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Archimedes screw generators for sustainable micro‐hydropower production
Author(s) -
Simmons Scott Christopher,
Lubitz William David
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.6893
Subject(s) - hydropower , engineering , marine engineering , mechanical engineering , electricity generation , power (physics) , civil engineering , electrical engineering , physics , quantum mechanics
Summary Archimedes screws have been used as pumps since antiquity and have more recently been implemented in micro‐hydropower plants as an ecologically advantageous technology. They are regarded as a hydropower technology with lower environmental impact since they allow safe passage of aquatic flora and fauna through slow turning, widely spaced blades during operation. Archimedes screw generators (ASGs) operate at river‐to‐wire efficiencies at approximately 75% with relatively low installation and maintenance costs when compared to other hydropower technologies of the same scale. ASGs are relatively simple and cost‐efficient to manufacture—simple enough to create in the seventh century BCE. Modern manufacturing techniques for sheet metal and fabrication have refined ASG production. The literature contains various parametric models for predicting screw power output, and more recent numerical simulations have provided insight into the fluid mechanics of screw generators. The knowledge gained from these studies has allowed researchers to suggest more optimal designs for Archimedes screws. However, much can be done to further improve the accuracy of power prediction models. This paper discusses the current state of the literature for ASGs, and highlights areas for future research to improve power prediction and optimization capabilities for researchers and industrial designers. Highlights Archimedes screws are an ancient pumping technology that have more recently found use as a hydropower‐producing technology. Archimedes screw generators (ASGs) are a small‐scale hydropower technology that may be installed as a run‐of‐river installation. ASGs are an eco‐friendly technology that allow for the safe passage of sediments, small debris, fish, and other aquatic wildlife through their flights during operation. There are few experiments and computational fluid dynamic simulations that have sought to extend the literature's data on ASG operation. Current performance models for ASGs lack robust validation to be properly implemented in power plant design.