Hydroturbines: A Capstone Design Project

Hydroturbines provide a valuable source of renewable energy when flowing water is available, offering an efficient way to harness the natural movement of water for power generation.To support hands-on learning in renewable energy and fluid dynamics, a mechanical engineering professor teaching a Renewable Energy course has requested the development of experimental equipment that will allow students to evaluate the performance of various types of turbines under different hydraulic conditions.This capstone project involves the design, fabrication, and testing of turbine modules representing the three main types of hydroturbines: radial, axial, and impulse.Specifically, the modules include a Francis turbine (radial flow, combining impulse and reaction forces), a Kaplan turbine (axial flow, relying on reaction forces), and a Pelton turbine (impulse-driven).These turbines will be interchangeable, allowing students to easily switch between turbine types, record lab data, and directly compare the performance.The water will be supplied by an existing hydraulics test bench produced by Edibon, Inc., which includes a reservoir, pump, and control valve.An Arduino will be used for system control and data acquisition, with instrumentation sufficient to measure pressure drop, flow rate, shaft RPM, and power output, enabling students to calculate the efficiency of each turbine.This interface will enable students to conduct in-depth efficiency analyses, comparing the mechanical power output of each turbine type to the fluid power supplied by the hydraulic test bench, thus deepening their understanding of turbine performance in renewable energy applications.