Hydropower Resource Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hydropower Resource Analysis - Assignment Example This paper also reviews in depth about the hydroelectric scheme and discusses the methods of determining its sustainability by way of presenting methods of selecting appropriate turbines in relation to the head and flow of water source. It uses tables of generation tariffs in U.K. and shows how and what revenue is achievable with possible periods of payback of huge initial investment needed for the project. The power of water is dependent upon its pressure which is built by the height of water source. The pressure is found at the point from where water is released. The vertical distance between the water releasing point and water source such as reservoir, tank, etc. determines the water pressure. It is this elevation which is known as â€Å"Head† and measured in meters as a vertical distance. Water ‘Flow’ is the amount of water quantity or ‘volume’ in a given time. It is therefore measured as cubic meter per second (m3/s) representing volume of water and time in which it flows. The density of water and earth gravity also affects the flow of water. The density of water is commonly taken as 1000 kg/m3 and earth gravitational force is a constant having value of 9.81 m/ s3 (ESHA 2004) Pipelines are most commonly used for moving water from higher source point to a lower release point. There are many barriers in the way of water travel that reduces water distance. This includes size and shape of pipelines, friction of water with pipe material, the joints, design flow and the sides. All of these and many other factors create loss and therefore Head is always taken as net; the vertical distance is subtracted with expected loss in transit and Net Head is derived. All calculations in this paper are based on net head. The word Hydropower refers to the force of water. It is also referred mostly as hydraulic power. Generation of electricity from hydropower or hydraulic power is referred as Hydroelectric or hydraulic electricity. Figure 1 illustrates