micro hydro power background

Photos from Wikipedia under GFDL. See notes for more.

Micro Hydro Power

• Adapted from:

–Don Harris

–Practical Action

–Appropedia

–Energy Information Administration

Hydroelectrc is 3%

Most of that 3% is from large hydroelectric plants

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sayano-Shushenskaya_hydroelectric_station.jpg

Size Power Output Typical Use

Large >10MW Usually part of a large grid.

Small 1MW-10MW Usually grid intertied. (up to 50MW in Canada[1])

Mini 100kW-1,000kW (1MW) Community and industry. Often grid intertied.

Micro 1kW-100kW

Small low energy consuming community, small industry, rural high energy consuming household. Usually off-grid.

Pico <1kW

Radio tower, low energy consuming household, charging station. Almost always off grid.

Classification

Size Power Output Large >10MW

Small 1MW-10MW

Mini 100kW-1,000kW (1MW)

Micro 1kW-100kW

Pico <1kW

What does that look like?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gluehlampe_01_KMJ.png

• Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe

• The power of water electrifies remote Andean villages – Practical Action Peru

• Turgo Turbines

Micro Hydro

•Small in scale

•Minimum environmental impact

•Site specific: you must have the resource

•Affordable

•Consistent: Produces continuously, 24/7

Don Harris

  High head Medium head Low head

Impulse turbines Pelton TurgoMulti-jet Pelton

cross-flow multi-jet Pelton Turgo

cross-flow

Reaction turbines   Francis

Pump-as-turbine

(PAT)

propeller Kaplan

Classification of turbine types. Source: Micro-hydro Design Manual, IT Publications, 1993

Types of Systems

Pelton and TurgoImpulse – jet of water

4 “

Don Harris

Turbines are turned by water.

That turning motion drives a generator which produced electricity.

Don Harris

The IntakeDiverting clean water into the penstock

Screen

Start of Penstock

Steam Flow

The intake’s job:

Filter and Settle

Build it either:Simple and easy

to repairOr

Bullet-proof

Don Harris

The IntakeDiverting clean water into the penstock

Screen Start of Penstock

Steam Flow

A dirty creek

may need more

settling time

Overflow

Don Harris

PenstockA full pipe; delivering clean water to the turbine

Don Harris

Burying Pipe

• Burying a pipe line removes the biggest eyesore of a hydro scheme.

• It is vital to ensure a buried penstock is properly and meticulously installed– subsequent problems such

as leaks are much harder to detect and rectify.

Don Harris

Penstock Support SystemPVC likes to stay straight

HDPE can follow the contour of the ground

Don Harris

Alternative Power & Machine

• Economy models• Permanent magnet units• Accessories• Exercise Bicycle Type Battery

Chargers, etc.• Niche: Ease of maintenance

and adjustment

www.apmhydro.com

Don Harris

Make your own

www.otherpower.com

Don Harris

Classifications, howtos, equations and follow-ups at:

http://www.appropedia.org/Microhydro