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/ ROOT / HYDRO    ◂ back to sheet 1

Hydroelectric mini project

A small hydroelectric plant, built with a group for Energy Conversion and Green Electronics: water from a height turns a turbine, the turbine turns a generator, and the plan was to measure both ends and compare them with theory.

MEASUREMENT PLAN, FROM MY NOTESINTAKEQ, FLOWbucket and stopwatch,a weir, or a flowmeterH, HEADtape and spirit level,or an altimeterM1turbine or waterwheelGEARSIF NEEDEDGG1a DC motor run as a generator,or a small PM alternatorAA1amps, in seriesR1the loadVV1volts+V GEN0V▸ Hover a wire to name its net.NET WATER from the intake down the penstock, a hose, to the turbineNET SHAFT turbine to generator, through gears if the speeds need matchingNET +V GEN the generator's output, through the ammeter to the loadNET 0V the return to the generator
0 W15 W30 W00.511.52 L/s

water power ρgQH = 7.4 W at the terminals, η = 50 %: 3.7 W

FIG. 1  The estimate the project set out to check, computed on this page. The values are yours to set; none is a reading from the build.

THE QUESTIONNAIRE, FROM MY NOTES

SiteThe vertical head in metres; the flow during the demo; how steady it stays.
DesignA turbine to suit that head and flow: waterwheel, Pelton, crossflow, or a nozzle and impulse wheel. A DC motor run as a generator, or a small PM alternator. Gearing, if the speeds differ.
MeasureHead by tape and spirit level, or an altimeter. Flow by bucket and stopwatch, a weir, or a flowmeter. The volts and amps we expect, then measure.
BuildMounting the turbine, collecting the water, routing the hose.
SafetySlips, moving parts, electrical isolation.
EvaluateMeasured power against theory, and where the rest went: turbine losses, friction, leakage.

GOALS, FROM MY NOTES

  1. Prove the site has usable head and flow.
  2. Estimate the theoretical power.
  3. Build a small turbine and generator.
  4. Compare measured volts and amps with theory.

STATUS

Built, as a group project for EE2146. My notes hold the plan and the questions; the readings are not in them, so this sheet shows no measured values.

SOURCE

A page in my course notes for Energy Conversion and Green Electronics, 12 November 2025.

REVISIONSREVDATEDESCRIPTIONA2025-11-12Goals and the site questionnaireTITLEHydroelectric mini projectSHEET/ hydroNO.7 of 7REVADATE2025-11-12DRAWND. BrownSIZEA3GO TO◂ sheet 6next ▸OTHER VIEWSDEVPHYSICSACADEMICee.desmondbrown.me

/ ROOT / HYDRO

Hydroelectric mini project

A small hydroelectric plant, built with a group for Energy Conversion and Green Electronics: water from a height turns a turbine, the turbine turns a generator, and the plan was to measure both ends and compare them with theory.

SHEET7 of 7REVADATE2025-11-12
OTHER VIEWSDEVPHYSICSACADEMIC
MEASUREMENT PLAN, FROM MY NOTESINTAKEQ, FLOWbucket and stopwatch,a weir, or a flowmeterH, HEADtape and spirit level,or an altimeterM1turbine or waterwheelGEARSIF NEEDEDGG1a DC motor run as a generator,or a small PM alternatorAA1amps, in seriesR1the loadVV1volts+V GEN0V

Drag sideways to pan the schematic.

0 W15 W30 W00.511.52 L/s

water power ρgQH = 7.4 W at the terminals, η = 50 %: 3.7 W

FIG. 1  The estimate the project set out to check, computed on this page. The values are yours to set; none is a reading from the build.

THE QUESTIONNAIRE, FROM MY NOTES

SiteThe vertical head in metres; the flow during the demo; how steady it stays.
DesignA turbine to suit that head and flow: waterwheel, Pelton, crossflow, or a nozzle and impulse wheel. A DC motor run as a generator, or a small PM alternator. Gearing, if the speeds differ.
MeasureHead by tape and spirit level, or an altimeter. Flow by bucket and stopwatch, a weir, or a flowmeter. The volts and amps we expect, then measure.
BuildMounting the turbine, collecting the water, routing the hose.
SafetySlips, moving parts, electrical isolation.
EvaluateMeasured power against theory, and where the rest went: turbine losses, friction, leakage.

GOALS, FROM MY NOTES

  1. Prove the site has usable head and flow.
  2. Estimate the theoretical power.
  3. Build a small turbine and generator.
  4. Compare measured volts and amps with theory.

STATUS

Built, as a group project for EE2146. My notes hold the plan and the questions; the readings are not in them, so this sheet shows no measured values.

SOURCE

A page in my course notes for Energy Conversion and Green Electronics, 12 November 2025.

REVISIONS

A2025-11-12Goals and the site questionnaire
TITLEHydroelectric mini project
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