Avaliação da geração de energia elétrica de uma microturbina instalada em tubulações de água em sistemas agroindustriais

Abstract

Currently sustainability concept has been spreading in our society. In view of this, and the low Brazilian energy matrix diversification, energy microgeneration is encouraging since rural areas need constant power supply and have little access to public grid feeding points. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and efficiency of electric power generation using a microturbine in agro-industrial system pipes with channeled water flow. The system was composed of a Michell-Banki microturbine. According to its technical specifications, the maximum voltage produced is 12 V, which varies and is directly proportional to the flow and pressure to which it is subjected. Electric and hydraulic data were collected using a flow meter to measure flow, a precision pressure gauge to control and measure the tested pressure changes, and voltage-current sensors. An Arduino UNO microcontroller was used for monitoring and collection of microturbine power production data. In the tests, pressure reduction was between 62 and 89%, within the section of the microturbine installation. The generated electricity had a power of 1.6 W, as the largest gain for the tested pressure ranges. Moreover, microturbine efficiency was 12.66% when fixed at a pressure of 3.5 mca and a flow rate of 0.833E-04 m³/s.