ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM UASB-TREATED WASTEWATER USING A PELTON TURBINE
Keywords:
Small-scale Power Generation System, Wastewater-to-Energy, Pelton TurbineAbstract
The objective of this research aimed to investigate the feasibility of generating electricity from wastewater treated by Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket system (UASB) using a Pelton turbine. A small-scale prototype was designed and constructed with dimensions of 0.70 m x 3.68 m x 1.55 m to evaluate the performance of a 50-watt Pelton water turbine at water flow rates ranging from 500 to 1,000 liters per hour.
The experimental results showed that the electricity output increases with the flow rate, reaching a maximum average power of 15.01 watts at a flow rate of 1,000 liters per hour. A practical-scale evaluation using a UASB system with a flow rate of 50,000 liters per hour estimated a potential generation of 574.53 watts, with an efficiency of up to 50% of the theoretical value. The system also had the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 3,018 kilograms per year. From an economic perspective, the power generation system proved to be viable, with a payback period of only 0.87 years. The findings confirmed the technical and economic wastewater, enhance energy efficiency, and promote renewable energy usage for long-term sustainability.
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