A historical survey of low-head hydropower generators and recent laboratory based work at the University of Salford

Bassett, DE

Abstract

All life depends upon water. For man, however, water can
supply the power necessary to relieve him from the drudgeries
of life and give the time and means to enrich his existence
beyond the bounds set by the mere need to survive.
Large scale hydropower makes a significant contribution to the
total generated power of the developed world. The means of
harnessing water power for large flows and heads above three
metres are efficient and well established. There remains
however, the fact that many people, especially in developing
countries live adjacent to water courses and tidal estuaries
where heads of 2 metres or less exist but are not exploited.
The reasons for this are often that practical machines do not
exist or are insufficiently well developed to be used. Much
effort has been made in recent years to develop equipment
suitable for small, low-head sites in remote places.
The writer has worked on three such devices in both the
laboratory and on site - these are the Salford Transverse
Oscillator, the AUR Water Engine and the Underwater Motor.
This thesis describes these machines in detail together with
other contemporary devices.
The initial chapter contains an assessment of machines used in
the past to exploit low head sites. There is little doubt that
some of these older machines, suitably brought up to date in
design and materials, would be more suited to the needs of
developing peoples than many of the esoteric devices described
in later chapters.
The thesis is concerned mainly with the need to provide a means
of generating power rather than the assessment or suitability
of a site for power generation. The writer draws on experience
gained in the laboratory, and as a Mechanical Engineering
Consultant for small installations in the United Kingdom and
overseas.

Citation

Bassett, D. A historical survey of low-head hydropower generators and recent laboratory based work at the University of Salford. (Thesis). University of Salford, UK

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 1, 2009
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 1, 2009
• Additional Information: Additional Information : PhD supervisor: Professor EM Wilson
• Award Date: Apr 1, 1989