Preliminary Study for Development of Hydro Energy Harvesting in
an Open Channel Irrigation System
Ketut Bangse
a
, I D. G. Agustriputra
b
, Sudirman
c
, Made Ery Arsana
d
, I Made Sugina
e
and I Nym Gede Baliarta
1f
Machine Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Bali, Kuta selatan, Badung-Bali, Indonesia
Keywords: Hydro Energy, Water Wheel, Open Channels, Irrigation System.
Abstract: Open channel irrigation system developed for agricultural irrigation in Bali. The availability of water
resources in Bali was sufficient for agricultural and domestic utilization. The open channel irrigation system
is typically the ultra-low head of flowing water. The purpose of this study is to identify the design for
extracting hydro energy in open channel irrigation systems and we carried out several activities i.e., designing
a water wheel, proposed initial testing for their application on open channel hydro energy system, and
commissioning test for the mechanical performance of the water wheel as an energy extraction in an open
channel. Water wheels are conventional technology and low efficiency, nevertheless, this technology is the
most common and simple application for energy harvesting in open channel irrigation systems. In this project,
it had known that waterwheel provided their performance for energy harvesting in an open channel irrigation
system. After some modification of technical and design aspects on commissioning test, this water wheel has
performed mechanical parameters as a rotations speed and torque. The rotation speed of the water wheel is
about 64-95 rpm and the rate of maximum torque has determined 0,03 Nm. However, this preliminary study
has known many technical considerations to another stage in the designing of hydro energy harvesters for an
open channel irrigation system.
1 INTRODUCTION
Open channel irrigation system had developed for
agricultural irrigation in Bali. Bali is a small island.
The topography of Bali is composed of various
mountain ranges which extend throughout Bali Island
and divide the island into two sections. Volcanic
mountains influence to rise of natural water
resources. Several rivers are formed by existing of
these natural water resources.
The availability of water resources in Bali is
sufficient for domestic and industrial needs. This
natural water resources have been utilized as
agricultural and domestic only. The utilization of
hydro energy has also been a concern in the last
a
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0220-056X
b
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9422-7876
c
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2816-523X
d
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6647-6621
e
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3935-0134
f
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3286-2732
decades. An open channel irrigation system is
typically the ultra-low head of flowing water. In this
study, we concluded several activities i.e. designing a
water wheel, proposed initial testing for an open
channel hydro energy system, and commissioning
mechanical performance of the water wheel as an
energy extraction in an open channel. Water wheels
are traditional technology and minimum efficiency.
however, this technology is the most commonly used
and easy to apply in harvesting hydro energy in an
open channel irrigation systems. (Quaranta, 2018).
Microhydro power plants are becoming very
attractive, especially in the rural area and
decentralized, also developing countries. Indonesia is
the biggest archipelago country. Large distances areas
440
Bangse, K., Agustriputra, I., Sudirman, ., Ery Arsana, M., Made Sugina, I. and Nym Gede Baliarta, I.
Preliminary Study for Development of Hydro Energy Harvesting in an Open Channel Irrigation System.
DOI: 10.5220/0010947200003260
In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Applied Science and Technology on Engineering Science (iCAST-ES 2021), pages 440-445
ISBN: 978-989-758-615-6; ISSN: 2975-8246
Copyright
c
 2023 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. Under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

is one of the problem in the distributed electrical
energy.(Quaranta, 2018) It is usually required
decentralized electricity production and off-grid
power plants. Micro hydropower plants can provide
simple energy access to small and local communities,
or remote industrial sites. Micro-hydro schemes can
use existing open channel/hydraulic structures to
minimized total installation costs. (Niebuhr et al.,
2019).
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
In the hydropower field different machine types can
be used to convert hydro energy into mechanical
energy.(Quaranta and Revelli, 2018) Hydropower
machines can be classified into: action turbines,
includes stream water wheels and vertical axis water
wheels, Turgo, Pelton and Cross Flow turbines;
Reaction turbines, such as: Kaplan and Francis
turbines; and have been exist also an axial hydro-
turbine, includes water wheels and screws turbine of
Archimedes. The action turbine extracts the kinetic
energy of the water flow, hence momentum of the
water flow. The reaction turbine also uses water
pressure because it is installed in a closed pipe and
pressurized. The hydrostatic pressure converter is
driven by the hydrostatic force of water and operates
in the open air. This type of design in the field of
micro hydro power plants, river waterwheels, gravity
waterwheels and archimedes screw turbine is the
most suitable choice.(Yuebo et al., 2018)
2.1 Hydropower in an Open Channel
Irrigation System
Generally, the feasibility of the proposed hydropower
generated system is based on the following potential
input and output power equation:
𝑃

=𝐻∙𝑄∙𝑔
(1)
𝑃

=𝐻∙𝑄∙𝑔∙𝜂
(2)
Where,
P
in
= hydropower input (Watts), P
out
= Rotation’s
shaft output (watts), H = Determination of water head
(meter) Q = Water flow rate (meter
cubic/second) g =
gravity constant, and η = efficiency. According to the
equation (1) and (2), both head and volumetric of
water flow rate are parameters in hydropower system
which have to determinate firstly. Head is a measure
of falling water from higher site, i.e., vertical distance
(head) from the top of the penstock to the turbine or
water wheels at the bottom. Water flow rate is the
amount of water (volumetric) flows within one
second. Normally, water flow available is more than
needed since the flows for pico-hydro are small.
(Cleynen et al., 2018). Thus, it is important to
measure the head exactly because higher head can
adjust more power and the higher speed of the
rotation. Basically, power produced by a hydropower
system is converted from one form to another and a
few of them is lost.
In the open channel irrigation system, the velocity
head was small and the potential head was dominant
with regard to the specific energy of the flowing water
volumetric (Nishi et al., 2014). In this case, the
modification of this channel irrigation system is
needed to increase the velocity of flowing water. Weir
structures have been to utilize increasing the water
head and bypass flow when the channel is
overflowing.
Generally, a hydropower unit were composed a
turbine, a generator and also others site constructions.
Despite of their variety, several turbines, based on
their main working principles, can be categorized as
either a reaction, impulse, or hydrokinetic turbines. A
reaction turbine, such as Francis and Kaplan turbines,
uses both pressure and kinetic energy of the water to
generate a hydrodynamic force to rotate the runner
blades. Pelton, Turgo and crossflow turbine are
categorized as an impulse turbine. It uses runners,
nozzle and also guide vane that are rotated by water
jets at higher velocities. Reaction turbines are
generally more applicable to low head systems,
whereas impulse turbines are more suitable for
medium-high head applications. However, it was
considerable overlapping for their practical
applications. (McKinney et al., 1983).
2.2 Design of Hydro Energy Harvester
for Open Channel Irrigation
System
Type of Low-head hydropower has the potential to
generate a significant amount of electricity from an
open channel irrigation system that was traditionally
and unsuitable for developing hydraulic power plants.
A new concept offers a new paradigm for small
hydropower technology development based on the
premise of standardization, modularity, and
preservation of stream functionality. It was proposed
in another country to gain hydropower utilization on
a river, open channel system, and others type of
hydropower site. (Chen and Engeda 2020).
Hydraulic turbine based on axial design turbine
have been proposed for hydro energy harvester in
Preliminary Study for Development of Hydro Energy Harvesting in an Open Channel Irrigation System
441

flowing water. This technology has been used to meet
standardization on their application by minimization
the weir structure on the river. (Chen and Engeda
2021). Advancing impulse turbines were developed
quickly than the others type of reaction turbines, over
the last decade since they are low-cost manufacture
and easier to maintain. Similar to reaction turbines, it
is still modularity as the key element in the design of
new impulse turbines. A new generation of impulse
turbines which had developed such as modular water
wheel, Archimedean screw turbine, etc. (Sari et al.,
2018)
The water wheel has been utilized for centuries to
generate a low-cost mechanical and electrical power.
However, the conventional water wheel is considered
to be less efficient than other turbines designed
specifically for electricity production. Therefore,
modification is necessary for the waterwheel to
generate enough power for a commercial use. The
modification can include the incorporation of a high-
ratio gearbox and specialized control to increase the
speed. A new generation of water wheel is smaller in
size, also more modular design, and can be employed
in existing infrastructure such as canals or open
channel irrigation systems, concrete-lined chutes,
industrial water loops, etc (Cleynen et al., 2021)
The choice of hydro energy harvester will depend
on the topographical site, debit of water and head
available. If there is higher head then a Pelton turbine
would be suitable to applied. However, it is probably
the most common choice for small Francis turbines
based on the on-site flow and head availability.
Another consideration, Kaplan or propellers turbines
may be preferable for very low heads.
3 EXPERIMENTAL APARATUS
AND METHODS
3.1 Designing an Open Channel for
Water Wheel Testing
In this study, the design of equipment for harvesting
water energy was developed using water wheel
technology. The characteristics of the water flow in
the irrigation system greatly affect the design of the
hydro energy harvester. Proposed a hydro energy
development project, it will need requirements i.e.,
overall cost project, the project feasibility, social and
environmental considerations, etc.
On-site commissioning tests will need more cost
when this system failure occurs. Designing an open
channel is needed to reduce an overall project cost
and propose to investigate the characteristic of water
flow on an open channel. Testing of mechanical
performance is more specific to indicate
measurement on rotation speed and torque of water
wheel or another type design for hydro energy
harvester in an open channel irrigation system.
The width of an open channel irrigation system in
Bali is about 80-120 cm. This open channel irrigation
system has a water depth of about 10-40 cm. there are
several types of flowing water in an open channel
with a variable velocity of flow and stream. Based on
the survey of the open channel irrigation system in
Bali, we have decided to design an artificial open
channel water system that has dimensions about 0,6 x
1 x 3 meters.
Figure 1: Water wheel installation test on an open channel
system.
Water flow characteristics in an open channel can
be shown on this design testing. Figure 2 indicates
simulation of water flow in open channel design test.
Water flows upside of this channel that is simulated
to hydro energy extraction. Below the channel
utilized to the circulated water flow by a submersible
pump. Type submersible pump is Jebao lp 35000.
This submersible pump has a specification of power
input of 100 watts and a flow rate maximum of 35000
lph. The maximum head of this submersible pump is
about 4 m depend on their specification data.
Figure 2: Simulation of Water Flow Characteristic on Open
Channel System.
Water flows above side of the channel and
counterflow in the bottom side of the channel. This
channel configuration has been made to optimize
water flow. The cross-sectional area of the bottom
side of the channel purposed to preventing the
bottleneck effect occurrence. Pumping of water
affected debit of water circulation and it has to meet
the level of water in the bottom of submersible pump.
iCAST-ES 2021 - International Conference on Applied Science and Technology on Engineering Science
442

Simulation of water flows in an open channel will
be a necessary in an approaching debit and velocity
of water flow. In this study, we are only installed one
submersible pump to simulated volumetric water
flows about 0,3 -0,5 m
3
/s, instead of this, it will be
necessary to use more than a single pump or choose
another high flow pumps. It’s also depended on the
site conditionally, the flow rate of the irrigation
system in Bali can be simulated only by one
submersible pump.
3.2 Waterwheel Design
The design of the water wheel has been composed of
the stationary shaft, 2 supported bearings, and the
water wheel construction. This fixed shaft design
causes the force acting on the waterwheel to be less
friction than the waterwheel with a rotating shaft.
This waterwheel is designed using materials from
wood, PVC, and also uses glue and screw nails. This
waterwheel shaft uses a 2.5-inch PVC pipe and is
reinforced by using a PVC flange. it is a rotating shaft
along with a water wheel construction. This
waterwheel is designed with an outer diameter of 60
cm, with a pedal holder diameter of 40 cm. There are
8 waterwheel paddles with a total width of 90 cm.
Figure 3: Design of water wheel.
1. Stationary shaft of water wheel
2. Bearing 1609zz
3. Wheel constructions
3.3 Measurement Methods
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational
equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the
moment, moment of force, rotational force, or turning
effect. The measurement of rotations velocity of shaft
and torque have to be indicated on preliminary study
for the development of a hydro energy power plant.
Angular velocity or rotational velocity (ω) on the
shaft would be measured by a digital tachometer. It is
also utilized to indicate the torque of the waterwheel’s
rotational shaft. The power (P) of the rotational shaft
is indicated by torque (τ) and angular velocity of the
water wheel’s rotational shaft. It’s shown by the
equation below:
𝑃=𝜏∙𝜔
(3)
Where; P is a power of the rotational shaft in watts, τ
is a torque of shaft in Nm, and ω is an angular velocity
in rpm. Torque could be indicated by equation below:
𝜏=𝑟∙𝐹
(4)
Where r is equal to distance between centre gravity of
load (F). load (F) is given by assemble additional load
in rotational shaft of water wheel. This procedure has
been utilized to investigate the effect of
braking/friction in supporting bearing. Then, torque
would be indicated by the measurement of the
reduction of shaft rotational velocity. Dynamic
rotations of mass had been indicated by Newton’s
third law to calculated moment inertia of force.
Figure 4: a. Water wheel installation in an open channel
(left) b. Rig test to simulate hydraulic behaviour of
waterwheel in open channel system. (right).
4 RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS
Pump operations in this open channel system have
been shown a shallow flow of water. An open channel
system needs to modify into increasing water flow
velocity. If water wheel is still a choice for energy
harvester in an open channel irrigation system, then it
would need to modification (Du, Shen, and Yang
2020). Pump specifications give a maximum flow of
35000 lph. Measurement of water flow indicates the
flow of water only 0,2-0,3 m
3
/s. Others, head
optimum of flow only 2 m. It showed that the water
wheel’s rotation speed was slow and the head is
classified as ultra-low head of water flow.
In designing a turbine, penstock and guide vane
would be several technical designs to modify in
regimes of water flow (Niebuhr et al. 2019). However
available design of an open channel irrigation system
would be difficult to modify. It is a zero head of water
flow and a weir structure will need to employ in
gaining the head of water and also the velocity of
water flow. If we concluded testing by flowing water
Preliminary Study for Development of Hydro Energy Harvesting in an Open Channel Irrigation System
443

directly to the water wheel, it would be shown an
increase of rotational speed of this water wheel. This
is indicating that the kinetic energy of flowing water
will be more easily harvest than the potential energy
of flowing water.
After some modification of technical aspect on
commissioning test, this water wheel has been
performed mechanical parameters as a rotations
speed and torque. The rotation speed of the water
wheel is about 64-95 rpm and the rate of maximum
torque has been determined 0,03 Nm. In this project,
it had been known that waterwheel provided
insufficient performance for energy harvesting in an
open channel irrigation system. Although it has been
performed many technical considerations for another
stage in the development of open channel irrigation
technology for hydro energy harvester.
The choice of hydro energy harvester will depend
on the site and head available. This study had been
presented which characteristic of flowing in an open
channel and also application of water wheel still
meets difficult effort on their applications. Strategy in
the development of modular hydro-energy power
plant has to move on the choice of turbine design. It
has improved their utilization for gain in velocity of
flowing water. Several papers had been also
presented availability technology and technical
modification to meet in increasing water head
availability for installation other type turbine..
5 CONCLUSIONS
This paper provided a preliminary study and short
review of the currently available hydro-turbine
technologies that are suitable for an open channel
irrigation system in Bali. The information provided
can be used to assist the ultra-low head of flowing
water utilities that are considering capturing
hydrokinetic/hydrostatic energy. However, it is
important to note when hydropower was generated
from an existing open channel irrigation system.
After this study, the water wheel in the
mechanical aspect had been performed to rotational
velocity about 65-95 rpm and maximum torque rate
about 0,3 Nm. However, this result indicates low
performance for hydroelectricity application but it
had given information to design hydro energy
harvesting on an open channel irrigation system.
Design types an impulse turbine could be applied
to perform better results in the mechanical aspect.
Even though, it had been required a high head of
water source, modifications of water flow would be
solutions for this requirement. these modifications
could be increasing efficiencies of hydro energy
harvesting in an open channel system
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors gratefully acknowledge Pusat Penelitian
dan Pengabdian Kepada Masyrakat (P3M) Politeknik
Negeri Bali for financial support by research grant
Penelitian Unggulan no: SP.DIPA-
023.18.2.677608/2021, also their technical and
administrative assistance in funding and managing
the project.
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