Pico & Micro

Hydropower
A Discussion

Dinesh Kumar A N
PICO & Micro Hydro systems
 How many times have you may have
wondered that the stream flowing
down the slope near your house
could provide you electricity? But
you were unable to get a reliable
product to use the potential.
 A pico hydro unit which uses water
flowing down a slope to generate
electricity in a simple and reliable
way may be an answer
 The typical power generation
potential for any site can be
calculated from the table. For a
given head and flow read the power
available. Extrapolate in between
numbers given.
Classification of Hydropower

- Pico Hydro: <= 10 kW

- Micro Hydro: >10kW - 100 kW

- Mini Hydro: 100 kW - 2 MW

- Small Hydro: 2 - 25 MW

- Medium Hydro: 25 - 100 MW

- Large Hydro: > 100 MW

 The Concept of Hydropower

Potential Energy
(Mass of water located at a higher elevation)

Kinetic Energy
(Water flows as a result of the mass being at a higher elevation.)

Mechanical Energy
(Flowing mass of water turns a turbine runner.)

Electric Power in Kilowatts (kW)

(Turbine runner turns a directly coupled generator.)

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 Micro hydro systems Pico Hydro Systems

Head
Head
100
Power 5m 10 m 20 m 40 m 60 m 80 m m
Power 5 m 10 m 20 m 40 m 60 m 80 m 100 m
1 kW 45 lps 23 lps 11 lps 6 lps 4 lps
350 175
20 kW 700 lps lps lps 88 lps 58 lps 44 lps 35 lps
3 kW 122 lps 62 lps 31 lps 16 lps 11 lps
1700 850 425
50 kW lps lps lps 215 lps 142 lps 107 lps 85 lps 102
5 kW 204 lps lps 52 lps 26 lps 18 lps 14 lps

100k 2830 1415l 708 142 190 19

W lps ps lps 354 lps 236 lps 177 lps lps 10 kW 380 lps lps 95 lps 48 lps 31 lps 24 lps lps

kW : Kilowatt (1000watt) , lps: Litres per second, 1000 litres = 1m3

 System Components
The Intake -This is where the water flows into the system. It should be designed so that it remains clear of debris.
The Trashrack - A metal or fabric mesh covering the intake such that material is blocked from entering the pipe.
The Weir - A structure designed to divert the flow of water into the intake. It also maintains the level of the water
at the intake,
The Channel - If the stream is far away from the point of use, this diverts water a relatively large distance to the
inlet of the penstock pipe. This component is not usually necessary, although if an irrigation channel is available,
that may be used.
The Forebay - A basin located just before the penstock pipe that may serve as a settling basin to remove waterborne
debris that may otherwise damage the turbine impeller over time. This part is probably unnecessary for most
systems, as it is more difficult to build a forebay tank of adequate size than to replace the impeller in the turbine.
The Penstock Pipe - This vital piece of equipment serves to carry the water from the intake to the turbine.
The Powerhouse - This structure protects the turbine, generator, and electrical equipment. How big it is and where
it is located depends upon the size of the equipment and the characteristics of the site.
Turbine → This transforms the energy of falling water into mechanical energy.
Generator → This transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy.
The Draft tube / Tailrace - A short, open canal that leads the water from the powerhouse back into the stream from
which the water came. This may not be necessary if the turbine outlet is located near enough to the stream.
Switch Yard/ Evacuation System - Grid Connected or Stand alone Type
TYPES OF HYDRO
TURBINES

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 Run-of-the-river schemes normally utilise the head and discharge of
hilly streams, which uses water within the range of the natural river flow
and generally has no reservoir or pondage to regulate the river flow.

The components may include, Diversion weir; Intake structure and desilting chamber;
Water conductor system; Fore bay with surplus escape; Penstock; Power house; Tailrace
channel; Switchyard & transmission arrangement. A typical layout of Run-of-the-river is
shown above
Schemes on the canal falls are located on existing or proposed irrigation
channels utilising the canal discharges and head created by falls, to
generate power. Two or three falls could be combined and aggregate heads
utilised in a single power house. A typical layout is shown below

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Dam toe power house utilises the head of an existing irrigation
dam/barrage located in the Dam. These scheme have a relatively
big reservoir that stores water in the rainy season and release it in
the dry season.

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What is Pico-Hydro?
A hydropower system captures the energy of moving water for some useful
purpose. Wherever there are mountains and streams, hydropower can bring
low-cost electricity to isolated communities without polluting the air or
water. Furthermore, hydropower is a proven technology; people have been
obtaining energy from falling water for thousands of years. Hydropower is
still being used on many different scales for many purposes, from small
grain-grinding facilities to huge hydroelectric dams that provide electricity
to entire cities.

Pico-hydro is a term used to describe the smallest systems, covering

hydroelectric power generation under 5kW. Depending on its size, a pico-
hydro power system may provide a small, remote community with adequate
electricity to power light bulbs, radios, and televisions, among other
appliances.
 Recent New Technology
• Even though hydropower is over 100 years old, each of
hydro projects is unique especially for its civil works.
• Efforts are to improve the efficiency of the various
components of hydropower system,
• reduce the maintenance and operation cost,
• increase the life of the main components,
• optimise the utilisation of water especially in view
of conflicting demand, competition with other
sources.
• The new materials, design and construction techniques
• New technologies adopted for weirs, intakes, penstock,
controls, turbines, generators
Business POTENTIAL
opportunities MARKET/APPLICATIONS

A. Range 1. Electric loads along irrigation canals

B. Costs 2. Remote villages along rivers
C. Cost recovery 3. Remote stations in water shed areas
D. Potential 4. Livelihood applications
Market/Applications Poultry lighting, Battery charging ,
Drying, Value added product development
etc.
 Ultra Low Head (below 3 m)
 Abundant potential of ultra low head available
 Not much work done on survey of ultra low head sites on irrigation canal
falls, outfalls of sewage/drainage, industrial channels etc.
 Dearth of economic viable low head turbines.
(Archmedies screw, vortex, cross flow, very low head, belt, kinetic and
steam etc are available)
 Ultra low head hydro power in micro range has large number of
 Vortex
Turbine
Head - 0.5 to 2 m
Discharge - 0.1 to 1m3/s
Power - 1 to 30 kW
Efficiency - 73%

Vortex based India’s first Micro

Hydro Powerplant was implemented
at Kaduvetty, Trivandrum city by
Energy Management Centre.
Hydrokinetic Power Project at NLC India
Ltd

Installed Capacity – 4X5 kWp

Operation Velocity range - 1.5 to3.1
m/s
Hydro Kinetic Turbines

Hydroquest River Current Turbine

Height - 2.2 to 4.2 m
Velocity - 3.1m/s
Power - 40 to 80 kW
Efficiency - 33%

Smart Hydro Kinetic Turbine

Height - 1.2 to 2 m
Velocity - 2.4 - 3.1m/s
Power - 3 - 5 kW
Efficiency - 43%
Hydrokinetic
potential
Hydrokinetics in Canals & Rivers with
low velocities
Pico Project installations
Thayannankudi Pico Hydel
Project at Chinnar Wildlife
Sanctuary by EMC

Pico Project for forest

outpost at Chinnar Wild
life sanctuary
TYPICAL LAYOUT OF ARCHIMEDEAN SCREW TURBINE

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Archimedes screw

18.5 kW using 50 MLD

of Kabitkhedi STP Indore
Municipal Corporation
(IMC) on BOOT basis
for 25 years
CLOSED FLUME PROPELLER TUBINE FOR 4 M HEAD &
500 WATTS RATING
OPEN FLUME PROPELLER TURBINE FOR 1.6 M HEAD &
600 WATTS RATING
CLOSED FLUME PROPELLER TURBINE FOR 2.6 M & 3 KW
RATING
Runner for Cross flow turbine

Runner Disc

Locally made T&G assembly

Bearing & Housing

Guide Vane
Turbine Casing

Turbine assembly

Locally made T&G assembly

Crossflow Turbine (Head range 10-40m)

Testing - Dry run

 Pump-as-Turbine (PAT) Systems
 Typical hydropower systems convert the energy of falling water to mechanical
energy with a turbine. In some cases, it may be more appropriate to replace
the turbine with a centrifugal water pump, and run it in reverse.

 Using a pump as a turbine has numerous benefits for rural pico-hydro projects
in the developing world. Since centrifugal water pumps can usually be found
locally, one avoids paying expensive import taxes, and since the pump is a
familiar technology to local pump and motor technicians, it can be serviced if
problems arise. This is far easier than finding renewable energy technicians
specializing in pico-hydro turbines. Furthermore, pumps are manufactured to
operate under a wide range of conditions, are easy to install, and spare parts
for these pumps are easy to find.
P.A.T
In-stream Vertical Crossflow Turbine

Generation with Low Head –

3m or less
Range of Use - 0.4KW～44KW
Very low head turbines
Head - 1.4 to 2 m
Discharge - 1 to 10 m3/s
Power - 10 to 500 kW
Efficiency - 85%

Andritz Hydromatrix Turbiwatt Leopard

 Stream Diver is a compact turbine with an
Stream Diver turbine output of up to 800 kW per unit, which can be
used for modular extensions as a minimum-
flow turbine or as an alternative to existing
small hydro plants.
• 2 to 6m head
• 4 to 16m3/s discharge

Apart from economical aspects, the development

of the Stream Diver focusses strongly on ecological
considerations. The bearings of this new
development are water-lubricated. As a result, the
compact turbine can be operated without any oil
or grease.
Stream Diver
Stream Diver
Steffturbines

Operates like an overshot water

wheel. It comprises a conveyor
chain equipped with profiled
paddles circulating around two
wheels. Compact

Head - 2 - 6m
Discharge - 0.2-0.6 m³/s
Power Output - 6-12 kW
Efficiency - ~80 %
NATEL Technology, USA
Mobile Hydro Darrieus type Kinetic Turbine
Efficiency up to 33%
 Rubber Dams:

Tin Shui Wai Rubber Dam Hong Kong Rubber weirs at the river Sava in Kranj

Janjhavathi Rubber Dam (India) Rubber Dam ,Bhubaneshwar, Orissa

irrigates 24,000 acres
 Rubber dam section:

Rubber dam

Concrete structure

This figure shows how rubber

Anchoring
body is secured to a concrete
foundation by
its anchor line.
 Micro-grid Features and Benefits

Standalone micro
grids.
➢ Electrification of remote isolated
villages without expensive grid
extension
➢ Adoption of RE solutions suitable for
particular location based on
available local resources (solar,
biogas, hydro, wind etc)

➢ Economies of scale can be obtained thereby reducing the energy cost

➢ Easy accommodation of demand growth