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Assessing the Feasibility of Pico Hydro Technology on TESCKate Fabian, Asa Hurst, Jon Shimazu
Objective/Motivation
•Hydroelectric Power is very clean on small scales
•Pacific NW: Lots of water
Measure the flow of the stream to estimate the available hydroelectric power
Stream Flow Measurements
•Materials:▫Stopwatch▫Current Meters▫Measuring Tape▫Boots
Procedure1. Determine evaluation sites
• Tried 3 points along the stream, decided on one
2. Take Recordings▫ Width (m)▫ Depth (m)▫ Flow Rate (m/s)▫ Water Head (m)
3. Analyze Data▫ Volumetric Flow (m3/s)▫ Determine Kinetic Energy▫ Determine Gravitational Potential Energy
Site Locations
The Culvert
Data: Power by TimePower Potential Over Time
1/18/2008
1/25/2008
2/1/2008
2/8/2008
2/15/2008
2/28/20080
100
200
300
400
500
600
1/13/2008 1/23/2008 2/2/2008 2/12/2008 2/22/2008 3/3/2008
Date
Gra
va
tati
on
al P
ote
nti
al (
w)
GravitationalPotential Energy (w) with h =.4 m
Uncertainties and Compensation•Equipment limitations
▫Variations in Current Measurements▫Coordinating readings with stopwatch
•Reducing Human Error▫Multiple readings▫Timing announcements
Harvesting Methods
Run of the River
Penstock
Power Generation and Cost
•Run-of-the-River: Pico hydro<500 W, <2000$
•Penstock: ~1000 W, ~10,000$
Parallel Axis• Commonly used on
large scales• Efficient: up to 90%
(on large scales)• Expensive, hard to
fabricate, especially on small scales
Ecological Concerns
•Turbidity, Suspended Matter•Oxygen Levels•Diverting Stream Water•Physical Barriers