Optimization of the Water Volume in the Buckets of Pico Hydro Overshot Waterwheel by Analytical Method

• Published in: IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering 2018-03, Vol.316 (1), p.12056
• Main Authors: Budiarso, Adanta, Dendy, Warjito, Siswantara, A I, Saputra, Pradhana, Dianofitra, Reza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Buckets; Economic analysis; Energy consumption; Mathematical analysis; Operating costs; Optimization; Population growth; Water wheels
• ISSN: 1757-8981; 1757-899X
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/316/1/012056

Rapid economic and population growth in Indonesia lead to increased energy consumption, including electricity needs. Pico hydro is considered as the right solution because the cost of investment and operational cost are fairly low. Additionally, Indonesia has many remote areas with high hydro-energy potential. The overshot waterwheel is one of technology that is suitable to be applied in remote areas due to ease of operation and maintenance. This study attempts to optimize bucket dimensions with the available conditions. In addition, the optimization also has a good impact on the amount of generated power because all available energy is utilized maximally. Analytical method is used to evaluate the volume of water contained in bucket overshot waterwheel. In general, there are two stages performed. First, calculation of the volume of water contained in each active bucket is done. If the amount total of water contained is less than the available discharge in active bucket, recalculation at the width of the wheel is done. Second, calculation of the torque of each active bucket is done to determine the power output. As the result, the mechanical power generated from the waterwheel is 305 Watts with the efficiency value of 28%.