A Simulation to Find Rotation Efficiency according to the Draft Changes of Waterwheel in Open Rectangular Channel

In this paper, simulations were carried out to determine the efficiency of the rotation efficiency according to the draft of waterwheel in open rectangular channel. In the small hydroelectric generators to get the highest efficiency of waterwheel is very important. But the presence of various elements(free water surface flow, non-uniform velocity distribution because of the waterways wall friction etc) makes it difficult to create a mathematical formula. In this paper, we made a scale model and perform a physical simulation where the draft, gradient and flux is variable. Scale modelling with 10-step draft, 3-step gradients and 2-step flux, as well were constructed then computerized automatic experimental system were configured to acquire the rotational efficiency vs. draft of itself. Rotational efficiency is analyzed as for the draft of waterwheel using the acquired data by varying the gradient and flux of canal. Reviewing the analyzed data, it is confirmed that phenomena of efficiency shown at previous and present experiment is similar and revealed that computerized system shows more sophisticated numerical figures.