IEA Implementing Agreement for Hydropower Technologies and Programmes

Annex-2: Small-Scale Hydropower; Subtask B2 "Innovative Technologies for Small-Scale Hydro"

IEA Annex-2 STB2 Data Sheet about Innovative Technology221-1

1 Project Title

Subject

Engineering Work Support by Excel-based Program

Commercial Name

HydroHelp 1 - for turbine selection. HydroHelp 2 - for design and costing of Francis-trurbine equipped hydro plants with a surface
powerhouse. HydroHelp 3 - for design and costing of Impulse-turbine equipped hydro plants with a surface powerhouse. HydroHelp
4 - for design and costing of Kaplan-turbine equipped hydro plants with a surface powerhouse. HydroHelp 5 - for design and costing
of Francis-pump-turbine equipped hydro plants with an underground powerhouse. HydroHelp 6 - for design and costing of Francisturbine equipped hydro plants with an underground powerhouse.

2 Project Classification

Technological Categories
Target Categories
Key Categories
Key Words

2. Planning & Design of Project

22. Design Optimization
221. Computerized Design Tools
Design, costing, generic dimensioned drawings, equipment efficiencies, project hydraulics.
Turbine, Low-head Turbine, Variable-speed Turbine, Fish-friendly Turbine, Oilless Bearing, Biodegradable Oil, Generator, Brushless
Exciter, AutomaticControlSystem, Integrated Power Generation System, New Materials, Dam, Rubber Dam

3 Organizations

Funding Organization

CANMET

Development Organization

James L.Gordon

4 Abstract

Turbine selection, general layout and sizing of key structures, quantity and cost estimation. The programs calculate quantities and costs, based on the data input for all
work and all E&M equipment from initial clearing to the substation and transmission

5 Features and
Advantages

Technological Performance

Allows the user to undertake a pre-feasibility design-cost of a hydro facility with about 4 to 6 hours of work. All programs provide
guidance on data entry, so that the programs can be used by engineers with only a few years of hydro experience.

Cost Performance

Programs allow the user to design-cost hydro facilities with only a few hours of work, as compared to weeks or months by a team of
engineers.

Environmental Performance

Programs do not have any environmental output.

Basic Specifications

Programs require Windows XP and Excel 2003 or later. Program size varies from 2Mbytes to 60Mbytes.

Purpose of Application

Cost reduction for engineering work

6 Scope of Application

Technological Conditions for

Application

7 Status of Project

8 Results of Application

9 Evaluation

Present Status

Commercial Stage

Period

Year of Commencement: 2003

Results of Experiments or
Demonstration Tests

Feedback from users is positive.

Results of Sales/Practical
Applications

Downloaded by over 120 engineers worldwide.

Contribution to Cost Reduction

The design cost can be considerably reduced because overall plans for hydraulic power generation can be prepared on a computer.
However, the plans need to be changed to meet the conditions of each region because the design standards and estimation
standards differ depending on each region.

Improvement of Efficiency

Time required for designing can be considerably reduced because overall plans for hydraulic power generation can be prepared on
a computer. However, the plans need to be changed to meet the conditions of each region because the design standards and
estimation standards differ depending on each region.

Year of Completion: 2008

10 References

- Using GIS to calculate Potential for Small Hydro Power Plant in Norway

11 Appendices

- HydroHelp 1 An Excel Program Developed for Turbine-Generator Selection for Hydroelectric Sites
- The HydroHelp Series of hydro design and cost programs - a description with examples of program screens

12 Inquires

Organization / Department

TELFAX
URLEmail

HYDROHELP Web Site : http://www.hydrohelp.ca/

jim-gordon@sympatico.ca, info@hydrohelp.ca

Attachments and Additional Remarks

Example of Data Input

Example of Output