Designing and Building Mini and Micro Hydro Power Schemes: A Practical Guide

Small hydro power installations have the potential to provide a renewable supply of energy to people in remote, hilly communities, far from the national grid. This book is based on the authors’ considerable experience of installing hydroelectric schemes that produce up to 500 kW for powering small communities. This book describes not only the electro-mechanical equipment and how it is installed, but also the correct siting of the installation and how to design and build the channels leading up to the turbine so as to optimize performance. These civil works can be carried out by local manpower, using materials that are usually available locally. Chapters cover the main components of small hydroelectric plants from the intake and the headrace channel, via the conveyance channel, to the forebay tank, penstock, turbine, and generator.