Assessing the Feasibility of Pico Hydro Technology on TESC

1
Assessing the Feasibility of Pico Hydro
Technology on TESC

• Kate Fabian,
• Asa Hurst,
• Jon Shimazu

2
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

3
Stream Flow Measurements

• Materials
• Stopwatch
• Current Meters
• Measuring Tape
• Boots

4
Procedure

• Determine evaluation sites
• Tried 3 points along the stream, decided on one
• Take Recordings
• Width (m)
• Depth (m)
• Flow Rate (m/s)
• Water Head (m)
• Analyze Data
• Volumetric Flow (m3/s)
• Determine Kinetic Energy
• Determine Gravitational Potential Energy

5
Site Locations
6
The Culvert
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Data Power by Time
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Uncertainties and Compensation

• Equipment limitations
• Variations in Current Measurements
• Coordinating readings with stopwatch
• Reducing Human Error
• Multiple readings
• Timing announcements

9
Harvesting Methods
Run of the River Penstock
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Power Generation and Cost

• Run-of-the-River Pico hydro
• Penstock 1000 W, 10,000

11
Parallel Axis

• Commonly used on large scales
• Efficient up to 90 (on large scales)?
• Expensive, hard to fabricate, especially on small
  scales

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Ecological Concerns

• Turbidity, Suspended Matter
• Oxygen Levels
• Diverting Stream Water
• Physical Barriers