Hydro Power Basics
Mini/Micro Hydropower
Principle
A mass of water moving down a height difference contains energy. This can be harvested.
Moving water drives some waterwheel/turbine. This rotation either drives some machinery (e.g. mill, hammer, thresher, ...) or is coupled with a generator which produces electric power.
Hydropower is probably the first form of power production which is not human/animal driven. Moving a grind stone for milling fist, developed to the driving a electrical generator. Next to steam it was the main power source for electricity.
Its continual availability does not require any power storage (unlike wind/solar power). It is mainly mechanical hardware. This makes it relative easy to understand and repair-/maintain-able. In smaller units its environmental impact becomes neglect-able (see: environmental impact assessment) .
Hydropower requires specific conditions:
- a (constant) amount of water
- a height difference
such location has to be near to the place where the energy is to be used.
Such specific conditions limit generalising and standartisation. Choosing the right location and planning requires some (basic) knowledge.
Classification of size
There are no binding definitions which size is to be called how. Rules for communication avoiding misunderstandings: Generally the terms can be used "downwards compatible". Pico- is also Mini- but not visa versa. Specific terms (Pico, Family) should be used only if they are required to indicate specifics. The power output is only an approximate diversion between different classes. Specify the power output in numbers if you talk about actual installations. The spectrum needs higher diversification as smaller it becomes as there are differences in technique, usage, applicability and replicability.
| Mini (MH) |
< 1 MW | grid connected | special know how required |
| Micro | < 100 kW | partially grid con. | professional know how required |
| Pico (PH) | < 10 kW | island grids | small series units produced locally; professional equipment available |
| Family (FH) | < ~1 kW | single households/clusters | often locally handmade solutions; professional equipment available |
Comments:
- all installations require "special" knowhow
- there are "over the counter" pico turbines available for "self installation"
- Micro hydro is perhaps the most mature of the modern small-scale decentralized energy supply technologies used in developing countries. There are thought to be tens of thousands of plant in the “micro” range operating successfully in China[1], and significant numbers are operated in wide ranging countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam and Peru. This experience shows that in certain circumstances micro hydro can be profitable in financial terms, while at others, even unprofitable plant can exhibit such strong positive impacts on the lives of poor people.
- Historically the term hydropower developed from very small units towards huge dams. Then there where new terms created to separate different clusters. All of them are hydropower. What is considered "mini or "micro" may be defined once and forever ... or not. If there are different opinions on this topic you're welcome to open a discussion group on this.
Components of a Micro Hydro system
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Suitable conditions for micro-hydro power
Again, "head and flow" matter. The best geographical areas for exploiting small-scale hydro power are those where there are steep rivers flowing all year round. The Andes, the Himalayas, islands with moist marine climates, such as the Caribbean Islands, the Philippines and Indonesia are widely suitable. Laos, Vietnam and wide parts of China use Micro Hydropower in large numbers.
A locations, head, flow and number of consumers allow to calculate the available power share per consumer
Minimal Head may be 1-2 m. For considerable power then much water (> 1 m3) is required
Minimal Flow may be 20 l/s. Power is according to head output (see power estimation).
Mini Hydropower operates constantly and requires little maintenance. It is ideal for powering remote regions. Although grid connection is very feasible due to its very low operational costs.
Feasibility studies:
Flow data should be gathered over a period of at least one year where possible, so as to ascertain the fluctuation in river flow over the various seasons.
At least measures must be taken during dry season to assure that there is always enough water to power the turbine. Too little water results in power cut. If such is not clear to consumers from begin with it can seriously endanger the projects success.
Locations for civil structure have to be fixed. This allows to calculate costs and the final power output.
Measuring Head & Flow
First step to judge a sites hydropower potential is to measure/estimate head and flow.
- Head (the vertical distance between the intake and turbine)
- Flow (how much water comes down the stream)
Head is very often exaggerated as is the flow rate, which varies over the year!
Wrong data occurs frequently. Confirmation of existing data is highly recommended!
Head and flow are the two most important facts of a hydro site. This will determine everything about the hydro system—volume of civil constructions, pipeline size, turbine type and power output. Inaccurate measurements result in low efficiency, high cost and scarcity of power.
To estimate a sites potential cost its necessary to know
- Pipeline (penstock) length
- Electrical transmission line length (from turbine to consumer). As smaller the sites power output as higher the power lines cost share.
Units and power estimations
Power: watts [W] or Kilowatts [kW] 1 kW = 1000W
Flow: 1 m³/s = 1000 l/s
Gross heat: height difference the water "falls down"
Net head: a little smaller than gross head. Gross head deducted by energy loss due to friction in penstock
Potential power is calculated as follows:
Power [W] = Net head [m] x Flow [ l/s] x 9.81 [m/s²] (est. gravity constant) x 0.5 (turbine/generator efficiency)
Potential power is estimated as follows:
Power output [W] = height [m] * flow [l/s] * 5
More accurate estimations take into consideration:
- exact net head (intake to powerhouse)
- exact flow (constant during the year?)
- combined efficiency of turbine and generator (depends on quality, est. 60% = 0.6)
Example:
A 6 m high waterfall has 300 liter/sec => potential power est. : 6 m * 300 l/s * 5 = 9000 W = 9 kW
The economics of microhydro systems
Normally, small-scale hydro installations in rural areas of developing countries can offer considerable financial benefits to the communities served, particularly where careful planning identifies income-generating uses for the power.
The major cost of a scheme is for site preparation and the capital cost of equipment. In general, unit cost decreases with a larger plant and with high heads of water. It could be argued that small-scale hydro technology does not bring with it the advantages of 'economy of scale', but many costs normally associated with larger hydro schemes have been 'designed out' or 'planned out' of micro hydro systems to bring the unit cost in line with bigger schemes. This includes such innovations as:
• using run-of-the-river schemes where possible - this does away with the cost of an expensive dam for water storage • locally manufactured equipment where possible and appropriate
• use of HDPE (plastic) penstocks where appropriate
• electronic load controller - allows the power plant to be left unattended, thereby reducing labour costs, and introduce useful by-products such as battery charging or water heating as dump loads for surplus power; also does away with bulky and expensive mechanical control gear
• using existing infrastructure, for example, a canal which serves an irrigation scheme
• siting of power close to village to avoid expensive high voltage distribution equipment such as transformers
• using pumps as turbines (PAT) - in some circumstances standard pumps can be used 'in reverse' as turbines; this reduces costs, delivery time, and makes for simple installation and maintenance
• using motors as generators - as with the PAT idea, motors can be run 'in reverse' and used as generators; pumps are usually purchased with a motor fitted and the whole unit can be used as a turbine/generator set
• use of local materials for the civil works
• use of community labour • good planning for a high plant factor (see above) and well balanced load pattern (energy demand fluctuation throughout the day)
• low-cost connections for domestic users (see following chapter on this topic)
• self-cleaning intake screens - this is a recent innovation which is fitted to the intake weir and prevents stones and silt from entering the headrace canal; this does away with the need for overspill and desilting structures along the headrace canal and also means that, in many cases, the canal can be replaced by a low-pressure conduit buried beneath the ground - this technology is, at present, still in its early stages of dissemination
