Hydropower Learning

Run-of-River Installations


Welcome Abroad

Welcome to the Run-of-River Installations Topic


Introductory Video

Discover insightful explanations and demonstrations in the following video.


Topic Orientation

Insightful Visuals

Informative Visuals of Run-of-River Installations.


Case Studies
1

Chief Joseph Dam, Washington, USA

Chief Joseph Dam is a major run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station located near Bridgeport, Washington. It is an example of a run-of-the-river installation without a sizeable reservoir. With a capacity of 2,620 megawatts (3,510,000 hp), it is one of the largest run-of-the-river projects in the United States.

2

Mankala Power Station, Finland

The Mankala Power Station is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant situated along the Kymi River in Iitti, Finland. It harnesses the flow of the river to generate electricity without the need for significant water storage. This project demonstrates the suitability of run-of-the-river installations for rivers regulated by a lake or reservoir upstream.

3

Beauharnois Hydroelectric Generating Station, Quebec, Canada

The Beauharnois Hydroelectric Generating Station is a run-of-the-river project located in Quebec, Canada. With a capacity of 1,903 megawatts (2,552,000 hp), it is one of the largest run-of-the-river installations in the world. This project showcases the potential scale and generating capacity of run-of-the-river hydroelectricity.


Software Application
Hydropower Calculator




Step 1: Efficiency of Turbine (η)






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The efficiency of the turbine (η) measures how effectively it converts the kinetic energy of flowing water into electricity. It depends on various factors, including the brand, size, and condition of the turbine. Choose values that match your specific turbine characteristics.



Select a turbine brand with its associated efficiency.


Select the size of the turbine.


Select the condition of the turbine.


Efficiency (η): Calculating…





Step 2: Density of Water (ρ)






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The density of water (ρ) plays a crucial role in hydropower. It changes with temperature and salinity. Cold water tends to be denser, while higher salinity reduces density. Choose values that match your project site’s conditions.



Temperature of the water in degrees Celsius.


Salinity of the water in parts per thousand (ppt).


Density (ρ): Calculating…





Step 3: Flow Velocity (v)






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The flow velocity (v) of the water determines the kinetic energy available for generating hydropower. It’s influenced by factors like water slope, channel bed roughness, channel material, channel morphology, and wind conditions. Choose values that represent your specific conditions.



Slope of the water channel.


Roughness of the channel bed.


Type of material on the channel bed.


Characteristics of the channel, such as bends, pools, and riffles.


Wind conditions affecting water flow.


Flow Velocity (v): Calculating…





Step 4: Discharge (Q)






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Discharge (Q) represents the water flow rate through the turbine. It relies on the channel’s length, width, depth, and the conditions affecting flow velocity. Carefully select values to accurately assess your project’s potential.



Length of the water channel.


Width of the water channel.


Depth of the water channel.


Discharge (Q): Calculating…





Step 5: Power Output






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Click the button to compute the power output (P) of your hydropower system based on the parameters you’ve selected in the previous steps. The result will be displayed here.



Power Output (P): Calculating…

Flip The Cards
Scratch Card Quiz

Matching Words
Hydropower Energy QuizHydropower Energy Quiz

Match the terms with their definitions!

  • Terms
  • Run-of-River Installation
  • Turbine
  • Generator
  • Inverter
  • Dam
  • Penstock
  1.   is a hydropower system that harnesses the natural flow of a river to generate electricity.
  2.   is a device that converts the kinetic energy of flowing water into mechanical energy.
  3.   converts the mechanical energy from the turbine into electrical energy.
  4.   converts the DC electricity produced by the generator into usable AC electricity.

Good Job !

There are still unanswered questions!


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Entrepreneurial Spark
Run-of-river Business App

Run-of-river Turbines: Business Ideation



Seed Research Paper

Under Development, Stay Tuned!


Hands-On Kit

Experience hands-on learning with the educational practical kit.

Coming Soon

Formula Fundamentals

The main equation is used to calculate the Power Output (P) of the hydropower system.

Power Output (P) represents how much electrical energy a hydropower system can generate. It's calculated using the following formula:

P = 0.5 * η * ρ * v² * Q

Let's break down what these variables mean:

  • Efficiency (η): This value measures how effectively the turbine can convert the energy of flowing water into electricity. It's like a rating for the turbine's performance. The higher the efficiency, the better the turbine is at generating power.
  • Density (ρ): This represents how dense the water is. Cold water is denser than warm water, and water with higher salinity (saltiness) is less dense. The density of water affects how much power can be generated.
  • Flow Velocity (v): This is all about how fast the water is moving. The speed of the water flow plays a big role in how much energy can be harnessed. Faster-moving water has more energy to convert into electricity.
  • Discharge (Q): This measures how much water is flowing through the turbine. It depends on the size of the water channel and how deep it is. The more water that flows through, the more power can be produced.

Supplementary Resources

Here are some credible references discussing the subject of Run-of-River installations.

Resource TitleDescriptionLink
"Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity" - WikipediaProvides an overview of run-of-the-river hydroelectricity, including its concept, advantages, disadvantages, and major examples.Wikipedia - Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity
"Run-of-the-river hydroelectric systems" - Energy EducationExplains the concept of run-of-the-river hydroelectric systems, highlighting their differences from conventional impoundment hydroelectric facilities and discussing their classifications based on capacity.Energy Education - Run-of-the-river hydroelectric systems
"Run-of-River Hydropower" - National Hydropower AssociationProvides information on run-of-river hydropower, including its benefits, challenges, and examples of projects.National Hydropower Association - Run-of-River Hydropower
"Run-of-River Hydropower: A Sustainable Energy Solution" - International Hydropower AssociationExplores the sustainability of run-of-river hydropower, discussing its environmental, social, and economic aspects.International Hydropower Association - Run-of-River Hydropower: A Sustainable Energy Solution
"Tidal Power" - Renewable Energy WorldProvides an introduction to tidal power, explaining how it works, its advantages, and challenges associated with its implementation.Renewable Energy World - Tidal Power
"Tidal Power: Pros and Cons" - Energy SageDiscusses the pros and cons of tidal power, including its potential as a renewable energy source, environmental impacts, and technological challenges.Energy Sage - Tidal Power: Pros and Cons
"Tidal Power Generation" - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)Provides information on tidal power generation, including its potential, environmental considerations, and ongoing research and development.NOAA - Tidal Power Generation
"Tidal Power: Harnessing Energy from the Ocean's Tides" - Union of Concerned ScientistsExplores tidal power as a renewable energy source, discussing its benefits, challenges, and potential for future development.Union of Concerned Scientists - Tidal Power: Harnessing Energy from the Ocean's Tides

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