Investigation of electric energy generation from hydraulic power in fluid pipes and creating the system prototype

Low-cost electrical energy can be generated by utilizing the energy of moving fluid in gravity-fed pipelines of industrial, municipal and agricultural facilities. As it is known, since the daily consumption of electrical energy drawn from the power grid is not constant, a curve defined as the "Daily load curve" (DEE) has emerged. Similarly, the power to be produced from the water distribution pipelines varies during the day depending on the amount of water consume. This variability depends on the habits of the consumers and the seasons. During the year, there are increases and decreases in production depending on consumption, but there is no interruption. With this effect, continuous and renewable (green) energy production can be achieved, even in flow conditions that change during the day depending on consumer habits and seasons. Especially with the hydrokinetic turbine added to the gravity-fed water distribution network, electrical energy can be produced by converting the energy of the water moving in the pipe. In the scope of this thesis, electricity generation has been simulated using Matlab/Simulink by leveraging a hydrokinetic energy generation system integrated into the water distribution network. Furthermore, an experimental setup has been established in the laboratory environment to investigate energy production. In the Matlab/Simulink simulation, 1251 watts of electrical power were generated from an applied mechanical power of 1334 watts using a three-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG). The generator output voltage was rectified to 60V using a 3-phase uncontrolled full-wave bridge rectifier, and this power was utilized to charge two series-connected 50Ah lithium-ion batteries. For the hydrokinetic energy production in the water network, the experimental setup included the centrifugal pump (4 kW 5.5 HP 380 VOLT) driven by 5.5 kW motor pump driver (3x220V) at different drive frequencies. By varying the drive frequency, the change in generated electrical power (Pe) at the generator output, and the power transferred to the load were examined in relation with the changing flow rate and pressure within the system. The electrical power generated in the system exhibited a positive increase with an increase in flow rate and pressure. The 3-phase output of the generator was rectified using a 3-phase uncontrolled full bridge rectifier (diode rectifier), and the electrical power was consumed by an ohmic load. When the motor pump was driven at a frequency of 45 Hz, the flow rate measured by the flowmeter in the experimental setup was 36.13 m3/h, and the pressure value measured by the pressure transmitter was 1.206 bar. These values corresponded to 1210 watts of hydraulic power transferred to the system by the motor pump. The electrical power consumed through a 20 Ω resistor was measured to be 2.485 watts. The percentage ratio of the measured electrical power to the hydraulic power was calculated as 0.002%. In conclusion, this study describes the utilization of a hydrokinetic energy generation system integrated into the water distribution network to produce electricity. The simulation results obtained using Matlab/Simulink and the experimental findings obtained from the laboratory setup provide valuable information about the potential of such systems to produce continuous and clean energy, sensitive to consumer habits and seasonal changes.