The current focus on distributed medium sized renewable energy systems has led to a closer look at small to medium sized hydropower systems as a possible component of a future energy mix. Run-of-river (ROR) systems offer a promising solution in this sector, as they can make use of existing water systems with minimal disruption and minimal environmental impact.
Run-of-river systems were arguably the first hydropower plants, which used the kinetic energy of water flowing in the rivers to generate mechanical energy. Water wheels and water mills all used the energy in the flow of river water to generate mechanical power to drive grain mills and other devices such as sawmills, etc. Both overshot and undershot, as well as vertical axis wooden water wheels were used, and in fact are still being manufactured and installed, mainly at microhydro sites which have low available heads, both for functional reasons and for decoration.
Read more at EE Publishers....
Run-of-river systems were arguably the first hydropower plants, which used the kinetic energy of water flowing in the rivers to generate mechanical energy. Water wheels and water mills all used the energy in the flow of river water to generate mechanical power to drive grain mills and other devices such as sawmills, etc. Both overshot and undershot, as well as vertical axis wooden water wheels were used, and in fact are still being manufactured and installed, mainly at microhydro sites which have low available heads, both for functional reasons and for decoration.
Read more at EE Publishers....
RSS Feed
