• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.2 no.2 s.6
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• pp.81-85
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• 2006

The output performance characteristics for surveyed sites were analyzed, using developed model. It consists of two main parts, the deciding flow duration characteristic of river and performance prediction model to estimate the output characteristics of small hydropower plants. As a result, It was found that the flowrate concerning with 25% of time ratio on flow duration curve can be selected to design flowrate of small hydropower plants, and the output characteristics of small hydropower plants having overflow dam are different from large scale hydropower plants.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.491-494
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• 2006

The output performance characteristics for surveyed sites were analyzed, using developed model. It consists of two main parts, the deciding flow duration characteristic of river and performance prediction model to estimate the output characteristics of small hydropower plants. As a result, it was found that the flowrate concerning with 25% of time ratio on flow duration curve can be selected to design flowrate of small hydropower plants, and the output characteristics of small hydropower plants having overflow dam are different from large scale hydropower plants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.104-108
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• 2012

Recently, small scale hydropower needs to be developed due to its clean, renewable and abundant energy resources. However, suitable draft of hydro-turbine body in combination with differences in wheel blade shapes is not determined yet in the range of small hydropower and it is necessary to study for the effective draft in combination with type. Therefore, watermill shaped of 250mm diameter. hydro-turbine aiming 20 watt class generator is adopted in this study because of its simple structure and high possibility of applying to small hydropower. The result shows that effective draft for the turbine body is variable concerning the size of turbine and flow rate of water. Thus, the difference of water depth between fore and aft turbine body contributes to the increase of torque, angular momentum and power output.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.995-1005
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• 2007

This study presents a framework for optimum scale determination for small hydropower development in a river basin. The framework includes the construction of hydrology and topography data, the simulation of hydropower operation, the economic analysis, and the determination of optimum scale of the small hydropower. The optimum scale of design flow and facility are determined by Net Present Value among economic analysis indices. The investment cost is estimated by the cost function derived from the construction cost of existing small hydropower plants. The benefit from power generation is estimated by the price announced by government. The presented framework is applied to the two potential sites in Cho River basin for the dam and run-of-river type of plants. Finally, the sensitivity analysis for a design flow and scale of the plant is performed for the each site. The usage of the framework presented in the study is highly expected for the estimation of potential hydropower resources or the decision support tool for a proprietor by estimating the optimum scale and economical feasibility in advance.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2005.07a
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• pp.690-692
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• 2005

Among many other alternative energy resources, small scale hydropower has been brought into attention as a reliable source of energy today, which had been relatively neglected since 1960s. Present low head of Francis turbines and small scale hydro turbines, however, have limitations in the minimum required head and flow rate for efficient operation. This study attempts to develope the Francis turbine which is expected to run efficiently even in very low head and small flow rate, so that the limitations on the conventional small scale hydropower could be alleviated and competition with other alternative energy sources in the changable design conditions could be attained. The Francis turbine of a new concept was designed based on changable design conditions, hydrodynamics and theory of power transmission.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.39-43
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• 2005

Among many other alternative energy resources, small scale hydropower has been brought into attention as a reliable source of energy today, which had been relatively neglected since 1960s. Present low head of Francis turbines and small scale hydroturbines, however, have limitations in the minimum required head and flow rate for efficient operation. This study attempts to develope the Francis turbine which is expected to run efficiently even in very low head and small flow rate, so that the limitations on the conventional small scale hydropower could alleviated and competition with other alternative energy sources in the changable design conditions could attained. The Francis turbine of a new concept was designed based on changable design conditions, hydrodynamics and theory of power transmission. The result of the study shows that two stages runner is more efficient, cheaper in construction, faster responding, and easier maintaining than single stage runner of Francis turbine

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.129-139
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• 1985

Small-scale hydropower systems offer several advantages compared to other alternatives as an important source of energy in both developed and developing countries. This study proposes systematic criteria for screening of small-scale hydropower sites to determine their potential for farther study, and demonstrates the general procedure. These criteria are based on the physical characteristics of the sites and their social, environmental and economic aspects. The procedure presented shows great flexibility for screening based on the availability of information and situation at the site.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.237-243
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• 1996

Current low head and small scale hydroturbines have limitations in the minimum required head and flow rate for efficient operation. This study attempts to develop a new concept hydroturbine which is expected to run efficiently even in very low head and small flow rate, so that the limitations on the conventional small scale hydropower could be alleviated and competition with other alternative energy sources in the economic respect could be attained. A small scale catapillar track- hydroturbine was fabricated and the performance test was carried out in a water tunnel over the head range of H = 0.8 m ~ 1.26 m. The peak turbine efficiency was 41.3% at the speed ratio of 0.6, and the turbine loss was mostly due to the friction at the chain drive used for power transmission from the runner to the shafts. This type of turbine is expected to become competitive when some improvement in the power transmission mechanism is made.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.281-289
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• 1999

Small-scale hydropower projects at existing agricultural reservoirs can contribute to produce electric energy by maximizing the use of releases from the reservoirs. The irrigation water duration, the reservoir hydropower simulation, and the nonlinear programming model are employed to estimate potential hydroelectric energy at an existing reservoir. The nonlinear programming model consists of finding a maximum hydroelectric energy subject to irrigation water demand constraints. The sample reservoir given a set of inflow and irrigation water is considered. The optimal solutions by the optimization model yield the most hydroelectric energy for the analysis period in the three methods. Consequently, the nonlinear programming model uses the most water for hydropower generation with respect to the total inflow of the sample reservoir. It is also found that additional storage by increasing the normal water level of the sample reservoir does not significantly increase the annual hydroelectric energy for the given reservoir. It is expected that the optimization model and the proposed procedure for estimating potential hydroelectric energy can be applied to evaluate feasibility analysis for small scale hydropower additions at existing agricultural dams.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.363-370
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• 2013

Small scale hydropower is one of most attractive and cost-effective energy technologies for installation within sewage treatment plants. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of a semi-kaplan micro-hydropower (MHP) system for application to sewage treatment plants with high flow fluctuations and a low head. The semi-kaplan MHP is equipped with an adjustable runner blade, and is without a guide vane, so as to reduce the incidence of mechanical problems. A MHP rating 13.4 kWp with a semi-kaplan turbine has been considered for Kiheung Respia sewage treatment plant, and this installation is estimated to generate 86.8 MWh of electricity annually, which is enough to supply electricity to over 25 households, and equivalent to an annual reduction of 49 ton $CO_2$. The semi-kaplan turbine showed a 90.2% energy conversion efficiency at the design flow rate of 0.35 $m^3/s$ and net head of 4.7 m, and was adaptable to a wide range of flow fluctuations. Through the MHP operation, approximately 2.1% of total electricity demand of Kiheung Respia sewage treatment plant will be achievable. Based on financial analysis, an exploiting MHP is considered economically acceptable with an internal rate of return of 6.1%, net present value of 15,539,000 Korean Won, benefit-cost ratio of 1.08, and payback year of 15.5, respectively, if initial investment cost is 200,000,000 Korean Won.