PERFORMANCE OF THE ISLAY-WELLS AIR TURBINE

A comparison of predicted and measured performance of the bi-direction al Islay Wells air turbine is presented. Reasonable agreement was evid ent for pressure, converted power and efficiency, at lower flowrates. For higher flowrates larger discrepancies were evident due to limitati ons in the theory, inaccuracies in experimental measurement and flow s eparation at the Islay turbine. It was concluded that improvement coul d be achieved through streamlining of the flow through the turbine, in order to defer turbine stall at the higher flowrates and to also impr ove flowrate measurement. Improvements are necessary in the measuremen t of flowrate and power conversion, and in the prediction technique.