A flow of 3 lps generated 748 W, - ever so close to the target output, but nevertheless falling short and leaving me hankering to see the full ¾ kW displayed on the Wattson monitor.
Today, by delivering slightly more water with just a slightly bigger nozzle on the top jet (∅ 7.46 vs 7.14 mm), the output is now 765 W. To the best of my measuring ability, the flow giving this output is 3.12 lps, - so just 4 % more than calculation predicted and possibly within the margin for error anyway.
To obtain this output from the inverter to the grid, the dc input to the inverter from the alternator is as follows:
... near enough 915 W (3 A x 305 v), - a figure qualified by these being cheap meters with limited accuracy.
915 W 'in' and 765 W 'out' means there is a power loss in the inverter of 150 W, - a surprisingly large chunk of power, making it apparently only 83% efficient at this power level.
I can't quite fathom this out for the moment, - it goes against what I have documented in previous posts (see here) that inverter efficiency gets better at higher power levels. Certainly a hand on the inverter to feel its warmth confirms that its grab of 150 W is probably correct.
Perhaps the answer lies in there being a more significant voltage drop over the transmission line at this power level, such that the voltage the inverter sees is not what's displayed on the above meter. Hmmm - I'll have to sleep on that to work out a way of checking it out.
I'll sleep more soundly though, knowing the hydro's that little bit more productive.
4 comments:
Bill,
I have not yet got a Hydro Scheme ! Just about to talk to the Environment agency! I have been studying flows from a spring and comparing this with local rainfall. In Devon I am also on sandstone possibly the same strata. In my case flow follows very closely to the average rainfall for the last five weeks. This formulae probably alters with watershed to watershed. Todays flow is 4.0 ltrs/ sec. and minimum annual flow is 1.5 ltrs/sec. At 6.0 ltrs/sec other springs open up in the area. By forecasting weather and use of weather statistics I would expect the flow to remain constant (relatively) for the next 5 days but then start to drop a bit.
Good to hear from you James, I have been wondering how you were getting on.
There's a lot to be said for tapping into a spring source if you have a productive enough one: compared to the more usual run-of-river scheme:
- if you can pick up the flow not too far from the spring 'eye', the trash burden is greatly reduced
- the civil works needed to 'harvest' the flow are more modest
- you are likely to avoid a 'fisheries interest' from the EA
- the silt/gravel burden is likely to be less
- the yield will likely be 'smoothed' between rainfall periods making nozzle changes less frequent and so overall management of your installation easier
So all strength to your elbow as you progress your scheme.
Bill
Hi Bill,
Nice to see you are back on max generation again
Best Wishes
Dave
...but not for long Dave. Downsized one nozzle yesterday and with no rain (or snow) forecast, I'll have to be making another step down soon. Good news is that running total so far this year is well ahead of last year.
Bill
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