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Introduction to Hydro Power

Introduction to Hydro Power. Matthew Leese West Wales Eco Centre. Introduction. Hydrological cycle What is hydro power? Hydro power from the beginning Types of waterwheel Enter electricity Types of turbine Head and flow Summary. The hydrological cycle.

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Introduction to Hydro Power

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  1. Introduction to Hydro Power Matthew Leese West Wales Eco Centre

  2. Introduction • Hydrological cycle • What is hydro power? • Hydro power from the beginning • Types of waterwheel • Enter electricity • Types of turbine • Head and flow • Summary

  3. The hydrological cycle • Courtesy Queen Mary University of London t

  4. What is hydro power? • Water which is high up has gravitational potential energy • Energy is released when water falls • Hydro power takes this energy and converts it into something more useful

  5. What is hydro power? • Power: P = Q x m x g x H • P: power, Watts • Q: flow rate, cubic metres per second • m: mass of falling water (1,000 kg per cubic metre for water) • g: acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/s/s • H: head, metres, height through which water falls

  6. Hydro power from the beginning • ‘Noria’ irrigation device over 5,000 years ago in the Middle East • First recorded grain mills about 2,000 years ago in Greece, Norway and Middle East • First waterwheel mentioned in the Domesday Book was in the 8th Century • Some 20,000 working mills in England at its peak

  7. Types of waterwheel • Three main types of waterwheel: • Overshot • Undershot • Breastshot • Other types: • Horizontal, Poncelot, Pitchback

  8. Waterwheel types Images courtesy: http://www.millsofireland.org/M.M.O.I.Newsletter2nd.edit.html

  9. Image Courtesy: http://www.aberarth.internet-today.co.uk/cornmill.html

  10. Enter Electricity • Electricity was first utilised and stored in batteries in the late 1700’s, though generation was still to be developed • First hydroelectric plant came into operation in 1870’s • First electric house – Cragside – 1878 • High power/torque waterwheels are big and slow • Electricity generation requires something fast

  11. Enter Electricity • Electrical generation needs high speed revolution, so are more suited to turbines • Outputs range from a few Watts to several gigawatts per scheme • Schemes are defined by: • Effective head • Capacity – small, medium, large, pico, micro, macro • Turbine type – high-speed waterwheel

  12. Common types of turbine • High head >100m • Impulse turbines – for high pressure • Medium head 10-100m • Impulse or reaction • Low head <10m • Reaction turbines – for fast flow

  13. High head • Pelton and Turgo

  14. Medium/High head • Crossflow and Francis

  15. Low head • Kaplan, fixed pitch propeller

  16. Turbine vs head/flow • Graphic showing turbine vs head and flo

  17. Hydro power chart • Green earth energy chart

  18. Summary • Hydrological cycle • What is hydro power? • Hydro power from the beginning • Types of waterwheel • Enter electricity • Types of turbine • Head and flow

  19. Grant • Low Carbon Buildings Programme • Small Hydro for householders • £1,000/kW • Maximum of £2,500 or 30% of total cost • Community scheme not supported

  20. Rheidol Hydropower Station • Centred on the valley of the River Rheidol, this is the largest conventional hydro-electric station in England & Wales, with a capacity of 56 MW. As well as tours of the power station, the site includes a visitor centre, fish farm, nature trails and scenic drives. • SE of Aberystwyth, off A44. April 1st-Oct 31st, check for times. Groups welcome all year round by arrangement. www.powergen.co.uk

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