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Omar F. Zubia, PhD

ABE 63 Agricultural and Biosystems Power Engineering

LECTURE # 21
WATER POWER

Omar F. Zubia, PhD

ABE 63 Agricultural and Biosystems Power Engineering

Primary Sources of Power in

Agriculture
1. Human labor
2. Draft animals
3. Solar
4. Wind
5. Flowing water
6. Biomass
7. Electric motor
8. Heat engines

1
 Power
in
Moving
Water

Water Power
➢ power that can be generated from the movement of
masses of water
➢ movement in the form of kinetic energy can be
converted into mechanical energy which can then
be used to drive agricultural and industrial
equipment
➢ power can be converted further to electricity by
using electric generators to drive variety of
machines and equipment having a wide range of
power requirements

HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

2
 Water Power: Disadvantages

➢ it is a site specific technology

➢ there is always a maximum useful power

output available from a given hydropower site

➢ river flows often vary considerably with the

seasons, especially where there are
monsoon-type climates

TWO TYPES OF WATER

MASS MOVEMENT

1. Falling or flowing of streams

of water through the force of
gravity

2. Rise and fall of tides through

lunar and/or solar gravity

Water Power

Power developed depends on two factors:

1. Volume of water flowing per unit time

2. Head or vertical distance of water drops

at a point where power installation is
located

10

3
 Pwater = γQH = ρgQH
where: γ = specific weight of water = density (ρ) x gravity (g)
Q = discharge rate
H = head
ζ = turbine efficiency

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Available Water Power (SI unit)

ሶ
𝜁 𝑄𝐻
ሶ =
𝑃𝑎 = 𝜁𝛾𝑄𝐻 = 𝜁𝑔𝑄𝐻
102
Pa = available power in kW
ζ = turbine efficiency
γ = specific weight of water = density ρ (kg/m3) x gravity g (m/s2)
𝑄 = volume flow rate, m3/s = area (m2) x velocity of flow (m/s)
𝑄ሶ = mass flow rate, kg/s = area (m2) x velocity of flow (m/s) x density (kg/m3)
H = head, m

ρ = water density = 1000 kg/m3

g = pull of gravity = 9.806 m/s2

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Example:
Determine the theoretical power available from a stream
given the following information:

width = 3.5 m flow = 0.08 m/s

depth = 0.6 m head = 1.2 m

3
𝑄 = 𝑤 × 𝑑 × 𝑣 = 3.5 × 0.6 × 0.08 = 0.168 𝑚𝑠
𝑃𝑡 𝑘𝑊 = 𝛾𝑄𝐻 = ρ𝑔𝑄𝐻
𝑃𝑡 𝑘𝑊 = 1000 × 9.806 × 0.168 × 1.2 = 1976.89 𝑊

ሶ
𝑄𝐻 0.168 × 1000 × 1.2
𝑃𝑡 𝑘𝑊 = = = 1.976 𝑘𝑊
102 102

13

4
 Available Water Power
(customary unit)
ሶ
𝜁 𝑄𝐻
𝑃𝑎 =
33000
Pa = available power, hp
ζ = turbine efficiency
𝑄ሶ = mass flow rate, lb/min = density ρ x volume flow rate
H = head, ft

γ = specific weight of water = 62.4 lb/ft3

ρ = water density = 62.4 lb/ft3 or 8.34 lb/gal
g = pull of gravity = 32.2 ft/s2

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Example:
Determine the theoretical power available from a stream
given the following information:

𝑄ሶ = 1500 lb/min head = 150 ft

ሶ
𝑄𝐻 1500 × 150
𝑃𝑡 ℎ𝑝 = = = 6.8 ℎ𝑝
33000 33000

15

Water Power (Alternate Equation)

⚫ Theoretical Power (Pt)
QH
⚫ Where
Pt = power in W
Pt (W ) =
Q = mass flow rate, gpm
5.3
H = head, ft

Example 3: Q = 300 gpm and H = 110 ft

Solution
a. The power equation above is used
𝑄𝐻 300 × 110
𝑃𝑡 𝑊 = = = 6226 𝑊
5.3 5.3
b. To verify this equation, we have the following illustrations:
300 gallons 8.34lbs 110 feet hp − min 746W
Pt (W ) =     = 6221Watts
min gal 33000 ft − lb hp

16

5
 How a Hydro Power Plant
Works

17

The 200 W Mini Hydro Power

Unit

18

Inefficiencies
⚫ Hydraulic loses in conduits and turbines
⚫ Mechanical losses in bearings and power
transmission system
⚫ Electrical losses in generator, station use and
transmission (for hydroelectric power)
⚫ Overall effect is to reduce the theoretical
power by a factor of 0.60 – 0.80

19

6
 Water Wheels
20

Water Turbines

Impellers Francis Pelton

21

HYDRAULIC RAM
uses the kinetic energy of water
flow in a pipe to elevate parts of
the water to a height greater than
that causing the flow

22

7
 ESHA. 2004. Guide on How to Develop a Small Hydropower Plant. European
Renewable Energy Council.
Hodge, B.K. 2010. Alternative Energy Systems and Applications. John Wiley and Sons,
Inc.
International Commission of Agricultural Engineering. 1999. CIGR Handbook of
Agricultural Engineering: Energy and Biomass Engineering. Volume V. American
Society of Agricultural Engineers.
JICA. 2011. Guideline and Manual for Hydropower Development: Small scale
hydropower.Vol. 2. Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.
The Colorado Energy Office. Small Hydro Power Handbook. Denver. CO 80203-1973.

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Kalogirou, Soteris A. 2009. Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems.

Academic Press. 30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USA.
Liljedahl, John B. et al. 1989. Tractors and their power units. 4th edition. Van Nostrand
Reinhold.
Manwell J.F, J.G. Mc Gowan and A.L. Rogers. 2009. Wind Energy Explained: Theory,
Design and Application. 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern
Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, United Kingdom.
Twidell, John W. and Anthony D. Weir. 2006. Renewable Energy Sources. 2nd Edition.
Taylor & Francis, 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN.

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