Hydroelectric

Pico hydro turbines

Pico hydro turbines are small water turbines with capacities of a few hundred watts to 5 kW.

Pico hydro turbines can be used to harness hydro power from streams, rivers, irrigation canals and waterfalls, and require only a constant water supply with a very low water head. Pico hydro turbines are usually axial-flow turbines. Pico hydro turbines are portable, and are suitable for village applications in developing countries. Apart from electricity generation, some pico hydro turbines, such as the water mill, can also be used to provide mechanical power for various applications such as grinding flour and irrigation.

Above: A pico hydro turbine

A set of interesting pico hydro turbines using "Turgo wheels" is being advertised on the Internet. Although EMSD do not have actual experience with such turbines, they are introduced here for illustration of the technologies of pico hydro turbines. The Stream Engine and Water Baby are turbines designed by the Canadian company Energy Systems and Design (http://www.microhydropower.com/). Both the Stream Engine and the Water Baby use Turgo wheels to harness the water power. According to the information on the website, the former can produce power at water head as low as 2 metres while the latter can produce power at flow rate as low as 0.18 liters per second.

Above: Picture of a Stream Engine

Above: Picture of a Water Baby