Unsteady Hydraulic Model for Energy Harvesting

This book presents an evaluation of the idea of harvesting energy from navigation locks based on unsteady hydraulic simulation modeling. With the continuous movement of water between upstream and downstream sides of a navigation lock through its chamber, a micro hydro turbine could be installed to produce energy. A detailed hydraulic model has been developed for predicting the expected energy which could be generated. The model has been implemented for three navigation locks with highest traffic in Egypt. Results show the applicability of the presented idea from both technical and hydraulics points of view, and further economical, environmental, mechanical, electrical and structural analysis should be performed for the overall evaluation of the proposed idea. Also this dissertation introduces an in-situ proposal for estimating the coefficient of discharge of the emptying devices of a lock chamber. The proposal has been applied for Idfina navigation lock chamber during both emptying and filling periods.