Micro hydro power design - Case Study Example

n towards production of more environmental friendly energy as oppose to the use of oil, these includes all renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass, solar and more importantly hydro power since it is the most efficient way of producing power in large quantities without damaging the environment (U.S. Department of Energy, 2008). Water is the most abundant resource in the world and as result its energy, in the form potential energy can be dammed and utilized in production of electricity. The dam retains the water and the potential energy rises as the height above the base increases, this water is directed to a turbine by the use of penstock and after working on the turbine, it exists through the tailrace.

The critical parts of the turbine includes the caps connected to a shaft, the flowing water exerts a rotary motion on the caps/blades, which causes the shaft to turn in a circular manner. This shaft connects to a generator with a core trapped in a magnet’s poles, which causes electromagnetic induction (USGS, 2008). This electricity generated is then transmitted via cabling to households or for other purposes. In summary, the flowing water and the generator forms the backbone of the hydropower.

The water provides the force that turns a rotor with field windings. The windings are supplied with an excitation voltage to set up an electric field, with the rotation of the, magnetically induced current flows to the stator which is a cylindrical ring encased with another magnetic windings. The two windings are separated by about 2mm air gas (USGS, 2008). Today, hydropower systems are cable of producing power ranging from 1MG to 100MG with more possibilities of producing power in small scale with low flow parameters and micro generators.

Small dams, commonly known as weirs are used to trap and retain the water, which is then directed to a turbine via piping systems, the generator that produce power for residential usage then utilizes the force. The project