At 04:25 AM 9/14/2004, you wrote: >Hello, >I am a research masters student conducting a feasibility study into >micro hydro-power potential in the South West of Ireland. My study >covers technical, environmental, financial and legislative aspects of >hydropower design in remote areas. Currently I am looking for up to >date software that would help with a feasibility study such as this. >Simulation of flows, optimal design efficiencies of different >turbines, fish passages etc. I do realise that there are companies >that specialise in this but if anyone had any recommendations I would >greatly appreciate your help. I am being funded for this research but >I am looking for the best software packages, not neccessarily the most >expensive. >Thank you for your time, >Regards, >B Fitz
To be honest, I am not convinced of the usefulness of "do-it-all" software packages for hydro, since the parameters are EXTREMELY site-specific. Perhaps they are worthwhile for preliminary screening. That said, the Natural Resources Canada small-hydro people have done a lot of work on this under the umbrella of the International Energy Agency. They have done an evaluation of software products that they were able to identify (along with a lot of other very useful work, including a database of projects and resources). The results are described in a PDF document that should be able to access at: http://www.small-hydro.com/index.cfm?Fuseaction=PLANNING.tools However, the link to the report on that page leads to a report on Nepal. The report (at least I think it is the same report) is also at: http://www.small-hydro.com/library/cd/oppChal/Technical_Reports/assessment_methods.pdf The website for Renewable Energy Canada's hydro program is at: http://www.canren.gc.ca/hydro/index.asp There is a lot of useful information there, as well as the links to download the RETScreen software (which is free): http://www.retscreen.net/ang/g_small.php There is also information on other software and copies of the programs and spreadsheets by clicking on the links at this library page: http://www.small-hydro.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=library.cdOppChal This should give you a good start! Dennis McCandless Chicago ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Does your company feature in the microhydro business directory at http://microhydropower.net/directory ? If not, please register free of charge and be exposed to the microhydro community world wide! NOTE: The advertisements in this email are added by Yahoogroups who provides us with free email group services. The microhydro-group does not endorse products or support the advertisements in any way. More information on micro hydropower at http://microhydropower.net To unsubscribe: send empty message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microhydro/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
