Design for localisation: A case study in the development and implementation of a low head propeller turbine in Nepal

Butchers, Joe; Cox, J. E.; Williamson, S. J.; Booker, Julian D; Gautam, Biraj

doi:10.1016/j.deveng.2020.100051

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In this context, this paper proposes the development of dc-dc power converters based on the design for localisation approach, introduced in [6], whereby an existing design is adapted for local manufacture, assembly and use in a new geographic location. Such an approach has been applied in hydro turbine design for local manufacture in Nepal [6,7]. Similar approaches for sustainable design have also been investigated in [8] for 3D printers and [9] for wind turbines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Passive-regulated DC microgrid for rural electrification: an assessment from a design for localisation approach

Torres,

Sen,

Macêdo

et al. 2023

Renewable Power Generation and Future Power Systems Conference 2023 (RPG 2023 UK)

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Low voltage DC microgrids can provide reliable, safe and efficient energy distribution for photovoltaic-battery systems. When used in a rural electrification context, these systems can be implemented either by using commercial off-the-shelf DC-DC converters or, most commonly, by using custom application-specific converters. These components do not usually allow local repair and maintenance, causing issues when failures occur. This paper presents a study case for the development of DC-DC power converters based on the Design for Localisation approach, that aims to design a product for local manufacture, use, repair and end-of-life processing, whilst considering the production process availability and the context of the local geographic area. In a rural electrification context, the Design for Localisation methodology makes it possible to use local skills and capabilities, contributing to the reduction of costs and time to repair, increased reliability and overall sustainable development of the community. The case study is based on a 24 V passive-regulated DC microgrid operating in the Brazilian Amazon, which currently operates using commercial off-the-shelf equipment and was developed as an alternative for remote electrification to reduce demand for household-scale diesel generators, commonly used in the community. The 3 Design for Localisation rules are applied to design a DC-DC power converter to substitute the commercial battery charge controllers that are used to control the PV generation and to form the microgrid. The proposed design is evaluated against the Design for Localisation criteria to show the feasibility of the design and establish the next steps required for implementation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The design for localisation approach proposed in [6] consists of a three-step process: 1) Understand local context for solution, deriving product requirements/specification. 2) Develop design solutions for local manufacturing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Passive-regulated DC microgrid for rural electrification: an assessment from a design for localisation approach

Torres,

Sen,

Macêdo

et al. 2023

Renewable Power Generation and Future Power Systems Conference 2023 (RPG 2023 UK)

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“…However, an integrated assessment of their environmental, social, and economic impacts, in comparison with commercial alternatives-currently missing from the literature-could inform both practitioners and policymakers who are interested in integrating small wind turbines in rural electrification schemes. Furthermore, while previous studies have explored the contours of developing energy production technology under a cosmolocal configuration [13,32], sustainability assessments of this production mode are limited. Emerging in seed forms within the dominant system, it is difficult to gauge its potential for sustainability in a systematic way, simply because the infrastructures associated with it have yet to be developed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Rural Electrification: Harnessing a Cosmolocal Wind

et al. 2022

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In this article, we explore the sustainability potential of an alternative commons-based mode of production called cosmolocalism. Cosmolocal production combines global knowledge production with local physical production. Such a production mode has been applied across the globe for locally manufacturing small wind turbines (SWTs) for rural electrification. We assess the sustainability of such cosmolocal SWTs in a case study of electrifying a rural community in Ethiopia. In this context, the life cycles of five SWT alternatives have been compared, ranging from conventional industrially produced turbines to open-source locally manufactured and maintained ones. Our case study indicates that the local manufacturing and maintenance of SWTs offer significant advantages and may redeem small wind turbines as a sustainable component for rural electrification. Specifically, the fully cosmolocal alternative (A1) performs better than any other alternative in technical, environmental, and social criteria, while it is close to the best-performing alternative with regard to economic objectives. For this solution to be implemented, the institutional burden cannot be neglected, but can rather be considered a sine qua non condition for locally manufactured and maintained SWTs. A set of generic institutional interventions to create favourable conditions for cosmolocal production is proposed, which needs to be elaborated in a context-specific manner.

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“…Within these regions, there are many countries where the geography is appropriate for hydropower and hydro-turbines are manufactured by local workshops [3]. Benefits of local production include lower cost for end users, reduced downtime, and increased availability of local knowledge [4,5]. Despite these benefits, the range in the types of turbines manufactured by local workshops is often limited to Pelton turbines, to serve high head sites, and Crossflow turbines, to serve low head sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Rationalised CFD Design Methodology for Turgo Turbines to Enable Local Manufacture in the Global South

et al. 2021

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In the Global South, pico- and micro-hydropower turbines are often made by local workshops. Despite several advantageous features, e.g., a high power density and capacity to handle silt, there is no commonly available Turgo turbine design appropriate for local manufacture. Technological developments including the internet, CAD, and additive manufacturing increase the opportunity to precisely transfer designs around the world. Consequently, design improvements can be shared digitally and used by manufacturers in their local context. In this paper, a rationalised CFD approach was used to guide simple design changes that improve the efficiency of a Turgo turbine blade. The typical manufacturing capacity of the micro-hydropower industry in Nepal was used to rationalise the variation of potential design changes. Using the geometry and operational parameters from an existing design as a benchmark, a two-blade, homogenous, multiphase model was developed and run using the commercial code ANSYS CFX. Initially, it was identified that the jet aim position had a significant effect on the efficiency. A design of experiments’ approach and subsequent analysis of numerical and visual results were used to make design changes that resulted in an improvement in efficiency from 69% to 81%. The design changes maintained the simple profile of the blade, ensuring that the resulting design was appropriate for manufacture in a local workshop.

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Design for localisation: A case study in the development and implementation of a low head propeller turbine in Nepal

Cited by 10 publications

References 13 publications

Passive-regulated DC microgrid for rural electrification: an assessment from a design for localisation approach

Passive-regulated DC microgrid for rural electrification: an assessment from a design for localisation approach

Sustainable Rural Electrification: Harnessing a Cosmolocal Wind

A Rationalised CFD Design Methodology for Turgo Turbines to Enable Local Manufacture in the Global South

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