Micro Turbine manufacturer help!

[Angus]

Hi all - your expertise is greatly appreciated once again!! I'm looking at a micro/pico hydro project with low head ~10m and 80l/s flow. Anyone know of any turbines suited for this? I'm thinking crossflow because they'll deal with quite a range of flows before efficiency drops off greatly and they are not too fussy for taking in the odd stick!

I spoke to Gilkes who said they're machines don't go as low head as my site and they recommended the Czech manufacturers! Any British guys still making things?

[martin]

Why not look at the house brand? - http://www.navitron.org.uk/product.php?proID=78

[noah]

I have a CINK crossflow and theres no doubt that they are well made and long lasting- but the price is to match. The Navitron ones are probably a better deal in the short/medium term.

[EccentricAnomaly]

~10m and 80l/s flow

Have I blown another neuron? 80 litres weighs almost 800 N. Acting through 10 m that's 8 kJ per second so probable output might be something like 3 to 5 kW. That's a) hardly "pico" power and b) a lot more than the Navitron turbines that Martin references can handle (at least if you only have one - didn't we have another thread about syncing the outputs of AC turbines?).

[martin]

In that case, one of these - http://www.navitron.org.uk/product.php?proID=79

[noah]

the types proposed by martin are propellor (and maybe turgo). Each is pretty efficient at correct flow but efficiency drops off quite quickly on low flows. As you know a crossflow is better accross a wder range of flows ,especially the type with the flap type control :

http://www.ossberger.de/cms/uploads/media/1-2-03_02.pdf

CINK now make the Ossberger type but will cost you an arm and a leg.
An Ossberger will probably cost both arms and both legs.

[dtl]

I have a Navitron 3KW semi Kaplan turbine, sized for 45 LPS at 10m head.

It is a piece of scrap metal; it never produced more than approx. 600W when it should have been producing 2 -3 KW, when operating at 45 LPS at 10m head.

Navitron don't really know anything about these products, they are just buying them in from China and then selling them on.
If buying a Navitron turbine it is probably best to stick to the Turgos and Peltons.

I have a low flow Powerpal T1 Turgo turbine which operates at 10m head 23 LPS and produces 1 KW.

This week I am taking delivery of a Powerpal crossflow turbine that will operate at up to 60 LPS and 10m head.
If it works as well as the Powerpal T1 Turgo I own, then I will be thrilled.

Speak to Powerpal they do a range of crossflow turbines and they are very reasonably priced.
They are manufactured in Vietnam and the product is supported by Engineers in Canada and the UK.

However, the usual small print applies, since I do not yet have any experience of the Powerpal crossflow!!

PS Angus: you mentioned that you thought that crossflows "could take the odd stick"........I don't recommend this.
You need some kind of filtration on your system, a simple strainer is good enough. I have a box of aviary netting over the inlet pipe which filters down to approx. 3mm. A brush every 3-4 days keeps it clean.

 

[Angus]

Thanks all once again for your invaluable expertise!

I was interested in the Navitron units and similar units, most of which are very reasonably priced. However I was always concerned about the quality of these units. I know I'll end up paying more more an ossberger or Cink unit but I'm looking to install once and run for 25 + years so want quality.

Now I've got to work out how to find a reliable way of measuring the flow down the stream. Too much for a bucket test so I'll think i'll try the weir method or V notch - unless anyones got any better ideas?