We are very pleased to announce a new E-Learning opportunity: Local Manufacturing of Turgo Turbines. The course will be held from June 22-29, 2022 as part of our SEEED Accelerator E-Learning series, in partnership with the University of Bristol (UoB), People Energy and Environment Development Association (PEEDA), Nepal Yantra Shala Energy (NYSE), Kathmandu University Turbine Testing Lab (TTL/KU), and Hydro Empowerment Network (HPNET), with support from Energize Nepal Project (ENEP) and WISIONS. Offered at no cost, the 1-week, virtual course aims to advance local manufacturers in the global South who have experience in designing and fabricating small-scale (<1 MW) hydropower turbines. Time commitment and pre-qualifications are explained below.
At the core of the course curriculum is an open source Turgo turbine design package, developed by PEEDA in collaboration with the UoB, TTL/KU and NYSE. Participants will have access to engineering drawings, a design spreadsheet and a 3D CAD file, within a practical training experience that includes opportunity for live interface with instructors. In turn, discussion and exchange will facilitate feedback to aid further refinement of the design package, particularly to enhance its application in different contexts. Thus, participants will benefit from a practical skill-building opportunity, while contributing to the upscaling of Turgo turbine deployment across the global South.
At the core of the course curriculum is an open source Turgo turbine design package, developed by PEEDA in collaboration with the UoB, TTL/KU and NYSE. Participants will have access to engineering drawings, a design spreadsheet and a 3D CAD file, within a practical training experience that includes opportunity for live interface with instructors. In turn, discussion and exchange will facilitate feedback to aid further refinement of the design package, particularly to enhance its application in different contexts. Thus, participants will benefit from a practical skill-building opportunity, while contributing to the upscaling of Turgo turbine deployment across the global South.
Format: E-learning, 1-week self-paced, with two live sessions (course kickoff and Q&A)
Duration: June 22 - 29, 2022
Core Topics: Turgo Turbine - Open Source Design
Resource Provided:
Pre-Qualifications: All local manufacturers based in Asia, Africa, or Latin America, who submit the Application Form by June 15, 2022, will be accepted. Those based in other regions can contact the instructor at joe.butchers@bristol.ac.uk.
Estimated Time Commitment: Live sessions and self-work modules
Live Sessions starting at 8pm Philippines (find your local time here):
Self-work via the SEEED E-Learning platform:
Application Form: Apply no later than June 15, 2022 at the link below.
Duration: June 22 - 29, 2022
Core Topics: Turgo Turbine - Open Source Design
- An introduction to the Turgo turbine, including pros and cons
- Manufacturing method
- Walk-through of design spreadsheet
- Overview of manufacturing drawings
Resource Provided:
- Access to relevant SEEED modules
- Design spreadsheet*
- Manufacturing drawings*
Pre-Qualifications: All local manufacturers based in Asia, Africa, or Latin America, who submit the Application Form by June 15, 2022, will be accepted. Those based in other regions can contact the instructor at joe.butchers@bristol.ac.uk.
Estimated Time Commitment: Live sessions and self-work modules
Live Sessions starting at 8pm Philippines (find your local time here):
- Kick off session: June 22, 8 - 9:30pm Philippines: 1.5 hours*
*Mandatory to attend live session for receiving design spreadsheet and engineering drawings. - Q&A Session: June 29, 8 - 9pm Philippines: 1 hour**
**If not possible to attend, viewing the recording is strongly recommended.
Self-work via the SEEED E-Learning platform:
- Module D, Water Resource Assessment: 2.5 hours (optional)
- Module E, Terrain Assessment & Basics of Design: 4 hours (optional)
- Module F, Power Output & Turbine Selection: 2 hours (optional)
- Module K, Turgo Turbine - Open Source Design: 2 hours (mandatory*)
Application Form: Apply no later than June 15, 2022 at the link below.
Why Turgo?
As a medium head turbine, the Turgo offers a viable option for sites where head and flow characteristics make the choice between Pelton and Cross-flow turbines difficult. Based on hindsight from Nepal, for sites where this choice is difficult, the Turgo presents a beneficial option both in terms of performance and cost. Other benefits include that the Turgo deals well with silt and that it operates at a higher speed than the Pelton which enables direct drive transmission at much lower heads. Thus, the Turgo may require fewer parts, improving its reliability.
The engineering drawings that will be provided in the course are for a direct drive Turgo turbine design that can be used for heads between approximately 45and 90m and flow rates from 100 to 150 L/s. Currently, the design has used a direct drive transmission, however, the design could be adapted for use with a belt drive transmission. In the near future, the design team plans to develop Turgo design packages for various heads and flow rates.
As a medium head turbine, the Turgo offers a viable option for sites where head and flow characteristics make the choice between Pelton and Cross-flow turbines difficult. Based on hindsight from Nepal, for sites where this choice is difficult, the Turgo presents a beneficial option both in terms of performance and cost. Other benefits include that the Turgo deals well with silt and that it operates at a higher speed than the Pelton which enables direct drive transmission at much lower heads. Thus, the Turgo may require fewer parts, improving its reliability.
The engineering drawings that will be provided in the course are for a direct drive Turgo turbine design that can be used for heads between approximately 45and 90m and flow rates from 100 to 150 L/s. Currently, the design has used a direct drive transmission, however, the design could be adapted for use with a belt drive transmission. In the near future, the design team plans to develop Turgo design packages for various heads and flow rates.
The different flow passages for the Pelton and Turgo turbines. Reference: P.N. Wilson, A high-speed impulse turbine, Water Power (1967).
Background
This E-Learning opportunity has stemmed from a 2-year project of PEEDA, UoB, KU and NYSE: Upscaling Locally Manufactured Turgo Turbine: Dissemination and Demonstration. Focused on the Nepal context, the primary aim of the project is to improve the technology readiness level of the Turgo turbine through capacity building, knowledge transfer and the development of an open source repository for Turgo turbine system design. Following multiple stages of design improvement using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), an improved blade design was then 3D-printed in Kathmandu, providing a mold for casting. All other components were also designed such that all components could be manufactured in Nepal.
This E-Learning opportunity has stemmed from a 2-year project of PEEDA, UoB, KU and NYSE: Upscaling Locally Manufactured Turgo Turbine: Dissemination and Demonstration. Focused on the Nepal context, the primary aim of the project is to improve the technology readiness level of the Turgo turbine through capacity building, knowledge transfer and the development of an open source repository for Turgo turbine system design. Following multiple stages of design improvement using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), an improved blade design was then 3D-printed in Kathmandu, providing a mold for casting. All other components were also designed such that all components could be manufactured in Nepal.
The turbine has now been built and installed at a pilot site in the Taplejung District of Eastern Nepal. The system is rated at 32 kW and is now running and awaiting testing by the KU Turbine Testing Lab. Site-based testing equipment has been procured, including an ultrasonic flow meter and digital pressure transducer, which will be used for testing efficiency.
Pilot Site. Credit: Energize Nepal, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University.
Through this project, an in-person workshop was also held in Kathmandu in April 2022 to introduce the Turgo to other manufacturing companies in Nepal and begin to elicit feedback on the design and resources that had been developed. Feedback was largely positive with some useful suggestions for improving ease of use, which will be integrated into the materials provided in the SEEED E-Learning course. The upcoming course will provide further opportunity to extend and improve upon the design and resources provided, based on feedback from practitioners based in different contexts.
Looking Forward
Currently, the open source design package is for a direct drive Turgo turbine designed for heads between approximately 45 and 90m and flow rates from 100 to 150 L/s. A longer-term objective is to develop design packages for various runner sizes with corresponding blade designs, such that a manufacturer could utilize the open source tools for any head and flow rate where Turgo is possible. That is, they would be directed to the appropriate blade size and pitch-to-center diameter (PCD) with corresponding engineering drawings for other components. Another longer-term aim is to develop a knowledge transfer process and approach that can potentially be replicated for different turbine types, across different country contexts. The upcoming course will be an important step in the development and improvement of said process.
Learn More
To learn more about the Turgo turbine and the project that led to the open source design package, check out the project description and this blog post by course instructor, Dr. Joe Butchers, Teaching Associate in Engineering Design at the University of Bristol. For further background on HPNET’s SEEED Accelerator and previous E-Learning courses, see here.
Looking Forward
Currently, the open source design package is for a direct drive Turgo turbine designed for heads between approximately 45 and 90m and flow rates from 100 to 150 L/s. A longer-term objective is to develop design packages for various runner sizes with corresponding blade designs, such that a manufacturer could utilize the open source tools for any head and flow rate where Turgo is possible. That is, they would be directed to the appropriate blade size and pitch-to-center diameter (PCD) with corresponding engineering drawings for other components. Another longer-term aim is to develop a knowledge transfer process and approach that can potentially be replicated for different turbine types, across different country contexts. The upcoming course will be an important step in the development and improvement of said process.
Learn More
To learn more about the Turgo turbine and the project that led to the open source design package, check out the project description and this blog post by course instructor, Dr. Joe Butchers, Teaching Associate in Engineering Design at the University of Bristol. For further background on HPNET’s SEEED Accelerator and previous E-Learning courses, see here.
