MINIATURE HALES TURBINE STARTS NEW R& D PROGRAM

   STARTING TO PRODUCE STAINLESS STEEL PROTOTYPE PARTS FOR THE NEW 200MM SIZED MINIATURE HALES TURBINE HAS CREATED NEW AND INTERESTING DESIGN ISSUES TO BE OVERCOME.
  ALTHOUGH THE SMALL SIZE OF THE TURBINE ROTOR (SEE BELOW) WILL RESULT IN A MUCH FASTER ROTATIONAL SPEEDS, THE WATER FLOW SPEED IS IN THE 0.7 M/S RANGE SO THIS IS  EXPECTED  TO BE 40 - 45 RPM .

 IN NORMAL OPERATIONS THIS HALES TURBINE WOULD STRUGGLE TO PRODUCE ENOUGH POWER FROM JUST THE KINETIC ENERGY FLOWS BUT THE PROPOSED INSTALLATION HAS SEVERAL METRES OF HEAD WATERS AND THE TURBINE WILL OPERATE WITHIN A PRESSURISED DUCTING CHAMBER,  SIMILAR IN INSTALLATION TO MANY CROSS FLOW TURBINES.  THE COMBINED CYCLIC GEARBOX AND 250 WATT GENERATOR WILL OPERATE OUTSIDE THIS DUCTED CHAMBER WITH A OUTPUT SHAFT GLAND SEALING SYSTEM.