Current Research in Hydraulic Turbines, CRHT-II

Kathmandu University

Turbine Testing Lab has organized an International Symposium on "Current Research in Hydraulic Turbines, CRHT-II" on the occasion of its first anniversary. This symposium was the continuation of the first Symposium organized on 23 March 2010.

The scope of Symposium was focused at PhD and Masters Students thesis works related to Hydro turbines. However, R&D activities related to hydro power in general have also been covered. The main objective of this symposium was to bring young researchers working in hydropower sector to a common platform to share their research experiences and also develop networking for future endeavors.

Program:

Date: 19 March 2013, Tuesday

Venue: C.V. Raman Auditorium, KU, Dhulikhel, 

Time: 9:00 am onwards

Presenters’ Information:

Activity Summary:

A one day international Symposium on “Current Research in Hydraulic Turbines, CRHT-II” organized by Turbine Testing Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering on 19^th March 2013, on the occasion of its first anniversary, was accomplished efficaciously with huge applaud from all the participants and presenters. The program started at 9:30 am with the welcome speech by Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa, Dean of School of Engineering, Kathmandu University. Prof. Thapa talked about challenges faced during the planning and construction period of the lab and also assured to implement the outputs of research into business in coming years. He welcomed all the participants and presenters from different universities with deep gratitude.

The welcome speech was followed by program overview by Mr. Biraj Singh Thapa, Symposium coordinator, Assistant Professor and Faculty-In-Charge, TTL. He highlighted the facts and features of Turbine Testing Lab, Kathmandu University. He also talked about the ongoing research projects at Lab and the recent accomplishments made, in his presentation.

The symposium was inaugurated by Dr. Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha, Vice-Chancellor, Kathmandu University. In his inaugural speech, he shared his amusing experience in his field and inspired every participants and presenters present in the auditorium. He urged the young researchers to take the problems as challenges and convert them into opportunities. He also assured that as the team leader the university he will not leave a sing stone unturned to achieve the goals and objective of KU. He also extended his warm wishes and greetings and wished for the success of the symposium.

After the brief inauguration session, the first round of presentation session was instigated. The presentation session was attention-grabbing and remarkable with diverse group of presenters present in the symposium. A total of 25 presentations were made of which 13 presentations were made by the students from Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology, 10 presentations were made by students from Kathmandu University, 1 presentation was by Master level student, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden and 1 presentation was by researcher at PEEDA.

The first session of presentation was chaired by Dr. Hari Prasad Neopane, Associate Professor, Kathmandu University. He is an expert in Hydraulic Turbine Design and sediment erosion. Presenter Peter Joachim Gogstad started the session with his presentation on the topic “Pressure Pulsations in Francis Turbine”, PhD candidate, NTNU.

At the end of the session I the Chairman summarized all the presentations. And a brief question and answer session was followed, in which the audience came up with very interesting questions and made the information sharing more effective.

Session II was chaired by Mr. Brijesh Adhikary, Acting HOD of Electrical Engineering Department, Kathmandu University who is also the project leader in a mini grid design project and project coordinator in Community Education Pilot Project.  This session started with the presentation of PhD Candidate at KU, Mr. Laxman Poudel on the topic “Study on sediment characterization & its impact on hydraulic Turbine Material”.

The third and last session was chaired by Dr. Bibek Baral, Associate Professor, Kathmandu University. His area of research is renewable energy particularly in Bio- Energy. And this session started with another PhD candidate at KU, Mr. Krishna Prasad Shrestha on the topic “Design of Francis Turbine Runner against Sediment Erosion”.

The last presenter of the day was Oystein Sveinsgjerd Hveem and he discussed about different governing systems used in the hydro power operation. At the end of the session III, Chairperson Dr. Bibek Baral summarized the session and coordinated the question answer session.

A short closing program was organized after the completion of session III. Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering delivered his closing remarks with his expectations that the objectives were achieved and message from this symposium will be taken back to home country by international participants. Dr. Hari Neopane summarized the major issues discussed during the symposium on behalf of session chairmen. He also thanked all the participants for delivering good presentations in limited time.

The one day International symposium ended with a sense of enthusiasm and inquisitiveness among all the presenters and participants. The symposium guaranteed the extension of knowledge and was formally closed by Registrar, Prof. Bhadraman Tuladhar, KU with hope to reduce energy crises in the future.

After the completion of the seminar, the students from NTNU and major participants were taken for a short tour of university departments and laboratories.

Program Schedule