Michell-Banki a Promise Turbine for Pico-Hydro in Water Irrigation Channel

Abstract

We report the design, manufacture, and testing of the Michell-Banki turbine by using the hydraulic data of the Ambato - Huachi - Pelileo water irrigation channel in the Tungurahua province in Ecuador. The turbine has the blade, impeller, flange and shaft that are purely plastic materials because they will be subject to the action of water and thus be able to extend the life of the components. For an optimal design it was considered an efficient alternative, which is the manipulation of the turbine, it should be portable and as light as possible. When performing the tests, it was determined that there is an error around 14% between speed and torque calculations, while the greater efficiency of the turbine is at the exit of each oval of the channel. The main contribution of the present work is to provide the required promise component in a Pico-Hydro that is expected to be implemented in the water irrigation channel. Also this work aims to provide several benefits to the society bordering the irrigation channel, such as generating energy for self-consumption as a contribution to the lighting of the channel at no cost to the people. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.