Micro Hydro Power in WNC

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Micro Hydro Power in WNC
Oct 27, 2007Andrews, NC
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Hydro, Driven by Solar Power
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Existing hydroelectric plants (yellow) and
potential high head/low power energy sites
(orange) in the conterminous United States.
Purple represents areas excluded from hydropower
development due to Federal statutes and policies.
Source Water Energy Resources of the United
States with Emphasis on Low Head/Low Power
Resources (p. 47), U.S. Department of Energy
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Hydro power in USA, Canada and the World
US Supply
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Most of that global hydro power is produced by
large-scale hydroelectric plants
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Today, we will be talking about microhydro

• Small in scale
• Minimum environmental impact
• Site specific you must have the resource
• Affordable.
• Consistent Produces continuously, 24/7

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• We dont need a river, just some falling water

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Types of Systems
Turbines can be of many forms. Listed are a few
of the major types.
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Pelton and TurgoImpulse jet of water
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Banki and Crossflow Impulse sheet of water
Crossflow
Banki
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Francis
Reaction Turbines Submerged in the flow driven
by the pressure differential
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Turbines are turned by water. That turning
motion drives a generator which produced
electricity.
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You need two things to make powerHead and Flow
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Power Estimates
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Gross Power Calculations
Power output is proportional to the combination
of head and flow

• Power (watts) Head (ft) Flow (GPM)
• 10

The equation assumes a turbine efficiency of 53.
Actual efficiency varies with conditions.
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Examples

• Turtle Island
• Mollies Branch

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Turtle Island

• Stream flow 300 GPM
• (1/2 of flow is 150 GPM)
• Total Head is 140 feet
• Gross Power Estimate
• (140 ft 150 GPM)/10 2100 W

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Mollies Branch

• Mollies Branch has a flow of 300 GPM
• (1/2 of flow is 150 GPM)
• Total Head is 110 feet
• Gross Power Estimate
• (110 ft 150 GPM)/10 1650 W

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Why is this gross power?

• These are not accurate calculations because we
  used the gross or static head instead of the net
  or dynamic head.
• A more accurate power calculation is made after
  calculating pipe friction losses.
• Stay tuned................

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...or Charts from Manufacturer
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Measuring Head
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Measuring Head

• 5 stick with carpenters level
• Sight level
• Water level
• Pipe with pressure gauge
• GPS Unit
• Transit
• Topo map
• Altimeter

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Measuring Head

• 5 stick with level (3 people)

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Measuring Head

• Sight level (2 people)

Eye level
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• Remember, you dont have to follow the creek.

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Measuring Head

• Water level and measuring tape (2 people)

Water level
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Measuring Head

• Transit
• Most accurate if you have the equipment

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Measuring Head

• Pipe with pressure gauge at the bottom
• Could use garden hose(s)
• 2.31 feet 1 psi
• This gauge reads 38 psi
• 38 psi x 2.31 feet/psi 88 ft of static head

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Measuring Head

• GPS, altimeter, topo map
• Difference in elevation readings

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Measuring Flow
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Measuring Flow

• Units
• GPM gallons per minute
• CFM cubic feet per minute
• CFS cubic feet per second
• How much to use?
• Dont take the whole creek!
• Use minimum flow
• Avoid taking more than ½ of the flow
• Water temp could be effected!!!
• Let the ecosystem thrive

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Methods of Flow Assessment

• 5-gallon bucket
• Small stream, small waterfall
• Float method
• Larger, flat, uniform stream
• V-notch Weir
• Rectangular Weir
• Make several measurements to assess seasonal
  variation

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5 gallon bucket
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5 gallon bucket

• If the measured flow using a 5 gallon bucket and
  a stop watch was 5 gallons in 1.5 seconds, how
  many GPM would this be?

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5 gallon bucket

• If the measured flow using a 5 gallon bucket and
  a stop watch was 5 gallons in 1.5 seconds, how
  many GPM would this be?

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Float method

• Big, flat, uniform creek

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Float method

• Flow (ft3/s) Velocity (ft/s) x Cross Sectional
  Area (ft2)

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Float method

• Calculate the average depth

Lay a board across the stream, measure the depth
every foot, average the depths
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Float method

• Calculate the cross sectional area

Area (ft2) Average depth (ft) x Width (ft)
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Float method

• Calculate velocity

Measure where you measured the area, an orange
makes a good float, start well upstream, a 10
span is good, average multiple measurements
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Float method

• Correct for Friction
• Flow (ft3/s) Velocity (ft/s) x Cross Sectional
  Area (ft3) x .83
• Multiply x 0.83 to correct for friction on the
  bottom of the stream

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Float Method

• So, if these guys measure this 3 wide stream and
  get an average depth of 8 and it takes an orange
  an average 5 seconds to go 10 feet, what is the
  flow in GPM?

• Area 3 x 8 x (1/12) 2 ft2
• Velocity 10 ft/5 s 2 ft/s
• Flow 2 ft2 x 2 ft/ s 4 ft3/s
• 4 ft3/s x 7.48 gal/1 ft3 x 60s/1 min 1795 gpm
• Correct for friction, 1795 gpm x .83 1490 gpm

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Weir Method

• For larger flows or more accurate measurements
• Small
• V-notch
• Larger
• Rectangular
• All you needs is depth and the table

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V-notch Weir
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Rectangular Weir
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the pipe

• Penstock

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The IntakeDiverting clean water into the penstock
Screen
Steam Flow
The intakes jobFilter and Settle
Start of Penstock
Build it eitherSimple and easy to
repairOrBullet-proof
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The IntakeDiverting clean water into the penstock
Steam Flow
Overflow
A dirty creek may need more settling time
Screen
Start of Penstock
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Penstock
A full pipe delivering clean water to the turbine
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Pipe can be a Considerable Costup to 40
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Factors to Consider Penstock

• surface roughness
• design pressure
• method of jointing
• weight and ease of installation
• accessibility of the site
• terrain
• design life and maintenance
• weather conditions
• availability
• relative cost
• likelihood of structural damage

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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.

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Penstock Support SystemPVC likes to stay
straightHDPE can follow the contour of the ground
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Pipe Friction Losses

• Must use charts to calculate head loss due to
  pipe friction
• Flow varies with D3
• 4 pipe can flow 8x more water than 2 pipe

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Lets do an example

• Turtle Island
• 140 ft static head
• Pipe 3 HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene)
• What is friction loss for 1300 pipe for a flow
  of 100 GPM?
• What is the dynamic or net head?

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Lets do an example
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Lets do an example

• Turtle Island
• 140 ft head
• 3 HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene)
• What is friction loss for 1300 pipe for a flow
  of 100 GPM?
• What is the dynamic head?
• Chart says well lose 2.42 of head per 100 of
  pipe.
• We have 13 x 100 of pipe, so 13 x 2.42 31.5
  of total head loss
• Dynamic or net head 140 31.5 108.5

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Nozzles
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Nozzles

• The flowrate from the penstock is controlled by
  properly sizing the nozzle(s) at the turbine.

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Nozzles

• What size nozzles and how many would you
  recommend if one wants to use about ½ of a stream
  with 300 GPM of measured flow with 100 ft of head
  (pelton wheel)?

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Nozzles
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Nozzles
300 gpm/2 150 gpm usable flow 150 gpm/4 37.5
gpm per nozzle
(4) 7/16 nozzles should do it
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Micro Turbines
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Harris Hydro

• Efficient, durable, battery charging pelton
  turbine with an adjustable permanent magnet
  generator.
• 20-600 feet of head
• 2-250 GPM of flow
• 1 nozzle 1800
• 2 nozzle 1950
• 4 nozzle 2150
• 707-986-7771
• delejo_at_humboldt.net

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Energy Systems Design

• Stream Engine
• Brushless, permanent magnet alternator which is
  adjustable
• Capable of outputs over 1 kilowatt
• Heads from 6 to 300 feet.
• Equipped with a rugged bronze turgo wheel,
  universal nozzles (adaptable to sizing from 1/8
  to1 inch), and a digital multimeter which is used
  to measure output current.
• www.microhydropower.com

• 2 Nozzle Bronze 2395
• 4 Nozzle Bronze 2545
• High Voltage Option 200
• High Current Option 100

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Energy Systems Design

• Low Head Propeller Turbine
• Uses the same generator as the Stream Engine,
  however the water turbine component uses a low
  head propeller design.
• heads of 2 feet up to 10 feet.
• At the maximum head, the output is 1 kW.
• www.microhydropower.com

• Water Baby
• Operates much the same as the Stream Engine but
  requires very little water (pelton wheel)
• Will operate on as little as 3 gpm but requires
  at least 100 feet of head.
• At a head of 100 feet and a flow of 3 gpm the
  output is 25 watts at 24 gpm the output is 250
  watts.

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Hydro Induction Power

• Good for long wire runs, 60' - 500' head, 10 -
  600 gpm
• The units produce 3-Phase 120V, 240V, or 480V
  'wild' (unregulated) AC, which is then stepped
  down to battery voltage.
• The heavy-duty brushless alternator is housed on
  the Harris Housing
• Uses the Harris bronze Pelton Wheel for flows up
  to 200 gpm and the bronze Turgo Runner for flows
  of 200 to 600 gpm.
• www.hipowerhydro.com

• HV 600 with 2 Nozzles 2500
• HV 600 with 4 Nozzles 2600
• HV 1200 with 4 Nozzles 3000
• HV 1800 with 4 Nozzles 3500
• HV 3600 with 4 Nozzles 5000
• Turgo option 600

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Hydro Induction Power

• Now offer a new LOW VOLTAGE (12V/24V), brushless
  unit (48V coming in 2006).
• It can generate either 12V or 24V with pressures
  from 20psi to 150psi (46' - 400'). Above this
  pressure, it will generate 48V.
• Lots of accessories
• www.homehydro.com

• 12/24V Hydro with 1 Nozzle 1350
• 12/24V Hydro with 2 Nozzles1400
• 12/24V Hydro with 3 Nozzles1450
• 12/24V Hydro with 4 Nozzles1500
• Upgrade from Harris Hydro 500
• Turgo option 600

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Powerpal

• Low head model
• A simple AC single-phase, brushless permanent
  magnet alternator is attached to a propeller
  turbine.
• Electricity passes along a wire and into a house,
  where an electronic load controller stabilizes
  the voltage to 110V or 220V to protect electrical
  appliances during use.
• Many models available (see chart, next slide)
• www.powerpal.com

The 200 watt unit needs 550 gallons per minute
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Powerpal

• High head model
• The Same AC single-phase, brushless PMt
  alternator that is used for the Low Head Series
  is used here and attached to a Turgo Turbine.
• Also comes with an electronic load controller
  (ELC)
• www.powerpal.com

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Canyon Hydro

• Serious engineering

100 KW Canyon Crossflow
Great Resource
www.canyonhydro.com
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Alternative Power Machine

• Economy models
• Permanent magnet units
• Accessories
• Exercise Bicycle Type Battery Chargers, etc.
• Niche Ease of maintenance and adjustment
• www.apmhydro.com

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Make your own

• www.otherpower.com

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Other
www.ampair.com....its a wind and hydro turbine
1300
The Jack Rabbit, just drop it into the
river 1295
www.bali-i.com/hydro/jackrabbit-prod.htm
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Turbine Housing
Many options. Main point allow the water to fall
away from the turbine runner and not bounce back
onto the runner and to divert the water back to
the stream.
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BOS.Balance of System
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What is the BOS?

• DC only system (small cabin)
• Charge controller
• Batteries

• Conventional AC system (house)
• Charge controller
• Batteries
• Inverter

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ie. Xantrex C Series Charge Controller

• 12, 24, 48 VDC
• automatically directs extra power to a dedicated
  load such as an electric water heater and ensures
  batteries are never over-charged.

Model is rated DC current
www.xantrex.com
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Diversion Load, aka Dump Load

• Usually a resistive load like a heater
• At least as large as the full turbine output and
  within the current limit of the charge controller
• Small hydro system small amounts of heat
• Use waste heat for water heating, air heating
• Usually not enough heat for domestic use (1kW
  3412 BTU)

Head lights as dump load for wind turbine
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Outback Inverters
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Xantrex Inverters
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Batteryless Grid-Tie Options

• Systems available for PV and wind
• Still a special system for Microhydro
• Contact Hydro Induction Power
• www.hipowerhydro.com

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AC Systems

• Larger systems can be AC, no battery
• If the continuous output of a system is high
  enough to meet your needs for surging capacity,
  no battery/inverter subsystem is required, and AC
  can be generated directly.

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• Storing Renewable Energy Batteries
• Chemical engines used to push electrons around

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Battery Bank Sizing

• A battery based alternative energy system will
  not be effective if it is not sized correctly

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Battery Bank Sizing

• Battery storage for PV and Wind systems typically
  require 3 or more days of battery storage
• Hydro systems run all the time
• Batteries in a hydro system typically need to
  store energy for less than a day
• Often, the battery is sized to provide sufficient
  current to the inverter rather than an amount of
  storage

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Life Expectancy and cost

• At least 5 years
• Often over 10 years or 1500 deep cycles
• Shipping is expensive
• Cost is about 200 per 6V battery

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Rest Voltage vs. State of Charge
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Hydrometer

• Measures density of liquid with
• respect to water
• The electrolyte has greater specific gravity at
  greater states of charge
• Careful opening cells, contamination of the
  electrolyte solution is possible

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Temperature

• Batteries get sluggish at cold temperatures
• Usable capacity drops radically below 40 F
• Self Discharge happens rapidly above 120 F
• Keep them between 55 F 100 F

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Rates of Charge and Discharge

• Recommended rates are C/10 C/20
• Using a C/5 rate will cause much more electrical
  energy to be loss as heat
• This heat can damage battery plates
• Example
• 440 Ampere-hour battery
• How many amps added for a C/10
• How many amps added for a C/20

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Equalizing Charge

• After time individual cells vary in their state
  of charge
• If difference is greater than .05 volts
  equalize
• Controlled overcharge at C/20 rate for 7 hours

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Battery Care

• Dont discharge beyond 80
• C/10 C/20 rate
• Keep batteries at room temperature
• Use distilled water
• Size batteries properly
• Equalize every few months
• Keep batteries and connections clean

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Connecting Cells

• Amperage and voltage in battery can be increased
  by arranging the cells in two ways
• Series
• One path for electrons to follow
• Connect to
• Increases voltage
• Parallel
• Multiple paths for electrons to follow
• Connect ( to ) and (- to -)
• Increases amperage

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• Wire Sizing

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Wire Sizing for DC Applications

• Voltage drop is caused by a conductors electrical
  resistance
• This voltage drop can be used to calculate power
  loss

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VDI Voltage drop Index

• Easier method for determining wire size
• What you need to know
• Amps (Watts/volts)
• Feet (one-way distance)
• Acceptable volt drop
• Voltage

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How to Use Formula and Chart

• Example 1 KW, 24 volt system, 50 feet, 3 drop
• Amps 1000 watts/ 24 volts 41.67 amps
• VDI 41.67 amps 50 feet 28.9
• 3 24 volts

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VDI Chart
24V VDI 28.9 2 AWG wire Thats pretty big
wire What if we make it a 48 volt system?
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How to Use Formula and Chart

• Example 1 KW, 48 volt system, 50 feet, 3 drop
• Amps 1000 watts/ 48 volts 20.8 amps
• VDI 20.8 amps 50 feet 7.23
• 3 48 volts

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VDI Chart
48V VDI 7.2 8 AWG wire Thats better
(smaller, less , same losses).
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• Load Assessment

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Hydro Load Assessment

• How do you know how much energy you need?
• Electric bill
• Average US household uses 850 kWhrs/month 28
  kWhrs/day
• Also need capacity what is the largest load to
  run?
• Do a load assessment!!

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Load Assessment

• A house on RE must use less electricity
• Use less energy! produce the Negawatt!
• Efficient appliances
• CF lighting
• Newer models (EnergyStar)
• Divert heating loads to solar, gas, etc

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Load Assessment

• Youll need for each appliance
• Power consumption
• In Watts
• Rating will be stamped on appliance
• Number of hours/day appliance is on
• Simple example a 15 W CF bulb is on for an
  average of 5 hrs/day
• day (15 W)(5 hrs/day) 75 Whrs/day
• month (75 Whrs/day)(30 days) 2,250 Whrs
• 2.25 kWhrs

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• Incentives and Regulations

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NC Renewable Energy Tax Credits

• 35 for all technologies
• Can take tax credit over 5 years
• No more than half of tax liability
• No refund based on tax credit

Credit Limits 1,400 residential solar domestic
hot water 3,500 residential active space
heating, combined solar hot water and space
heating, passive space heating 10,500
residential biomass, wind, hydroelectric and
photovoltaic or solar thermal electric
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NC GreenPower Program

• To improve the quality of the environment by
  encouraging the development of renewable energy
  resources through consumers voluntary purchase
  of green power.

• Premium paid if approved by the Low Impact
  Hydropower Institute (LIHI)

www.ncgreenpower.org
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Other State Incentives
www.dsireusa.org
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Regulations
The US Army Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction
over virtually all waterways in the United
States. Any discharge of dredged or fill material
into all waters of the United States, which
includes rearranging rocks within a streambed,
would require notification of the Corps per
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Contact the
local Army Corps of Engineers office about your
proposed project beforeyou begin construction.
They will help decide whether or not a permit is
required.
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Local Installers
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Wrap up Site Assessment

• Head
• Flow
• Pipe Length
• Wire Run
• Goals

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Micro Hydro Power in WNC
Questions