Microhydro

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• Microhydro
• 2006 Environment SummitSustainability in the
  High CountrySeptember 23, 2006
• Diane Price
• Brent Summerville

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Hydro, Its Really Solar Power
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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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These Turbines are turned by water. That turning
motion drives a generator which produced
electricity.
With the high head situations we commonly see in
the mountains, small pelton wheels and turgo
wheels are commonly used.
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You need two things to make powerHead and Flow
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Measuring Head

• Sight level (2 people)

Eye level
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Measuring Head

• Pipe with pressure gauge at the bottom (1 person)
• 2.31 feet 1 psi
• This gauge reads 38 psi
• 38 psi x 2.31 feet/psi 88 ft of head

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5 gallon bucket
Most typical method for microhydro
Small stream, little waterfall
This may be tricky
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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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Larger Streams

• Float Method

Weir
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Power Estimate

• Power (watts) Net Head (ft) Flow (GPM)
• 9-14 (use 10)

10 assumes a system efficiency of 53
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Nozzles
Flow through the pipe is controlled by the nozzle
size
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Harris Hydro

• The Harris system is an efficient, durable,
  battery charging pelton turbine with a PM
  generator.
• Probably the most abundant micro-hydro unit in
  the U.S.
• The multiple nozzle arrangement allows
  considerably more water to impact the runner,
  resulting in greater output at any head, and
  usable power at a much lower head.
• 1 nozzle 1700
• 2 nozzle 1800
• 4 nozzle 1950
• www.harrishydro.com

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Energy Systems Design

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

• 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

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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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Canyon Hydro

• Serious engineering

100 KW Canyon Crossflow
Great Resource
www.canyonhydro.com
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Make your own

• www.otherpower.com

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Mollies Branch Case Study

• 100 ft of net head
• Stream flow 300 gpm
• Design flow 85 gpm
• Penstock 1200 of 4 HDPE
• Turbine Harris Hydro 4-nozzle PM
• Power 850 W for now
• Energy .85 kW x 24 h/day x 30 day/mon 612
  kWh/mon
• Cost about 16,000

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ARISE ASUSES Site Assessment
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Measuring Flow
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The 4 HDPE arrives in 50 lengths
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Fusing the pipe with the ASU Wind Hydro Class
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• Fusion welder
• Shave pipe ends
• Heat with 500 degree iron
• Press ends together to fuse
• Makes a double roll back bead as demonstrated
  by Liz

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The penstock gradually drops 100 feet along the
1200 feet of pipe. It is supported along the bank
with steel stakes and aircraft cable
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This log house is moved into place to house the
turbine
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The wire run and Balance of System is roughed in
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A battery box is built to contain the eight
Trojan L16 batteries (48V)
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A silt trap/intake filter is built from a 55
gallon plastic drum
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The penstock is connected to the turbine house
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A stand is constructed for the turbine.
A union and hinge allows the turbine to be tilted
back for servicing.
Screw-type gate valves insures slow operation
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The water passes through the floor and returns to
the creek
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Water is diverted from the creek to the silt trap
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A second silt trap barrel is added to improve
performance
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The battery bank and inverter are wired. The
electrician installs a subpanel for the hydro
loads.
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The log house does a nice job of reducing the
sound level (sounds like a sewing machine)
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The Mollies Branch microhydro project serves as
an excellent demonstration site for regional
farmers and landowners
Questions?