Initial prototype of power plant based on river currents prime mover: design and testing

Abstract

The river currents is one of renewable energy types. It can be utilized for electrical generation. This study discusses about design and testing of initial prototype of power plants based on river currents prime mover. The working principle of this prototype is to convert kinetic energy from water current into electrical energy. The prototype testing were carried out at several variations of river currents velocity: 0.6, 0.8, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.3 m/s. The testing at 1.3 m/s velocity produced 1300 rpm of generator rotational speed, 0.22 A of electrical current, 5.2 V of electrical output voltage and 1.14 Watt of electrical power output.