DETERMINATION OF TURBINE EFFICIENCY FOR SMALL HYDRO POWER PLANTS

Abstract

In this paper, authors briefly present the methods for determining the efficiency/performance of a hydraulic turbine, as well as the purpose, the necessity of applying in situ determination methods of the efficiency of hydraulic turbines from a hydropower plant. These efficiency tests are an essential practice to ensure that the performance of the hydraulic turbine and the hydropower plant have not degraded to unacceptable levels. Also in this paper are presented the results of the efficiency tests carried out at a cascade of three hydropower plants from the arrangement of Râul Mare downstream.