Micro hydroelectric resource and system overview

DC hydro system overview

Phil Hofmeyer, Ph.D. Energy Committee Meeting April 27, 2009

Whatis micro hydro? What is microhydro?

Small hydro is g y generally less than 30 MW y Micro hydro is generally less than 50 kW of

continuous power production Pico hydro is gaining momentum; systems <5 kW

So if we can extract power from water only where So

there is a stream (up to a measly 50 kW) and we can install (50) 1.5 MW wind turbines on any windy ( ) y y ridge, why bother with small hydro?

Howdowemeasurethehydro resource?
In central New York, when do we get most of g our precipitation?
MSC mean rainfall (2003-2008) (2003 2008)
5 Inches of Rainfall o 4 3 2 1 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

28 inches per year

Butthat snotthewholestory But thats not the whole story

Chenango River Discharge
1500 C Cubic Feet per Seco t ond Mean 1000 2006

500

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/

Au gu Se st pt em be r O ct ob er No ve m be De r ce m be r

Ja nu ar y Fa br ua ry M ar ch

Ju ne

Ap ril

Ju ly

ay

Measuringastream(flow) Measuring a stream (flow)

Flow rate (Q) Quantity of water passing a given point over a given amount of time
Cubic meters per second Gallons per minute 1 GPM = 0.000063 m3/ 0 000063 /s

Measuring a stream (flow) Measuringastream(flow)

Measuringastream(head) Measuring a stream (head)

Head (H)
Head is the vertical distance of the hydro

system (from intake to turbine)

Relationship of head

and pressure d

2.31 feet 1 psi

Measuring a stream (head) Measuringastream(head)

Measuringpoweroutput Measuring power output

P= g Q H P: Power in watts : (eta) turbine efficiency : (rho) water density (1000 kg/m3) g: acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2) Q quantity of water, flow (m3/ ) Q: tit f t fl ( /s) H: standing head (m)

Powerexample
Small stream: 15 GPM flow 120 feet of head 85% flow, head,

turbine efficiency

Pressure: Flow: Head:

Powerexample
P= g Q H
Power = 0.85*1000 kg/m3*9.81 m/s2*0.000945 m3/s *

36.6 36 6 m Power = 288.4 watts

Y Yearly energy i kWh? l in 288.4 W *24 hrs/day * 365.25 days/yr = 2,528 kWh/yr My house uses about 4,000 kWh/yr 4 000

Powerexamplewhatif
If we go from 15 GPM flow and 120 ft of

head to 120 GPM and 15 ft of head? What power (watts) should I expect? P= g Q H
Power = 0.85*1000 kg/m3*9.81 m/s2*0.00756 m3/s *

4.575 m P Power = 288 4 watts 288.4

Important!
Head and flow have equal importance in

determining power (and energy) in a hydro system

What we have just calculated does not

take penstock losses into account This will reduce power output

Penstockmaterials Penstock materials

Micro hydro systems g y y generally use either PVC y

or polyethylene materials
PVC Rigid Short sections Freezing Low resistance Little losses in straight sections Requires abrupt angles Polyethylene P l th l Flexible Long rolls Freeze resistant Higher losses in g straight sections Sweeping angles

Capturingwaterpower Capturing water power

Hydro resources tend to be either high head y g

and low flow or low head and high flow If it is low flow and low head, it is called a , lake or pond
If it is high head and high flow, it likely

already has hydro power

Choose the correct system

Highhead,lowflow

- > 10 feet of head - Pelton wheel runner - 1.5 to 1.9 kW output - Operating (field-tested) efficiency of 93%

ES&D Stream Engine

Lowhead,highflow
ES&D LH1000

- Generally sites between 2 and 10 feet of head - Axial flow propeller - 1 kW maximum output - 600 GPM at 10 feet of head - Operating (field-tested) efficiency of 89%

Largerpico,orsmallermicro Larger pico or smaller micro

A Life in Hydro (Ron MacLeod), Home Power May 2009 y ( ), y

2.5 kW system on 28 inches of head

20 kW system on 8 feet of head

Powerexample acomparison
15 GPM and 120 ft of Head
Yearly energy in kWh? 288.4 W *24 hrs/day * 365.25 days/yr = 2,528 kWh/yr My house uses about 4,000 kWh/yr

towind to wind
Class 3 site (7 m/s average; 15 mph) g Turbine at 20% efficiency Rotor diameter of 3 m (9 8 feet) (9.8 Swept area of 7 m2 P=0.5* A V3 P=0.5*0.2*1.2 kg/m3*7 m2*7 m/s3 P=288.1 Watts Yearly Energy = 2524 kWh/yr

Sowhybotherwithmicrohydro?
(relatively) inexpensive Constant power production (not intermittent) Minimal impacts Turbines have high efficiency (80% to 90 %) 90+%)

Challenges Not considered renewable Permitting process may be required Highly selective sites Currently cannot be net metered Little knowledge of our resource