Transcript Micro Hydro Power in WNC Oct 27, 2007 Andrews, NC Hydro, Driven by Solar Power.

Micro
Hydro Power in WNC
Oct 27, 2007
Andrews, NC
Hydro, Driven by Solar Power
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
Hydro power in USA, Canada and the World
US Supply
Most of that global
hydro power is
produced by largescale hydroelectric
plants
Today, we will be talking about
micro
hydro
•Small in scale
•Minimum environmental impact
•Site specific: you must have the resource
•Affordable.
•Consistent: Produces continuously, 24/7

We don’t
need a river,
just some
falling water
Types of Systems
Turbines can be of many forms.
Listed are a few of the major types.
Impulse
turbines
Reaction
turbines
High head
Medium head
Low head
Pelton
Turgo
cross-flow
multi-jet Pelton
Turgo
cross-flow
Francis
Pump-as-turbine
(PAT)
propeller
Kaplan
Pelton and Turgo
Impulse – jet of water
4“
Banki and Crossflow
Impulse – sheet of water
Banki
Crossflow
Francis
Reaction Turbines
Submerged in the flow;
driven by the pressure differential
Kaplan
http://www.waterwheelfactory.com/francis.htm
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/f-ene/hydro/english/products/equipment/index01_2.htm
Turbines are turned by water.
That turning motion drives a generator
which produced electricity.
You need two things to make power
Head and Flow
Power Estimates
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.
Examples
Turtle Island
 Mollies Branch

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
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
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................
...or Charts from Manufacturer
P.M. Alternator output in watts
FEET OF NET HEAD
GAL/M
25
50
75
100
200
300
3
-
-
-
-
45
80
6
-
-
30
45
130
180
10
-
40
75
95
210
300
15
25
75
110
150
320
450
20
40
100
160
240
480
600
30
65
150
250
350
650
940
50
130
265
420
600
1100
1500
100
230
500
750
1100
1500
-
200
-
580
900
1300
-
-
Measuring Head
Measuring Head








5’ stick with carpenters level
Sight level
Water level
Pipe with pressure gauge
GPS Unit
Transit
Topo map
Altimeter
Measuring Head

5’ stick with level (3 people)
5’
Measuring Head

Sight level (2 people)
Eye level

Remember,
you don’t
have to
follow the
creek.
Measuring Head
Water level and measuring tape (2 people)
Water level
Measuring Head
Transit
 Most accurate if you have the equipment

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
Measuring Head
GPS, altimeter,
topo map
 Difference in
elevation readings

Measuring Flow
Measuring Flow

Units
 GPM: gallons per minute
 CFM: cubic feet per minute
 CFS: cubic feet per second

How much to use?
 Don’t take the whole creek!
 Use minimum flow
 Avoid taking more than ½ of the
 Water temp could be effected!!!
 Let the ecosystem thrive
flow
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

5 gallon bucket
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?
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?
5 gal
60 sec

 200 GPM
1.5 sec 1 min
Float method
Big, flat, uniform creek
Float method
Flow (ft3/s) = Velocity (ft/s) x Cross Sectional Area (ft2)
Float method
1.
Calculate the average depth
Lay a board across the stream, measure the depth
every foot, average the depths
Float method
2.
Calculate the cross sectional area
Area (ft2) = Average depth (ft) x Width (ft)
Float method
3.
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
Float method
4.
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
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
Weir Method


For larger flows or
more accurate
measurements
Small


Larger


V-notch
Rectangular
All you needs is depth
and the table
V-notch Weir
Rectangular Weir
Penstock
“the pipe”
The Intake
Diverting clean water into the penstock
Screen
Steam Flow
The intake’s job:
Filter and
Settle
Start of Penstock
Build it either:
Simple and easy
to repair
Or
Bullet-proof
Steam Flow
The Intake
Diverting clean water into the penstock
Overflow
A dirty
creek
may need
more
settling
time
Screen
Start of Penstock
Penstock
A full pipe; delivering clean water to the turbine
Pipe can be a Considerable Cost
…up to 40%
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
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.
Penstock Support System
PVC likes to stay straight
HDPE can follow the contour of the ground
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
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?

Lets do an example:
PIPE FRICTION LOSS
Polyethylene SDR - Pressure Rated Pipe
Pressure Loss from Friction in Feet of Head per 100 Feet of Pipe
Flow US
GP
M
0.5
0.75
1
1.25
1.5
2
1
1.13
0.28
0.09
0.02
2
4.05
1.04
0.32
0.09
0.04
3
8.6
2.19
0.67
0.19
0.09
0.02
4
14.6
3.73
1.15
0.3
0.14
0.05
5
22.1
5.61
1.75
0.46
0.21
0.07
2.5
3
90
13.5
5.71
1.98
95
15
6.31
2.19
100
16.5
6.92
2.42
150
34.5
14.7
5.11
25
8.7
200
300
18.4
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 we’ll 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’
Nozzles
Nozzles
The flowrate from the
penstock is controlled
by properly sizing the
nozzle(s) at the
turbine.
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)?
Nozzles
Maximum efficient flow at various heads
From Harris Hydro
(FIGURES IN GALLONS/MIN)
FEET OF NET HEAD
# of
nozzles
25
50
75
100
200
300
1
17
25
30
35
50
60
2
35
50
60
70
100
120
3
52
75
90
105
150
-
4
70
100
120
140
200
-
300 gpm/2 = 150 gpm usable flow
150 gpm/4 = 37.5 gpm per nozzle
(4) 7/16” nozzles should do it
Nozzles
NOZZLE FLOW CHART – from ES & D
FLOW RATE IN U.S. GALLONS PER MINUTE
Head
Feet
PSI
Nozzle Diameter, inches
1/8
5
2.2
10
4.3
15
6.5
20
8.7
30
3/16
RPM
1/4
5/16
7/16
3/8
1/2
5/8
3/4
7/8
1
6.18
8.4
11
17.1
24.7
33.6
43.9
460
3.88
6.05
8.75
11.6
15.6
24.2
35
47.6
62.1
650
2.68
4.76
7.4
10.7
14.6
19
29.7
42.8
58.2
76
800
1.37
3.09
5.49
8.56
12.4
16.8
22
34.3
49.4
67.3
87.8
925
13
1.68
3.78
6.72
10.5
15.1
20.6
26.9
42
60.5
82.4
107
1140
40
17.3
1.94
4.37
7.76
12.1
17.5
23.8
31.1
48.5
69.9
95.1
124
1310
50
21.7
2.17
4.88
8.68
13.6
19.5
26.6
34.7
54.3
78.1
106
139
1470
60
26
2.38
5.35
9.51
14.8
21.4
29.1
38
59.4
85.6
117
152
1600
80
34.6
2.75
6.18
11
17.1
24.7
33.6
43.9
68.6
98.8
135
176
1850
100
43.3
3.07
6.91
12.3
19.2
27.6
37.6
49.1
76.7
111
150
196
2070
120
52
3.36
7.56
13.4
21
30.3
41.2
53.8
84.1
121
165
215
2270
150
65
3.76
8.95
15
23.5
33.8
46
60.1
93.9
135
184
241
2540
200
86.6
4.34
9.77
17.4
27.1
39.1
53.2
69.4
109
156
213
278
2930
250
108
4.86
10.9
19.9
30.3
43.6
59.4
77.6
121
175
238
311
3270
300
130
5.32
12
21.3
33.2
47.8
65.1
85.1
133
191
261
340
3591
400
173
6.14
13.8
24.5
38.3
55.2
75.2
98.2
154
221
301
393
4140
Micro Turbines
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
[email protected]
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
4 Nozzle Bronze
High Voltage Option
High Current Option
$2395
$2545
$200
$100
Energy Systems & Design




Low Head Propeller Turbine
 Water Baby
Uses the same generator as the
Stream Engine, however the water  Operates much the same as the
turbine component uses a low
Stream Engine but requires very
head propeller design.
little water (pelton wheel)
heads of 2 feet up to 10 feet.
 Will operate on as little as 3 gpm
but requires at least 100 feet of
At the maximum head, the output
head.
is 1 kW.
 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.
LH1000 with Draft Tube
$1995
Baby Generator, 1 Nozzle
(12/24 volt)
High Voltage Option
$200 extra
Extra Nozzles (installed)
$120 ea
High Current Option
$100 extra
High Voltage (48/120 volt)
$100
www.microhydropower.com
$1395
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
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
12/24V Hydro with
12/24V Hydro with
12/24V Hydro with
1 Nozzle: $1350
2 Nozzles:$1400
3 Nozzles:$1450
4 Nozzles:$1500
Upgrade from Harris Hydro: $500
Turgo option
$600
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)


The 200 watt unit needs
550 gallons per minute
www.powerpal.com
MHG-200LH
MHG-500LH
MHG-1000LH
Water head (ft)
4.92
4.92
4.92
Water flow (gpm)
555
1110
2061
200W
500W
1000W
Output Power
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
MHG200HH
MHG500HH
Water head
(ft)
16.4
19.68
22.96
26.24
29.52
32.8
36.08
Water flow
(gpm)
100
101
117
125
133
141
144
160w
200w
275w
325w
390w
460w
520w
Output Power
Canyon Hydro

Serious engineering
100 KW Canyon Crossflow
Canyon 751
Canyon 2435
gpm
KW
gpm
KW
50
139
1
1665
12
100
197
3
2415
36
200
277
8
3335
101
300
340
15
4084
185
www.canyonhydro.com
Alternative Power & Machine





Economy models
Permanent magnet units
Accessories
Exercise Bicycle Type Battery
Chargers, etc.
Niche: Ease of maintenance
and adjustment
www.apmhydro.com
Make your own
www.otherpower.com
Other
www.ampair.com....it’s a wind and hydro turbine
$1300
The Jack Rabbit, just drop
it into the river
$1295
www.bali-i.com/hydro/jackrabbit-prod.htm
Turbine Housing
Many options. Main point: allow the water to fall away from
the turbine runner and not bounce back onto the runner
and to divert the water back to the stream.
BOS…….Balance of System
What is the BOS?

DC only system (small
cabin)



Conventional AC
system (house)



Charge controller
Batteries
Inverter
Charge controller
Batteries
ie. Xantrex “C” Series Charge Controller
•12, 24, 48 VDC
•automatically directs extra power to a
dedicated load such as an electric water
heater and ensures batteries are never
over-charged.
Model # is rated DC current
Model
List Price ($US)
C35
$119.00
C40
$159.00
C60
$199.00
www.xantrex.com
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
Outback Inverters
Xantrex Inverters
Batteryless Grid-Tie Options
Systems available for PV and wind
 Still a special system for Microhydro
 Contact Hydro Induction Power
www.hipowerhydro.com

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.
Storing Renewable
Energy: Batteries
“Chemical engines used
to push electrons around”
Battery Bank Sizing
A battery based
alternative energy
system will not be
effective if it is not
sized correctly
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

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
Rest Voltage vs. State of Charge
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
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

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
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

Battery Care
Don’t 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

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
Wire Sizing
Wire Sizing for DC Applications
Voltage drop is caused by a conductors
electrical resistance
 This voltage drop can be used to calculate
power loss

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
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
VDI Chart
24V VDI = 28.9
2 AWG wire
That’s pretty big wire
What if we make it a
48 volt system?
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
VDI Chart
48V VDI = 7.2
8 AWG wire
That’s better
(smaller, less $,
same losses).
Load Assessment
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!!
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…
Load Assessment

You’ll 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
Incentives and
Regulations
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
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
Other State Incentives
www.dsireusa.org
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.
Local Installers
Wrap up: Site Assessment
Head
 Flow
 Pipe Length
 Wire Run
 Goals

Micro
Hydro Power in WNC
Questions