3 kW 'pump as turbine' microhydro at Mae Wei village, Tak Province:

This 3-kW micro-hydropower project is in Mae Wei village, Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand. It uses a centrifugal pump 'running backwards' as a turbine. It was installed over 10 days in February 2008 by a team of villagers from Mae Wei, Engineering Studies Program (ESP) students from the Mae La refugee camp, American students from the Institute for Village Studies and Spring Street High School, BGET team members and Palang Thai. The photo on the left shows the power house under construction, with 4" PVC penstock pipe in place.

Click here or on the photo for a video!

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Technical info: Water drops 35 meters (vertical) through a four-inch PVC pipe spinning the pump's impeller. The pump's induction motor creates 3-phase 240-volt (delta) electricity which is converted to single-phase 240 volt through a 'C-2C' capacitor arrangement. A Leonics micro-hydro controller dumps excess electricity to a resistive ballast load. The project powers lights in 16 classrooms and a dormitory and teacher's homes, 10 computers, and video equipment.

Equipment cost: under 100,000 baht (US$3,300)

500 watt micro-hydro, Mae Klang Luang village, Chiang Mai Province

This 500 watt turgo turbine provides power to an eco-training center at Mae Klang Luang, Chiang Mai Province. The turbine cost 5000 baht (US$166). Click here or on the photo to see a video. The project was built in two days by Somsak Khiriphumtong and Chris Greacen.

Mae Klang Luang village $130 microhydro

Click on the picture to see a video of this 200 watt low-head francis turbine installed at Mae Klang Luang village, Chiang Mai Province.
Installed November 2007 by local village leader Somsak Khiriphumtong and Chris Greacen.

The turbine cost $90 complete with controller, purchased from Vietnam. Pipe and wire added another $40 or so.

An article in the April/May 2008 edition of Home Power Magazine features this installation. Click here or on the magazine page picture for full article.