Cost-effective Small Hydropower Electromechanical Technology

Mr. Tong Jiandong;Mr. Wang Hangwei;Mr. Meng Zhonghui;Mr. Jin Ashui;Mr. Lu Xuri;Mr. Hu Xi;Mr. Zhang Linmao;Mr. Bao Caiyuan;Mr. Chen Zhixiao;Mr. Peng Cexin;Mr. Li Zhiming;Mr. Wei Jianghui
P.R.China

Generally, Small Hydropower technology should be cost-effective and suit for local conditions for sustainable development. Since 1982, Professor Tong Jiandong has made great effort on the research and innovation of SHP technologies, published 172 articles on SHP technical innovation, specific technologies and technical transfer and established the basic system and direction of SHP technology development. SHP technologies universally accepted and promoted include standardization, serialization, manufacturing and refurbishment technologies etc. Based on years' advocating by Prof. Tong and practice of manufacturers such as Mr. Wang Hangwei, Prof. Tong summarized that the cost-effective SHP technologies have following characteristics:

(i.) Openness. SHP is now the most important renewable energy in china, accounting for 98% of the renewable energy of the whole country. It is very suitable for vast rural development means that its technology should be open to and adopted by the local people for large-scale development in rural areas. It is only through the utilization of locally available raw materials, technology, potential, labor and funds that the problem of rural electrification can be solved.

(ii.) Appropriateness. SHP technology should be appropriate and suitable for the local conditions and its socio-economic development level. It should be suitable for technological transfer. SHP technology needs to be unpacked into different economic levels and conditions of a particular area, which can help those areas to select appropriate technologies. That will guarantee the reliability and reduce the manufacturing cost by great margin in the meantime.

(iii.) Cost-Effectiveness. For large-scale development of SHP, a cost-effective technology is highly needed. The Chinese practice in SHP development pay greater attention to optimizing the planning and design, to the utilization of local materials, for developing indigenous manufacturing and also for promoting the full participation of local people and government in all the processes of SHP development.

Besides, directed by Prof. Tong, the manufacturers of medium and small-sized hydropower turbo-generator sets have received very good effect through application of simple and standard work. They are now producing automatic SHP equipment with simple structure to promote trading in the market worldwide. According to the research made by Prof. Tong, the basic features of the equipment are as follows:

Simplification. The design and structure for the equipment should be simple. This is not only for the sake of reducing cost, but also for improving reliability. Through the adoption of cost-effective technology and new materials, the manufacturers have been able to produce simple equipment. For example, the use of computers and other IT technologies have made SHP equipment to be more efficient and simple.

Standardization and Serialization. These have helped to reduce the cost, shorten construction period, upgrade and refurbish. Therefore, simplified and standard equipment and technology will be surly further developed.

Automation. In order to reduce the operation cost, most of the SHP stations are now using automatic control systems,which always requires SHP stations with "no one on duty", simple equipment and easy controlling method unlike large hydropower stations. These have helped in transforming the traditional and old maintenance procedure to more modern ones.

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