Effect of Electrical Load and Operating Conditions on the Hydraulic Performance of a 10 kW Pelton Turbine Micro Hydropower Plant.
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| Title: | Effect of Electrical Load and Operating Conditions on the Hydraulic Performance of a 10 kW Pelton Turbine Micro Hydropower Plant. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Delgado-Currín, Raúl R.1,2 (AUTHOR) raul.delgado@ufrontera.cl, Calderón-Muñoz, Williams R.2,3,4 (AUTHOR), Elicer-Cortés, J. C.2,3 (AUTHOR), Hunter-Alarcón, Renato1,4 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Energies (19961073). Aug2025, Vol. 18 Issue 16, p4413. 16p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Electrical load, *Hydraulic turbines, *Renewable energy sources, *Water power, *Energy conversion, *Experimental design, *Microgrids, *Fluid power technology |
| Abstract: | Micro-hydroelectric power plants play a fundamental role in microgrid systems and rural electrification projects based on non-conventional renewable energies, where the stability of the electricity supply and load variability are critical factors for efficient operation. This work focuses on analyzing the impact of electrical load variation on the performance of a 10 kW micro hydroelectric power plant equipped with a Pelton turbine coupled to an electric generator. The main objective is to characterize the behavior of the turbine–generator system under different operating conditions, evaluating the hydraulic performance of the turbine, the electrical performance of the generator, and the overall performance of the micro power plant. Key variables such as flow rate, pressure, shaft speed, mechanical torque, current, and electrical voltage are monitored, considering the effect of electrical consumption on each of them. The experimental methodology includes tests at different electrical loads connected to the generator, using the spear system, which allows the flow rate in the injector to be modulated. The results indicate that reducing the flow rate using the spear increases the torque on the shaft, as well as the electrical current and voltage, for the same energy demand. Likewise, it is observed that the electrical efficiency of the generator remains stable for shaft speeds above 400 rpm, while the overall efficiency of the turbine–generator improves by up to 25% at this same speed. However, a voltage drop of more than 8% is recorded when the electrical power consumption increases from 3 kW to 9 kW, which demonstrates the sensitivity of the system to load variations. This work provides a comprehensive view of the dynamic behavior of micro-hydraulic power plants under realistic operating conditions, proposing an experimental methodology that can be applied to the design, optimization, and control of small-scale hydroelectric systems. These results provide novel experimental evidence on how electrical load variations affect the global performance of P -based micro hydropower systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
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| Header | DbId: enr DbLabel: Energy & Power Source An: 187555123 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Effect of Electrical Load and Operating Conditions on the Hydraulic Performance of a 10 kW Pelton Turbine Micro Hydropower Plant. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Delgado-Currín%2C+Raúl+R%2E%22">Delgado-Currín, Raúl R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> raul.delgado@ufrontera.cl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Calderón-Muñoz%2C+Williams+R%2E%22">Calderón-Muñoz, Williams R.</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elicer-Cortés%2C+J%2E+C%2E%22">Elicer-Cortés, J. C.</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hunter-Alarcón%2C+Renato%22">Hunter-Alarcón, Renato</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. Aug2025, Vol. 18 Issue 16, p4413. 16p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electrical+load%22">Electrical load</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hydraulic+turbines%22">Hydraulic turbines</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Renewable+energy+sources%22">Renewable energy sources</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Water+power%22">Water power</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+conversion%22">Energy conversion</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experimental+design%22">Experimental design</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microgrids%22">Microgrids</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fluid+power+technology%22">Fluid power technology</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Micro-hydroelectric power plants play a fundamental role in microgrid systems and rural electrification projects based on non-conventional renewable energies, where the stability of the electricity supply and load variability are critical factors for efficient operation. This work focuses on analyzing the impact of electrical load variation on the performance of a 10 kW micro hydroelectric power plant equipped with a Pelton turbine coupled to an electric generator. The main objective is to characterize the behavior of the turbine–generator system under different operating conditions, evaluating the hydraulic performance of the turbine, the electrical performance of the generator, and the overall performance of the micro power plant. Key variables such as flow rate, pressure, shaft speed, mechanical torque, current, and electrical voltage are monitored, considering the effect of electrical consumption on each of them. The experimental methodology includes tests at different electrical loads connected to the generator, using the spear system, which allows the flow rate in the injector to be modulated. The results indicate that reducing the flow rate using the spear increases the torque on the shaft, as well as the electrical current and voltage, for the same energy demand. Likewise, it is observed that the electrical efficiency of the generator remains stable for shaft speeds above 400 rpm, while the overall efficiency of the turbine–generator improves by up to 25% at this same speed. However, a voltage drop of more than 8% is recorded when the electrical power consumption increases from 3 kW to 9 kW, which demonstrates the sensitivity of the system to load variations. This work provides a comprehensive view of the dynamic behavior of micro-hydraulic power plants under realistic operating conditions, proposing an experimental methodology that can be applied to the design, optimization, and control of small-scale hydroelectric systems. These results provide novel experimental evidence on how electrical load variations affect the global performance of P -based micro hydropower systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=187555123 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/en18164413 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 4413 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Electrical load Type: general – SubjectFull: Hydraulic turbines Type: general – SubjectFull: Renewable energy sources Type: general – SubjectFull: Water power Type: general – SubjectFull: Energy conversion Type: general – SubjectFull: Experimental design Type: general – SubjectFull: Microgrids Type: general – SubjectFull: Fluid power technology Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Effect of Electrical Load and Operating Conditions on the Hydraulic Performance of a 10 kW Pelton Turbine Micro Hydropower Plant. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Delgado-Currín, Raúl R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Calderón-Muñoz, Williams R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Elicer-Cortés, J. C. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hunter-Alarcón, Renato IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 15 M: 08 Text: Aug2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 19961073 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 18 – Type: issue Value: 16 Titles: – TitleFull: Energies (19961073) Type: main |
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