Emerging Technologies: Mini, Micro and Small Hydel Plants

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
MINI, MICRO AND SMALL HYDEL PLANTS
 There is no formal definition of a small hydro plant but this may be generally taken as
power plant having output upto 5000 kW.
 Some associate the concept of small hydro with low head say upto 15 m.
 These can be categorized into 2 types
1) Utilizing small discharges but having high head
2) Utilizing large discharges but having small head
 For high head discharges being small, the physical size of the plant required is small.
 For the second type, as the discharges handled are high, the physical size of the
generating unit is quite big.
 Proper arrangement for entry and exit of water is required to be made.
 The small hydro development of the first type which is confined mainly to hilly areas.
 There is no need for substantial storage and generally run of river is utilized
 The power consumed in the local area eliminating the requirement of long transmission
line.
 The grid line would be far away and hence the need of local development
 Features of development of the second type which normally belongs to the plains are
somewhat different
 The head available is rather low and discharges have to be comparatively large to be
economically viable.
 The development thus can take place on Small River, irrigation outlet, canal fall etc.
 The grid transmission line would generally be available nearby and the power station also
be connected to it.
Classification of small hydro powe r stations
Size Unit size
1. Micro Upto 100 kW
2. Mini 101 to 1000 kW
3. Small 1001 to 5000 kW
Advantages
1. It is a renewable source of energy
2. It is non polluting
3. It reduces transmission losses
4. Operating costs are low
5. Capital costs is comparatively less
6. It helps in remote areas
Disadvantages
1. Transport difficulties in hilly areas
2. Low operation efficiency
3. Transmission cost is more
4. Longer time period for generation
5. Sudden loss of unit
WAVE ENERGY
 Ocean waves are caused by the wind as it blows across the sea. Waves are a powerful
source of energy.
 The problem is that it's not easy to harness this energy and convert it into electricity in
large amounts. Thus, wave power stations are rare.
 There are several methods of getting energy from waves.
 One of them works like a swimming pool wave machine in reverse
 At a swimming pool, air is blown in and out of a chamber beside the pool, which makes
the water outside bob up and down, causing waves.
 At a wave power station, the waves arriving cause the water in the chamber to rise and
fall, which means that air is forced in and out of the hole in the top of the chamber.
 A turbine in this hole, which is turned by the air rushing in and out.
 The turbine turns a generator.
 A problem with this design is that the rushing air can be very noisy, unless a silencer is
fitted to the turbine.
Advantages
1. The energy is free - no fuel needed, no waste produced.
2. Not expensive to operate and maintain.
3. Can produce a great deal of energy.
Disadvantages
1. Depends on the waves - sometimes you'll get loads of energy, sometimes almost nothing.
2. Needs a suitable site, where waves are consistently strong.
3. Some designs are noisy. But then again, so are waves, so any noise is unlikely to be a
problem.
4. Must be able to withstand very rough weather.
FUEL CELL
 It may be defined as an electro chemical device for continuous conversion o f the free
energy change in a chemical reaction to electrical.
 The main components of a cell are:
i) A fuel electrode
ii) An oxidant or air electrode
iii) An electrolyte
 Hydrogen as a fuel is very economical compared to other fossil fuels.
 Some of the fuel cells are hydrogen (H2 , O 2 ), hydrazine (N 2 H2 , O2 ), carbon/ coal (C, O 2 ),
methane (CH4 , O2 ) etc.
 Hydrogen oxygen fuel cells (hydrox) are efficient and the most highly developed cell.
 Two porous carbon or nickel electrodes are immersed in an electrolyte.
 The electrolyte is typically 30% of KOH because of its high electrical conductivity.
Cells reactions are:

H2 2 H+ + 2 e- -
2 H+ + OH-- 2 H2 O
--
O + H2 O + 2 e 2 OH--
 H2 is fed to one electrode and is absorbed gives free electrons and also reacts with
hydroxyl ions of the electrolyte to form water.
 The free electrons travel towards oxygen electrode through the external circuit.
 The 2 electrons arriving by the external circuit and 1 molecule of water to form 2 OH—
ions.
 These OH— ions migrate towards to H2 electrode and are consumed there.
 The electrolyte remains invariant.
 It is a prime requirement that the composition of electrolyte should not change as the cell
operates.
 The cell operates at or slightly atmospheric pressure and at a temperature about 90 0 C.
 These types of cells are low temperature cells.
 Single hydrogen – oxygen cell can produce an emf of 1.23 V at atmospheric pressure and
temperature of 250 C.
 By connecting a number of cells, it is possible to create a useful potential of 100 to
1000V.
Advantages
1. It is a direct conversion process and does not involve a thermal process, so it has high
operating efficiency
2. The unit is smaller, lighter and needs less maintenance
3. Fuel power plants may further cut generation costs by reducing transmission losses
4. Less pollution compared to other power plants
Disadvantages
1. Low voltage output
2. High initial costs
3. Low service life
MAGNETO HYDRO DYNAMICS GENERATOR (MHD)
 The principle of MHD power generation enables direct conversion of thermal energy to
electrical energy.
 MHD power generation works on the principle that is described by Faraday: when an
electric conductor moves across a magnetic field, a voltage is induced in it which
produces an electric current.
 In MHD generators, the solid conductors are replaced by a fluid which is electrically
conducting.
 The working fluid may be either an ionized gas or liquid metal.
 The hot, partially ionized and compressed gas is expanded in a duct and fo rced through a
strong magnetic field; electrical potential is generated in the gas.
 Electrodes are placed on the side of the duct pick up the potential generated in the gas.
 In this manner direct current is obtained which can be converted into AC with the aid of
inverter.
 Ionized gas can be produced by heating it to a high temperature.
 As the gas is heated the outer electrons escape from its atoms or molecules.
 The gas particles acquire electric charge
 High temperature of 28000 C is needed to produce the necessary ionization of gas.
 The exhaust from MHD generator is at a temperature of about 2500 K and can be used as
a heating medium for steam rising in a conventional boiler.
Advantages
1. It has higher thermal efficiency.
2. Large amount of power is generated
3. It has no moving parts, so more reliable
4. It free of pollution
5. The size of plant is considerably smaller than conventional power plants
6. Direct conversion of heat into electricity reduces the losses of energy during conversion.
7. The capital cost is comparatively less than conventional power plants
8. Reduces the fuel consumption

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EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

MINI, MICRO AND SMALL HYDEL PLANTS

Classification of small hydro powe r stations

Size Unit size

1. Micro Upto 100 kW

2. Mini 101 to 1000 kW

3. Small 1001 to 5000 kW

Cells reactions are:

MAGNETO HYDRO DYNAMICS GENERATOR (MHD)

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