Microhydro 2006 Environment Summit Sustainability in the High
Microhydro 2006 Environment Summit Sustainability in the High Country September 23, 2006 Diane Price Brent Summerville
Hydro, It’s Really Solar Power
Most of that global hydro power is produced by largescale hydroelectric plants
Today, we will be talking about hydro micro • Small in scale • Minimum environmental impact • Site specific: you must have the resource • Affordable • Consistent • Produces continuously, 24/7
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.
You need two things to make power Head and Flow
Measuring Head Sight level (2 people) Eye level
Measuring Head Pipe with pressure gauge at the bottom (1 person) 2. 31 feet = 1 psi This gauge reads 38 psi x 2. 31 feet/psi = 88 ft of head
5 gallon bucket Small stream, little waterfall Most typical method for microhydro This may be tricky…
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?
Larger Streams Float Method Weir
Power Estimate Power (watts) = Net Head (ft) * Flow (GPM) 9 -14 (use 10) 10 assumes a system efficiency of 53%
Nozzles Flow through the pipe is controlled by the nozzle size
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
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 to 1 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
Hydro Induction Power Good for long wire runs, 60' 500' head, 10 - 600 gpm The units produce 3 -Phase 120 V, 240 V, or 480 V '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
Canyon Hydro Serious engineering 100 KW Canyon Crossflow Canyon 751 Canyon 2435 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
Make your own www. otherpower. com
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 k. W x 24 h/day x 30 day/mon = 612 k. Wh/mon Cost = about $16, 000
ARISE & ASUSES Site Assessment
Measuring Flow
The 4” HDPE arrives in 50’ lengths
Fusing the pipe with the ASU Wind & Hydro Class
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
The penstock gradually drops 100 feet along the 1200 feet of pipe. It is supported along the bank with steel stakes and aircraft cable
This log house is moved into place to house the turbine
The wire run and Balance of System is roughed in
A battery box is built to contain the eight Trojan L 16 batteries (48 V)
A silt trap/intake filter is built from a 55 gallon plastic drum
The penstock is connected to the turbine house
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
The water passes through the floor and returns to the creek
Water is diverted from the creek to the silt trap
A second silt trap barrel is added to improve performance
The battery bank and inverter are wired. The electrician installs a subpanel for the hydro loads.
The log house does a nice job of reducing the sound level (sounds like a sewing machine)
The Mollies Branch microhydro project serves as an excellent demonstration site for regional farmers and landowners Questions?
- Slides: 37
