Instruction Manual for Operating and Maintaining the Micro-Hydroelectric System in Barú, Costa Rica

*PDF version is available at library link 

Instruction Manual for Operating and Maintaining
the Micro-Hydroelectric System in Barú, Costa Rica

Harvey Mudd College

Costa Rica Project Team

________________________________________________________________________________________

Introduction

This document presents instruction for operating and maintaining the micro-hydroelectric system in Barú, Costa Rica. The system is designed for operating during wet season, generally from June to December. For dry season, the system is recommended to be turned off.

Wet Season Operation

1. Check electrical connection of generator and inverter. They should be plugged to appropriate spot. The inverter takes few minutes to warm up (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Inverter and DC and AC circuit breaker

2. Open the two red valves on the micro-hydro station (Figure 2). The valves should be open fully to generate the maximum electricity.

Figure 2. Two red valves on micro-hydro station

3. Check the filter on the dam site (Figure 3). The filter should be attached before running the system.

Figure 3. Debris filter

4. Open half of the red valve on the dam site (Figure 4), and let water flow into the pipe path for 5 minutes. This prevents PVC pipe shrinkage due to sudden pressure change in the pipe path.

Figure 4. One red valve on the dam site

5. After 5 minutes, open the valve fully.

6. Check water coming out from the end of pipe path. If the water does not come out, repeat step 2~5 carefully, and check any cracks on pipe path.

7. Check the turbine spinning, and see how much electricity is generated on the inverter LED screen (Figure 5)

Figure 5. Inverter with LED screen on

Turning Off Operation (For Dry Season)

1. Close half of the red valve on the dam site (Figure 6). Be careful with sudden pressure change in the pipe path.

Figure 6. One red valve on the dam site

2. Leave the half closed valve for 5 minutes.

3. Close the valve fully.

4. Check the water does not come out from both valves on the micro-hydro station

5. Close both valves on the micro-hydro station (Figure7).

Figure 7. Two red valves on micro-hydro station

6. Shut off DC and AC circuit breaker (Figure 8).

Figure 8. Inverter and DC and AC circuit breaker

Maintenance

1. Follow turning off operation above, if there is a crack on the pipe path (Figure 9). Then, contact Harvey Mudd College Costa Rica Project team, and report the problem.

Figure 9. Example of pipe crack

2. Check the filter frequently, and clear leaves and other organic material that can easily block the water flow. Also, the poor filter makes pipe rock jam into the (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Example of rock jam into the pipe

3. Clear the wire path, and prevent the wire from submerging in the water, especially during wet season. Also secure the wire path from accumulated rock.

Contact

Professor Hightower (Project Advisor, Harvey Mudd College)

Hightower@hmc.edu

301 Platt Boulevard, Claremont, CA 91711

Sun Hwi Bang (Team Leader, Harvey Mudd College)

sbang@g.hmc.edu

340 Foothill Boulevard, Claremont, CA 91711

Project Blog: hmccostarica.blogspot.com

Reference

Harvey Mudd College Costa Rica Project Team, Implementing Sustainable Micro-Hydroelectric Station in Latin American Commuities

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