A hydroelectric turbine operates from the pressure at the bottom end of a pipeline. This pressure, usually measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), is directly related to the head, or vertical distance from where the water goes into the pipe at the top of the pipeline, to the turbine located at the bottom of the pipeline. The pressure at the lowest point of a pipeline is equal to 0.433 times the head, (the vertical distance in feet).

Pressure is important because it is a determining factor in how much power is available and what type of pipe is required. Polyethylene pipe can be used for pressures up to 100 PSI, PVC pipe is available with pressure ratings from 160 to 350 PSI and steel pipe can withstand 1000 PSI or more. Check with your local plumbing supplier for pipe ratings. Pipe diameter is very important. All pipelines will cause the water flowing in them to lose some energy to friction. The pipe must be large enough for the maximum quantity of water it will carry.

 The pressure at the bottom of a pipeline when water is not flowing is called static pressure. When water is flowing through the outlet or nozzle of the hydroelectric turbine, the pressure at the outlet is the dynamic pressure or running head. If you install a gate valve on the pipeline just above the turbine and a pressure gauge on a "T" fitting just above the gate valve, you will read the static pressure on the gauge when the valve is closed and the dynamic pressure when the valve is opened.

The maximum power that can be delivered by a pipeline will occur when the dynamic pressure is approximately 2/3 of the static pressure. The actual flow rate of the water in a hydroelectric system is determined by the diameter of the nozzle. We will supply a turbine with the proper size nozzle for your site, depending on the head, flow, length and diameter of the pipe. We carry hydroelectric generators made by Energy Systems and Design, HI-Power Hydroelectric, and Harris Hydroelectric.

Use the descriptions below to help determine which turbine will work best for your site and power requirements.

If you have a suitable site, than you can select a turbine from our below offering which meets your needs or call us with all your site information and we can design a hydro system which will meet your needs.

2. Flow – The number of gallons per minute that are available.

3. Pipe Distance – The length of pipe that will be necessary to carry the water from the pickup to the turbine.

Nozzle Selection

Power output of a hydroelectric generator is determined by the pressure of the water at the nozzle and the amount of water flowing out of the nozzle. The larger the nozzle, the greater the flow will be. The nozzle must also be sized small enough to keep your pipeline full and keep the speed of the water in the pipe below five feet per second.

The nozzle selection chart below shows water flow through various size nozzles at given pressures. Use this chart to determine what size nozzle and how many nozzles you need to accommodate the flow of water you have and to deliver the amount of power you need. A pressure gauge in the pipe feeding your turbine, installed before the shutoff valve, can help you check proper operation and diagnose problems. When the valve is shut off, the gauge will read the static pressure in pounds per square inch PSI (head in feet x .433). When the valve is turned on the gauge will read a lower (dynamic) pressure.

The difference between these two pressures represents your loss to friction in the pipe. The greater the flow, the greater your loss will be.

Once you order your hydroelectric turbine it will take approximately eight weeks lead time to manufacture it.  If you cancel your order once production has started there could be a cancellation fee which will be determined by the manufacturer.  This fee is typically about 15%

Water Flow Information for Pumping and Hydroelectric Design

Flow Through Nozzles

The chart below shows flow through various nozzles in GPM at a range of heads from 5 feet to 400 feet. Use chart to choose what nozzle size to use and how many nozzles a turbine must have to give the required flow to use all of the water available in the system.

Use the chart below to determine what pipe size is required to efficiently allow necessary flow for your power need. Once you know the required flow for your system (gpm), find the head loss for various pipe sizes. Multiply the head loss number by the length of the pipe divided by 100 and you will get the loss of head for that pipe size. The actual head minus the head loss will give you the effective head in the system.

ES&D hydroelectric battery chargers use a cast bronze turbo runner to drive a long-life, brushless permanent magnet alternator.

A simple change of wiring in the junction box allows this turbine to charge 12, 24, or 48-volt battery systems. These turbines come with cut-to-size nozzles that can be user-set for up to 1", allowing a very large flow in low head situations. They can operate on heads as low as five feet with a flow of 40 GPM.

Owner's Manual