- Home
- Companies
- Energy Systems & Design (ES&D)
- Articles
- Intro to Hydropower - Measuring Head ...
Intro to Hydropower - Measuring Head and Flow
Courtesy of Energy Systems & Design (ES&D)
Small-scale hydro is the only renewable energy source that works for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the first article in this series (HP103), I explained the basics of hydroelectric system theory, and reviewed system components. This article focuses on measuring a stream’s head and flow. Before you can begin designing your hydro system or estimating how much electricity it will produce, you’ll need to make four essential measurements:
- Head (the vertical distance between the intake and turbine)
- Flow (how much water comes down the stream)
- Pipeline (penstock) length
- Electrical transmission line length (from turbine to home or battery bank)
When measuring head and flow, keep in mind that accuracy is important. Inaccurate measurements can result in a hydro system designed to the wrong specs, and one that produces less electricity at a greater expense.
-
Most popular related searches
Customer comments
No comments were found for Intro to Hydropower - Measuring Head and Flow. Be the first to comment!