Gravitational Water Vortex Hydropower: Experimental Investigation of Free Surface Wave in Water Intake Channel

Development program for construction of irrigation channel gives big opportunity for development of renewable energy from small low head hydropower source. The use of hydropower gives no negative impact to environment, especially for greenhouse emission. A gravitational vortex hydropower is the object of this study, with the focus on the water intake channel using rectangular geometry. An experimental study was conducted to find the influencing parameters on the intake section of the gravitational vortex hydropower. A set of parameters were varied to determine which parameters affecting the water surface at the intake channel. By analyzing the results of the experiments, the influence of parameters on the water intake channel of gravitational vortex hydropower was found. A performance curve for differentiation of flow type and identification of surface contour has been made. Based on the results of the experiment, placing a strainer at 5 cm distance gave 60% higher output power since this setting could reduce the wave speed. Recommendation to have further study in non-dimensional parametric should be considered for increasing efficiency of the gravitational vortex hydropower.