Microhydro: Clean Power from Water(13 Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)

Hydroelectricity is the world's largest-and cleanest-source of renewable -energy. But despite lively interest in renewables generally, there is an information vacuum about the smallest version of the technology dubbed "the simplest, most reliable and least expensive way to generate power off grid." Highly illustrated and practical, Microhydro is the first complete book on the topic in a decade. Covering both AC and DC systems, it covers principles, design and site considerations, equipment options, and legal, environmental, and economic factors. Scott Davis has decades of experience operating, installing, designing, selling, and teaching about microhydro technology. An award-winner in the field, he currently works as a system designer and retailer with an alternative energy company for whom he has authored an on-line microhydro course.

Table of Contents:
Dedication Acknowledgments Introduction 1 What is Microhydro? Introducing Electricity and Hydraulics       About DC       About AC Moving Power       Electricity and Water       Calculating Electrical Characteristics Hydroelectricity       Focus on Microhydro       Good News, Bad News 2 Assessing Your Energy Needs The Kilowatt Hour Electrical Consumption and Capacity Comparing Service from Different Technologies       Rating Photovoltaic Outputs       Rating Wind Outputs       Rating Microhydro Outputs Different Jobs — Different Power Requirements Assessing Your Requirements, Assessing Your Site       How Much and What Type of Power do you Need? Assessing Your Consumption       The Consumption Self-Rating Scale How Much Power Do You Need?       Interpreting Your Score Introducing the Capacity Self-rating Scale The Capacity Self-rating Scale Off-grid and Needing Some Power How Much is Enough? Do You Need Power in the Winter? If You Need Just a Bit of Power If You Live There Full-time The Magic Number       Getting Even More Performance from Your System 3 Assessing Your Site Step 1: Measuring Stream Flow       Estimating Flow Rate       The Container Method       The Weir Method Step 2: Measuring Pressure       Using a Pressure Gauge       Converting Pressure into Head       Measuring Maximum Flow Rate       Surveying       Using a Water Level Go Figure! Step 3: Creating a Stream Profile       Calculating Potential Output Step 4: Calculating Allowable Frictional Loss Rate Go Figure! Step 5: Finding Optimum Flow Rate Go Figure! Step 6: Calculating Power Output Choosing Jets Go Figure! 4 The Appropriate System for You Battery Charging Systems       Batteries in Microhydro       Charging Batteries       Charge Control       Producing AC from Batteries with an Intverter       Alternators Turbines       Impulse Turbines for High Head       Low Head Turbines       Low Head AC Turbines       Other Turbine Solutions       Constructing your own Turbine Balance of System Equipment       Batteries       Battery Charge Control       Diversion Loads       Inverters Small AC Systems       Governing Small AC Systems       More Early Practices       Modern Solutions AC Systems       Efficiency       Governing Larger AC Systems       AC Turbines       Belt Drives       Low Head, Multiple-kilowatt AC       Transmitting AC Power 5 Getting Started About Pipe       Polyethylene (Poly)       PVC       Sizing Pipe       Low Pressure and High Pressure Pipe Microhydro Opportunities       Spring Water       Existing Pipes       Low Head Systems Microhydro Obstacles       Very Steep Ground       Waterfalls       Debris       High Water, Low Water       Freezing Weather       Ice Installing Microhydro Equipment       Penstocks       Plumbing       Valves       Pressure Gauge       Vaccuum Breaker       Plumbing in the Powerhouse       Intakes 6 Regulations and Incentives The Carrot: Government Incentives for Microhydro       Appropriate Incentives for Appropriate Technology       Incentives in Canada       Incentives in the United States The Stick: Regulations       The Process in British Columbia       Department of Fisheries and Oceans       Department of Water, Land and Air Protection 7 Case Studies Case Study 1: A System with a Long Pipeline       The Problem       The Solution       Replacing this System Today Case Study 2: A System with a Long Transmission Line       The Problem       The Solution       Replacing this System Today Case Study 3: A Simple System       The Problem       The Solution       Replacing this System Today Case Study 4: A Small AC System       The Problem       The Solution Case Study 5: Upgrading a Small AC System       The Problem       The Solution       Replacing this System Today Case Study 6: A Low-head AC System       The Problem       The Solution Case Study 7: A Relatively High-output System       The Problem       The Solution       Replacing this System Today Glossary Resources Index About the Author

About the Author :
Scott Davis has decades of experience operating, installing, designing, selling, and teaching about microhydro technology. An award-winner in the field, he currently works as a system designer and retailer with an alternative energy company for whom he has authored an on-line microhydro course.

Review :
"At long last, a book about small, residential-scale hydroelectric. Our industry has been looking for this book for over ten years." - DOUG PRATT, Technical Editor, Real Goods "As manufacturers and marketers of the PowerPal line of microhydro products, we are really delighted with Scott Davis' new book Microhydro: Clean Power from Water. It is a well-written, informative and, above all, practical guide to all aspects of microhydroelectric generation and installation. We certainly intend to recommend it to our customers and to other interested parties." - DAVID L. SEYMOUR, President, Asian Phoenix Resources Ltd. "This book reflects Scott Davis' many years of experience in this field, and his belief in energy conservation. He presents the art of small micro-hydropower generation in a very easy to read format, with excellent illustrations. This book would be invaluable to anyone planning to develop a small microhydropower system and to all who believe in renewable energy." - GHANASHYAM RANJITKAR, Energy Specialist (Micro-hydropower), MIEE "Finally! A book that explains how microhydro works. Scott has filled the long-standing need for this kind of book with one that is comprehensive and understandable." - POWERHOUSE PAUL, manufacturer of micro-hydroelectric generators since 1980