Hydropower is based on simple concepts. Moving water turns a turbine, the turbine spins a generator, and electricity is produced. Many other components may be in a system, but it all begins with the energy already within the moving water.
Water power is the combination of head and flow. Both must be present to produce electricity. Consider a typical hydro system, water is diverted from a stream into a pipeline, where it is directed downhill and through the turbine (flow). The vertical drop (head) creates pressure at the bottom end of the pipeline. The pressurized water emerging from the end of the pipe creates the force that drives the turbine. More flow or more head produces more electricity. Electrical power output will always be slightly less than water power input due to turbine and system inefficiencies. Head is water pressure, which is created by the difference in elevation between the water intake and the turbine. Head can be expressed as vertical distance (feet or meters), or as pressure, such as pounds per square inch (psi). Net head is the pressure available at the turbine when water is flowing, which will always be less than the pressure when the water is turned off (static head), due to the friction between the water and the pipe. Pipeline diameter has an effect on net head. Flow is water quantity, and is expressed as “volume per time,” such as gallons per minute (gpm), cubic feet per second (cfs), or liters per minute. Design flow is the maximum flow for which your hydro system is designed. It will likely be less than the maximum flow of your stream (especially during the rainy season), more than your minimum flow, and a compromise between potential electrical output and system cost. Head and flow are the two most important things you need to know about your site. You must have these measurements before you can seriously discuss your project, how much electricity it will generate, or the cost of components. Every aspect of a hydro system revolves around head and flow.
Useful Hydro Power Conversions
1 horsepower = 746 watts
1 kilowatt = 1.34 horsepower
1 foot of head = 0.43 pounds per square inch (psi)
1 psi = 2.31 feet of head
1 gallon per minute (gpm) = 0.0022 cubic feet per second (cfs)
1 gpm = 0.000063 cubic meters per second
1 gpm = 3.8 liters per minute
1 cfs = 449 gpm
1 cfs = 0.283 cubic meters per second
1 cfs = 1,700 liters per minute
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
INTRODUCTION
Modern civilization has become increasingly reliant on fossil fuels, oil, coal and natural gas. We slowly in comparison with the rate of energy use that all depend on a constant and reliable supply of energy , they are considered finite or limited resources.
For our homes, businesses and for transport, but have you ever thought about the source of the energy you use? In addition, the burning of fossil fuels produces greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
The majority of the energy comes from burning fossil gases are believed to be responsible for trapping heat in fuels (e.g. coal, oil and gas). However, the mix of fuel the Earth's atmosphere, heat that would normally be sources has changed significantly in the last 50 years. In radiated back into space, this effect is being linked to 1950, about 90% of our energy came from coal; but today, changes in the Earth's climate. Coal accounts for only about 15%.Gas now provides a large proportion, with oil and nuclear making up the renewable energy generally produces few or no greenhouse rest and renewable energy accounting for only about 3% gases. The exception is biomass; however the carbon dioxide emitted is balanced by the amount of carbon In the future, the amount and proportion of renewable absorbed from the atmosphere while the plant is growing. Energy generated is set to rise largely because of If biomass is being used sustainable, there are no net carbon government policy and programmed to support renewable emissions over the time frame of a cycle of biomass energy generation production. Biomass is considered to be carbon neutral.
What is Energy?
Energy Is the Ability to Do Work, Energy causes things to happen around us.
When a car drives by, it is being powered by gasoline, a type of stored energy.
The food we eat contains energy. We use that energy to work and play.
Energy can be found in a number of different forms. It can be chemical energy, electrical energy, heat (thermal energy), light (radiant energy), mechanical energy, and nuclear energy
What is renewable energy?
Using renewable energy can provide many benefits, whilst there is a range of energy including:
• Making use of secure, local and replenish able resources, the end product is usually for one of three categories.
• Reducing dependence on non-renewable energy.
•Production of electricity.
•Helping to keep the air clean.
•Generation of heat.
•Helping to reduce the production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
•Energy for transport.
•Creating new jobs in renewable energy industries.
Renewable energy comes from sources that are essentially
What are the different types of renewable energy, they include the sun, the wind, flowing water and the heat of the Earth; or replaceable fuels such Renewable energy should not be viewed as a single as plants. Renewable energy can be used for all of the energy source or technology; rather a range of energy above three categories.
For our homes, businesses and for transport, but have you ever thought about the source of the energy you use? In addition, the burning of fossil fuels produces greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
The majority of the energy comes from burning fossil gases are believed to be responsible for trapping heat in fuels (e.g. coal, oil and gas). However, the mix of fuel the Earth's atmosphere, heat that would normally be sources has changed significantly in the last 50 years. In radiated back into space, this effect is being linked to 1950, about 90% of our energy came from coal; but today, changes in the Earth's climate. Coal accounts for only about 15%.Gas now provides a large proportion, with oil and nuclear making up the renewable energy generally produces few or no greenhouse rest and renewable energy accounting for only about 3% gases. The exception is biomass; however the carbon dioxide emitted is balanced by the amount of carbon In the future, the amount and proportion of renewable absorbed from the atmosphere while the plant is growing. Energy generated is set to rise largely because of If biomass is being used sustainable, there are no net carbon government policy and programmed to support renewable emissions over the time frame of a cycle of biomass energy generation production. Biomass is considered to be carbon neutral.
What is Energy?
Energy Is the Ability to Do Work, Energy causes things to happen around us.
When a car drives by, it is being powered by gasoline, a type of stored energy.
The food we eat contains energy. We use that energy to work and play.
Energy can be found in a number of different forms. It can be chemical energy, electrical energy, heat (thermal energy), light (radiant energy), mechanical energy, and nuclear energy
What is renewable energy?
Using renewable energy can provide many benefits, whilst there is a range of energy including:
• Making use of secure, local and replenish able resources, the end product is usually for one of three categories.
• Reducing dependence on non-renewable energy.
•Production of electricity.
•Helping to keep the air clean.
•Generation of heat.
•Helping to reduce the production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
•Energy for transport.
•Creating new jobs in renewable energy industries.
Renewable energy comes from sources that are essentially
What are the different types of renewable energy, they include the sun, the wind, flowing water and the heat of the Earth; or replaceable fuels such Renewable energy should not be viewed as a single as plants. Renewable energy can be used for all of the energy source or technology; rather a range of energy above three categories.
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