08-16-2017, 09:00 PM
MICRO-HYDRO POWER
Introduction
Water power can be harnessed in many different ways.We can buil a barrage across an estuary and release water in a controlled manner through a
turbine. tidal flows can be utilised. large dams can generate large quantities of electricity as well as help in irrigation. wave power is an alternate form of hydro-power. Micro-hydro power is the small-scale harnessing of energy
from falling water. Their capacity ranges from from a few hundred watts up to 100 kW. The applications can vary from battery charging, food
processing to powering a small community or rural industry which is far from the power grid. Utilizing the water from a local river to power a small
factory or village can be a micro hydro project.
Scheme components
In the described scheme some of the water is guided along the side of a valley and is allowed to fall on a turbine via a penstock which in turn drives a generator that provides electricity for a workshop. The power generated can even be supplied to a local village.
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Water into Watts
both the flow rate of the water and the head are necessary to determine the power generation capacity.
Theoretical power (P) = Flow rate (Q) x Head (H) x Gravity (g)
In the rural areas , the shaft power is
suitable for food processing in mills like oil , flour mills etc. The major choice is but conversion to electrical power. The power distribution can be through:
-small electrical distribution system
-by means of batteries which have to be returned periodically to the power house for recharging. The cost of setting up the grid is saved here.
For further details, refer this:
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