Kushal | Summary

Problem Statement
K U S H A L c o l l a b o r a t e d with TECHPEDIA to produce efficient micro-hydro power generator(generating electricity ranging from 5Kw to 100Kw)

Indian Subcontinent

Location

Water power can be harnessed in many ways; tidal flows can be utilised to produce power by building a barrage across an estuary and releasing water in a controlled manner through a turbine; large dams hold water which can be used to provide large quantities of electricity; wave power is also harnessed in various ways. It is a technology that has been utilised throughout the world, by a diverse range of societies and cultures, for many centuries. Water can be harnessed on a large or a small scale - Table 1, below outlines the categories used to define the power output form hydropower. Microhydro power is the small-scale harnessing of energy from falling water; for example, harnessing enough water from a local river to power a small factory or village , KUSHAL

collaborated with TECHPEDIA to produce efficient micro-hydro power plants .

With rampant electricity shortages in outlying villages and remote areas, it would be ideal to exploit the micro-hydro potential of irrigation canals to produce electricity. No water is wasted here since the outlet from the turbine is anyway used to irrigate the fields. However the use of small turbines giving to 1 kW power is desired and such a turbine needs to be designed and put to practical use.

Nipundeep@kushal.org Pravin@kushal.org

Kushal | Summary

Problem Statement
Background

Agriculture is the chief occupation of people in rural India, and hence flowing water is a very common sight in the villages. But what goes unnoticed, is the potential energy water carries when it flows into canals from higher to lower levels. It can be looked upon as a small scale situation of an actual hydroelectric station. Though the energy of these water flows is not as large in magnitude as the real hydroelectric projects but they can surely be harnessed on small scale and be used to satisfy the need of a single household or a small locality depending upon the amount of power generated. You are required to make an economical small scale electric generator which can harness electric power from low velocity water streams and supply it to the household. Ease of maintaining the machine should be kept in mind while designing it.

The KUSHAL , based in IIT KHARAGPUR teamed up with TECHPEDIA to create cheap, efficient Micro electricity generator.

The technology What is home hydro power? Hydropower systems that generate up to 100 kilowatts (kW) of electricity are often called micro hydro systems . Most of the systems used by home and small business owners would qualify as micro hydro systems. In fact, a 10 kW system generally can provide enough power for a large home, a small resort, or a hobby farm.

How does it work?

Hydropower systems use the energy in flowing water to produce electricity or mechanical energy. For run-of-theriver hydro projects, a portion of a river's water is diverted to a channel, pipeline, or pressurized pipeline (penstock) that delivers it to a waterwheel or turbine. The moving water rotates the wheel or turbine, which spins a shaft. The motion of the shaft can be used for mechanical processes, such as pumping water, or it can be used to power an electric generator.

Kushal | Summary

Requirements

using run-of-the-river schemes where possible - this does away with the cost of an expensive dam for water storage

Should be affordable for the rural population(should be cheap). Use locally manufactured equipment where possible and appropriate using existing infrastructure, for example, a canal which serves an irrigation scheme

siting of power close to village to avoid expensive high voltage distribution equipment such as transformers

use of local materials for the civil works use of community labour good planning for a high plant factor (see above) and well balanced load pattern (energy demand fluctuation throughout the day)

low-cost connections for domestic users (see following chapter on this topic)

Easy to maintain.

EVALUATION :

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

TEXT

1. Micro-hydro Design Manual, A Harvey & A Brown, ITDG Publishing, 1992. 2. Micro-hydro power: A guide for development workers, P Fraenkel, O Paish, V Bokalders, A Harvey & A Brown, ITDG Publishing, IT Power, Stockholm Environment Institute, 1991. 3. Small hydro Power in China, ITDG Publishing, 1985. 4. Motors as Generators for Micro-Hydro Power, Nigel Smith, IT Publications, 1994. 5. Pumps as Turbines - A users guide, Arthur Williams, ITDG Publishing, 1995. 6. Rural Energy in Peru - Power for Living, ITDG, 1996. 7. Low-cost Electrification - Affordable Electricity Installation for Low-Income Households in Developing Countries, IT Consultants/ODA, 1995. 8. The Micro-hydro Pelton Turbine Manual: Design, Manufacture and Installation for Small-scale Hydropower, Jeremy Thake, ITDG Publishing, 2000. 9. Going with the Flow: Small-scale Water Power, Dan Curtis, CAT 1999 10. Small Hydro as an Energy Option for Rural Areas of Per by Teodoro Sanches ITDG Latin America http://www.itdg.org.pe/Programas/energia/articulos/shaaeofra.pdf 11. The Role of the Private Sector in the Small-scale Hydropower Field, K. Goldsmith, SKAT, 1995 12. U.S. Energy Information Association, Initials. (n.d.). Energy kids: renewable hydropower. Retrieved fromhttp://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=hydropower_home-basics-k.cfm 13. Small hydropower for developing countries. (n.d.). European Small Hydropower Association, Retrieved fromhttp://www.esha.be/fileadmin/esha_files/documents/publications/publications/Brochure_SHP_for_Developi ng_Countries.pdf 14. Hydropower: news and information about hydro electric power technologies. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/hydro/ 15. Khennas, S., & Barnett, A. (2000). Best Practices for sustainable development of micro power in developing countries.Department for International Development, UK, Retrieved fromhttp://www.microhydropower.net/download/bestpractsynthe.pdf Hydroelectric power water use. (2010, March). Retrieved from http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html

VIDEOS :
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