Electricity availability is key to helping communities off load time consuming manual labor to machines. But often development of the electric grid to outlying rural communities has not happened yet. Waiting for the electric grid to come to these communities is not an option.
Most people are familiar with hydro power. It is green source of energy that does not emit pollution or greenhouse gasses. Micro hydro plants can bring the benefits of large scale hydro power but also the added benefit of being able to be built quickly, and at a fraction of the cost of larger dams. Micro hydropower has a key advantage for small communities in that it does not require a large storage reservoir. This is because the electricity needs of these communities is minimal so increased electric production from a reservoir is unnecessary. Micro hydropower generation is a simple solution that can work to bring rural communities out of poverty. Having a contained electrical system within these communities is key to creating a sustainable community.
The key components of a micro hydropower system are: water transmission, through a pipeline or a canal; a pump, turbine, or waterwheel that converts the flowing water into a rotational energy; an alternator that converts rotational energy into electricity; a regulator that controls the power flow; and wiring to transmit the electricity.
The water transmission system consists of durable piping that carries water from the intake system at the water source, to the turbine system located at a lower elevation. If a Submersible Hydro Generator system is being used, water transmission lines are unnecessary.
Turbines are simple machines that works through water hitting the blades and spinning. While traditional hydro systems use Reaction Turbines, which work by the pressure of a water reservoir turning them, micro hydropower systems use Impulse Turbines that rely on the velocity of a moving water source. There are two types of Impulse turbine most commonly used in micro hydropower systems, Jet Force and Drop-in-the-creek. Jet force turbines utilize a funnel that creates a jet force of water that sprays the turbine to create spinning force. These are highly efficient in a high head environment (elevated water source). The second turbine type often used is the drop-in-the-creek turbine, or Submersible Hydro Generator, these are ideal when the water source not at a higher elevation. Regardless of which system is used, the result is rotational energy generating direct current electricity. Once electricity is being produced by the spinning turbine, it must be regulated and converted from the DC power produced by the generator, to AC power that can be used by modern electronics.
Green Empowerment has worked with a variety of partners and communities to create micro hydropower systems throughout the world. Whether it is in the Islands of Borneo, or the mountains of Nicaragua, Green empowerment works to find the solution that best suits the needs of the communities they serve.
Most people are familiar with hydro power. It is green source of energy that does not emit pollution or greenhouse gasses. Micro hydro plants can bring the benefits of large scale hydro power but also the added benefit of being able to be built quickly, and at a fraction of the cost of larger dams. Micro hydropower has a key advantage for small communities in that it does not require a large storage reservoir. This is because the electricity needs of these communities is minimal so increased electric production from a reservoir is unnecessary. Micro hydropower generation is a simple solution that can work to bring rural communities out of poverty. Having a contained electrical system within these communities is key to creating a sustainable community.
The key components of a micro hydropower system are: water transmission, through a pipeline or a canal; a pump, turbine, or waterwheel that converts the flowing water into a rotational energy; an alternator that converts rotational energy into electricity; a regulator that controls the power flow; and wiring to transmit the electricity.
The water transmission system consists of durable piping that carries water from the intake system at the water source, to the turbine system located at a lower elevation. If a Submersible Hydro Generator system is being used, water transmission lines are unnecessary.
Turbines are simple machines that works through water hitting the blades and spinning. While traditional hydro systems use Reaction Turbines, which work by the pressure of a water reservoir turning them, micro hydropower systems use Impulse Turbines that rely on the velocity of a moving water source. There are two types of Impulse turbine most commonly used in micro hydropower systems, Jet Force and Drop-in-the-creek. Jet force turbines utilize a funnel that creates a jet force of water that sprays the turbine to create spinning force. These are highly efficient in a high head environment (elevated water source). The second turbine type often used is the drop-in-the-creek turbine, or Submersible Hydro Generator, these are ideal when the water source not at a higher elevation. Regardless of which system is used, the result is rotational energy generating direct current electricity. Once electricity is being produced by the spinning turbine, it must be regulated and converted from the DC power produced by the generator, to AC power that can be used by modern electronics.
Green Empowerment has worked with a variety of partners and communities to create micro hydropower systems throughout the world. Whether it is in the Islands of Borneo, or the mountains of Nicaragua, Green empowerment works to find the solution that best suits the needs of the communities they serve.