Hydroelectric power plants for small rivers

Comparative analysis of methods of obtaining electricity from a renewable energy source is carried out. Various designs and op-tions for small hydroelectric power plants have been proposed. Positive and negative factors of structures under consideration and their impact on the environment are analyzed. The main characteristics of the flow (speed, head) for the choice of the optimal variant of hydroelectric power plant have been determined. Three variants of impellers for free-flow hydroelectric power plants are proposed with a comparison of the efficien-cy of each variant. An analysis was carried out and an impeller based on a Darrieus rotor was selected for further research. Simulation was performed in the Flow Simulation program. The initial data for the design of Darrieus rotor operating in a liquid were the diameter and width of the impeller. The calculations involved a rotor with straight and swirling blades. The swirling blades rotor is self-starting. In the course of the calcula-tion, the speed of the liquid flow approaching the rotor and the rotor speed were changed. As a result of cal-culation, the value of the positive moment for self-starting was determined, which occurs at an incident flow velocity of at least 1.3 m/s.