NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP IN REVERSE MODE OPERATION

Hydropower has been the cheapest renewable energy source for years. Large hydropower plants however require huge initial capital, relocation of population and also cause changes to the aquatic habitat. High terrain remote villages where grid supply is not economically feasible can be provided electric supply by installation of standalone power generation plants. Pico hydro power generation is economical as it does not require construction of large dams. Custom designed hydro turbines for a particular site are definitely efficient but are expensive. In the past few decades researchers have explored possibility of using a centrifugal pump in reverse mode as hydro turbine. The challenge lies in correct selection of a pump to be used as hydro turbine for a particular site. Characteristic curves for pumps to be operated in pump mode are provided by manufacturers but the same are not provided by the manufacturers for turbine mode operation of pumps. Researchers have proposed performance prediction methods and correlations for predicting turbine mode performance of the pumps but review of literature suggests scope of further researchfor more accurate results. This paper presents numerical and experimental analysis of radial discharge centrifugal pump operated in turbine mode. New correction factors are proposed for performance prediction of pump as turbine.