Help in designing water turbine for given wattage

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the design of an Archimedes screw turbine intended to power an 80-watt pump. Participants explore various aspects of the design, including flow rates, head height, efficiency, and the necessary calculations for power requirements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks advice on designing an Archimedes screw turbine for an 80-watt pump.
  • Another participant calculates that lifting 1 liter of water per second up 1 meter requires 9.81 watts, suggesting this as a baseline for power needs.
  • Some participants discuss the relationship between height, flow rate, and turbine size, indicating that higher drops allow for smaller turbine sizes.
  • There is mention of a formula for calculating power based on head and flow rate, with one participant expressing uncertainty about its application.
  • Concerns are raised about understanding the equations used, particularly regarding large flow rates and their implications for power requirements.
  • Participants inquire about the efficiency of the pumping system and specific design details such as bucket size, pitch, and motor gearing.
  • One participant notes that the efficiency of an Archimedes screw is approximately 84% and emphasizes the goal of aerating a septic tank using hydro power.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessary calculations and design considerations, with no consensus reached on specific design parameters or methodologies. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the optimal approach to designing the turbine.

Contextual Notes

Participants assume various conditions such as flow rates and head heights, but these assumptions are not universally agreed upon. The discussion includes multiple equations and formulas, with some participants questioning their accuracy and relevance.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in renewable energy design, particularly in the context of water turbines and pumping systems, may find this discussion relevant.

mink_man
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We need to design an archimedes screw turbines to power a pump of 80 watts.

Any tips to design this?

I have tried a way, but I think it's very wrong.

Thanks in advance :)
 
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Let's consider pumping 1 liter (1 kg) per second up h=1 meter. mgh = 9.81 kg-m2/sec2=9.81 Newton-meters = 9.81 joules.

So 1 liter per second up 1 meter is 9.81 watts.
 
Bob S said:
Let's consider pumping 1 liter (1 kg) per second up h=1 meter. mgh = 9.81 kg-m2/sec2=9.81 Newton-meters = 9.81 joules.

So 1 liter per second up 1 meter is 9.81 watts.

So you're saying, 9.81Sin(63) would give the energy gotten from water being flowing down a tube at 63 degrees? Or is that wrong?
 
All I am saying is that, at 100% efficiency, 9.81 watts is needed to lift 1 liter of water per second up vertically 1 meter. Or 98.1 watts to lift 1 liter/sec up 10 meters. Now. you must describe in detail your engineering model.
 
Bob S said:
All I am saying is that, at 100% efficiency, 9.81 watts is needed to lift 1 liter of water per second up vertically 1 meter. Or 98.1 watts to lift 1 liter/sec up 10 meters. Now. you must describe in detail your engineering model.

The task is to design an archimedes screw turbine to power an 80 watt pump.

I can assume flow rates, head, etc.

The turbine will be at 63 degrees, so I need to find out the size of the turbine.
 
No, you don't need to find the size of the turbine yet. First you need to find the height and flow rate of the water supply. The size of the turbine is a function of the flow rate, but the wattage is a function of the height and flow rate. So the higher the drop, the smaller the turbine can be.
 
russ_watters said:
No, you don't need to find the size of the turbine yet. First you need to find the height and flow rate of the water supply. The size of the turbine is a function of the flow rate, but the wattage is a function of the height and flow rate. So the higher the drop, the smaller the turbine can be.

Ok, I can assume and make up heads, so assuming a head of 2m.

What's next?

I can assume flow rates too if need be.
 
I found this formula

"Power = Head X Flow X 7"

So I can fill in the head to get a flow rate?
 
Or this? This is the one I used at first but I got a veeeeery small area, for a 20m3/hr flow rate and 1.75 head difference.

Would this be correct?

Ph = q ρ g h / (3.6 106) (1)

where

Ph = power (kW)

q = flow capacity (m3/h)

ρ = density of fluid (kg/m3)

g = gravity (9.81 m/s2)

h = differential head (m)
 
  • #10
You need to understand the equations you are using. For example, 20 m3 is 20,000 liters. That is a big number. Using the formula I derived in post #2, pumping 1 liter/sec up 2 meters would require 2 x 9.81 ≈ 20 watts. What is the efficiency of your pumping system? Why don't you discuss its design? What is the "bucket" size and pitch on your Archimedes screw? What is its rpm? what is the gearing on your motor?
 
  • #11
Bob S said:
You need to understand the equations you are using. For example, 20 m3 is 20,000 liters. That is a big number. Using the formula I derived in post #2, pumping 1 liter/sec up 2 meters would require 2 x 9.81 ≈ 20 watts. What is the efficiency of your pumping system? Why don't you discuss its design? What is the "bucket" size and pitch on your Archimedes screw? What is its rpm? what is the gearing on your motor?

sorry, the q is in m3/hr, so it would be .0055 l^3 / second.

The aim is to design the screw, work out the forces and design the thickness of the shaft etc.

Maybe this is the wrong forum.

The efficiency of an archimedes screw is 84%.

The main aim is to design a system that aerates a septic tank.

usually the pumps are 80 watts, so we've decided to power the pump by using hydro power.
 

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