Critical investigation of pumps as turbines(pat) for mini, micro and pico hydro applications

Abstract

Reverse running of standard centrifugal pumps as turbines (PAT), or more particularly pump-motor (PM) sets as turbine-generator (TO) sets had been advocated for some time, especially for mini/micro-hydro applications. This has the claimed main advantage of cost benefit of equipment.due to mass production of PM sets compared to turbines and/or generators, which are usually 'order made' or tailer made. Though some PM sets are reported to be in operation as TOs, even in Sri Lanka, their widespread use as initially anticipated has not been achieved. This is due to very low efficiency of such units observed under practical situations, which negates the cost advantage.