<![CDATA[The increasing need for sustainable energy has prompted the development of small-scale hydropower technologies for low-head conditions in remote areas. This study experimentally examined the effect of screw number on the performance of an Archimedes Screw Turbine (AST) under identical laboratory conditions. Three configurations, namely single-, double-, and triple-screw turbines, were tested at the same hydraulic head, flow discharge, and inclination angle. Torque and rotational speed were measured using load cells and tachometers, while turbine performance was evaluated based on output power and efficiency. The results showed that increasing the number of screws improved turbine performance under the tested conditions. The triple-screw configuration produced a maximum torque of 0.54 Nm at 60 rpm and a maximum output power of 4.64 W with an efficiency of 55% at 120 rpm. The double- and single-screw configurations showed lower performance across the tested operating conditions. The improved performance of the triple-screw configuration was associated with greater water containment and momentum transfer. These findings indicate that screw number is an important design parameter for AST performance under low-head conditions. Among the configurations investigated, the triple-screw turbine provided the highest efficiency and output power and a wider operating range. Further investigation is required to determine whether increasing the screw number beyond three provides additional performance benefits under different hydraulic conditions.]]>
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