An Overview of Micro Hydro and Power Production Calculations

Hydro power in USA, Canada and the World

Basically, It’s Solar Power

At the heart of the micro hydro system is a water wheel enclosed within a structure.

These wheels can be of many forms.

Listed are a few of the major types.

  high head medium head low head

impulse turbines Pelton Turgo

cross-flow multi-jet Pelton Turgo

cross-flow

reaction turbines   Francis

Pump-as-turbine

(PAT)

propeller Kaplan

Pelton and Turgo Wheels

Big and Small

http://wskn.wellington.net.nz/graphics/suepreservation/2%20C%20%20AB%20Pelton%20Wheel.htm

4 “http://www.solareagle.com/microhydro/turgo.html

Others

Banki Crossflow

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/f-ene/hydro/english/products/equipment/index01_2.htm

Kaplan

http://www.waterwheelfactory.com/francis.htm

Francis

These Turbines are turned by water. That turning motion creates energy by causing coils of wire to move relative to magnets.

With the high head situations we commonly see in the mountains, pelton wheels and turgo

wheels are commonly used.

Jets are sprayed into cups of these wheels

PenstockE Wi Jo Micro-hydro Project in Palang Thai

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.gridconnect.ca/images/microhydro2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gridconnect.ca/micropowerD.html&h=494&w=637&sz=81&tbnid=0eugF_Vvrq0J:&tbnh=104&tbnw=135&hl=en&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpenstock%2Bmicrohydro%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3DGGLG,GGLG:2005-41,GGLG:en%26sa%3DN

Kre Khi Micro-hydro Project

IntakeHigh Head

High Flow

http://www.ariseboone.net/watercycle.htm#Intake

Generator Housing

Batteries

Balance of System:

Inverters and Charge Controllers

Other Parts

Cool Big Pelton Wheel

Assessments

Power Calculations

• Power (watts) = Head (ft) * Flow (GPM)

10

15.9 GPM = 1 L/S

Flow

3.28 feet = 1 meter

Head

Turtle Island

• Turtle Island at high flow 300 GPM (1/2 of flow is 150 GPM) Head 140 feet

(140 ft * 150 GPM)/10= 2100 W• Turtle Island at low flow 150 GPM

(1/2 of flow is 75 GPM) Head 140 feet

(140 ft * 75 GPM)/10= 1050 W

Mollies Branch

• Mollies Branch at high flow 300 GPM (1/2 of flow is 150 GPM) Head 100 feet

(100 ft * 150 GPM)/10= 1500 W• Mollies Branch at low flow 150 GPM

(1/2 of flow is 75 GPM) Head 100 feet

(100 ft * 75 GPM)/10= 750 W