Designs and Implements the ‘nHy-Fall’ Pico-Hydropower For Waterfall and Canal

Abstract

The Hydropower is considered as the most efficient power generation of sustainable energy. This type of technology is commonly based on the falling and flowing of the water, and hence the characteristic of the water can be considered as a potential of kinetic energy. Moreover, this technology is relatively most economic, low emission, sustainable, high flexibility and response to the peak demand. It is capable of rapid response to the demand because it can immediately generate the power, when the water falls and/or flows through the turbines. This means that it can contribute the stability of electricity.Nowadays, the nano-technology and characteristic of materials is continually growth and developed, respectively, and hence it is also effected the technology of hydropower turbine such as large construction site, high investment, and then long term of payback period. Therefore, it is necessary to classify the sizing of the Hydropower in order to specify the suitable requirement of design and installation. It is known that there are no international standards and regulations consensus on the definition of sizing the Hydropower. However, it can be approximately classified into as follows; Pico-Hydropower (rated less than 5 kW), Nano-Hydropower (rated less than 10 kW), Micro-Hydro (rated less than 100 kW), Mini-Hydropower (rated less than 1,000 kW), Small-Hydropower (rated less than 6,000 kW) and the upper limit of Hydropower (rated from 6,000 kw up to 30,000 kW), respectively.The paper has been designed and implemented the Pico-Hydropower for waterfall and canal, which calls ‘nHy-Fall’ devices. The prototype devices were carried out at the Sai Yok National Park, Kanchanaburi, Thailand in order to validate and ensure its performance. To achieve the Pico- Hydropower turbine, the mathematic modelling, computer simulation (as MATLAB/Simulink software), computer design (as AutoCAD and/or SolidWorks software) and implementation the prototype was carried out. The proposed ‘nHy- Fall’ devices can mainly support at the waterfall and canal, while it can also install at the riverbank, in the middle of river, bays, shoreline and coastal estuaries. The proposed generator should be easy to install and maintenance, while the chosen material structure of generator has the corrosion resistance. The generator was also followed the standards and regulations in order to ensure its safety.