensures the water flow enters at the precision angle and speed, producing maximum impulse force on the turbine blades. The research aims to optimize the nozzle design and observe the flow characteristics in the turbine to improve the performance of the Cross-flow turbine. An experimental tested the turbine using a base nozzle design and optimizing the nozzle entry arc and nozzle throat width designs at 225, 200 and 175 L/min water flows. The research results concluded that the flow characteristics in the turbine could be a reference for developing nozzle design to improve turbine performance. The findings from the research show that the suitability of the nozzle entry arc affects the angle of attack so that it can increase turbine efficiency by 9.3%, and optimizing the narrower nozzle throat width design increases momentum so that turbine efficiency increases by 35.6% from the base design of the turbine nozzle. The increment in turbine performance shows the success of research in maximizing Cross-flow turbines' role in overcoming the environmental energy crisis.