TECHNOLOGIES >> HYDRO POWER >> ESTIMATING FLOW RATES
Estimating Micro Hydro Power Flow Rates
Flow is the average volume of water that passes a fixed point in a river or stream over time. The fixed point you are intersted in is the intake for your Micro Hydro scheme.
Flow rates are a key part of understanding how much energy you can produce from your watercourse. Estimating flow rates is quite straight forward, but it is an estimate. Accurate measurement of flow rates can take weeks, months, or years to complete.
You can follow the below steps to gain an understanding of the potential at your site. Once you have an estimate of flow you can enter it, along with an estimate of the head into our Output Calculator.
First, you need to gain an understanding of your watercourses’ catchment area. Using www.streetmap.co.uk enter your postcode or grid reference (click here for guidance on how to obtain a grid reference) and hit Enter, or click ‘Go’:
Use the zoom function to show a 1:25000 scale map:
Find your proposed site on the map and working from your intake position draw a line perpendicular to the contours up hill of your point. Repeat this until you reach the highest point and then contine around and down hill until you arrive back where you started. The below example has the catchment area highlighted in red.
There are many geographical and geological variants in a landscape meaning that estimating flow is open to change. A rough estimate of flow by catchment is 40 litres per second per square kilometre.
We use specialist software to model the flow at any given site. Modelling is accurate enough for calculating returns on investment.
Our models are accepted by the relevant authorities for abstraction permits and licenceing purposes.
Additionally and for larger flow sites with large catchment areas, local gauging station data may be available at a nearby point. This can be viewed by clicking here.
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