![]() Low head refers to a change in elevation of less than 66 feet (20 meters), and ultralow head refers to a change in elevation of less than 10 feet (3 meters). The higher the head the better because you'll need less water to produce a given amount of power and you can use smaller, less expensive equipment. Most micro-hydropower sites are categorized as low or high head. Head also is a function of the characteristics of the channel or pipe through which it flows. When evaluating a potential site, head is usually measured in feet, meters, or units of pressure. In a potential micro-hydropower site, head is the vertical distance that water falls. That will give you the system's output in watts (W). Simply multiply net head (the vertical distance available after subtracting losses such as pipe friction - the losses will depend on the type size of the pipe among other things, but can be estimated to be from 5 to 10 percent for preliminary calculations) by flow (use U.S. Once you've determined the head and flow, then you can use a simple equation to estimate the power output for a system with 50% to 70% efficiency or more, which is representative of most micro-hydropower systems. Head - the vertical distance the water falls.This involves determining these two things: To see if a micro-hydropower system would work for you, you will want to determine the amount of power that you can obtain from the flowing water on your site. Other considerations for a potential micro-hydropower site include its power output, economics, permits, and water rights. A sufficient quantity of falling water must be available, which usually, but not always, means that hilly or mountainous sites are best. To build a micro-hydropower system, you need access to flowing water on your property. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |