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First-Time Hydropower Project?
Learn basic design
principles in the
Guide to Hydropower
Hydro-Related Formulas and Conversions
Computational help for hydroelectric system design
(Also see Resources for Hydroelectric Professionals)
Simple Power Formulas
Theoretical Horsepower* (HP) = HEAD (feet) x FLOW (cfs)
8.8
Theoretical Kilowatts* (kW) = HEAD (feet) x FLOW (cfs)
11.81
* Note that these are Theoretical Power equations (also called Gross Power), which do not account for the inevitable efficiency losses that will occur at various points within a hydro system. Multiply Theoretical Power times Efficiency to get Net Power:
Net Power = Theoretical Power x Efficiency
Unit Conversions
Power
|
1 horsepower |
= |
746 watts |
|
1 kilowatt |
= |
1.341 horsepower |
|
1 kilowatt |
= |
1,000 watts |
|
1 megawatt |
= |
1,000,000 watts |
Head Pressure
|
1 foot head |
= |
0.433 pound/square inch |
|
1 pound/square inch |
= |
2.31 feet head |
Flow
|
1 gallon/second |
= |
0.1337 cubic feet/second |
|
1 gallon/second |
= |
8.021 cubic feet/minute |
|
1 gallon/second |
= |
0.0038 cubic meters/second |
|
1 gallon/second |
= |
0.227 cubic meters/minute |
|
1 gallon/minute |
= |
0.01667 gallons/second |
|
1 gallon/minute |
= |
0.1337 cubic feet/minute |
|
1 gallon/minute |
= |
0.0022 cubic feet/second |
|
1 gallon/minute |
= |
0.0038 cubic meters/minute |
|
1 gallon/minute |
= |
3.785 liters/minute |
|
1 cubic foot/second |
= |
7.481 gallons/second |
|
1 cubic foot/second |
= |
0.0283 cubic meters/second |
|
1 cubic foot/second |
= |
1.699 cubic meters/minute |
|
1 cubic foot/minute |
= |
0.1247 gallons/second |
|
1 cubic foot/minute |
= |
0.01667 cubic feet/second |
|
1 cubic foot/minute |
= |
0.0283 cubic meters/minute |
|
1 cubic meter/second |
= |
1,000 liters/second |
|
1 cubic meter/second |
= |
2.118.9 cubic feet/minute |
|
1 cubic meter/second |
= |
264.17 gallons/second |
|
1 cubic meter/second |
= |
15,850.32 gallons/minute |
|
1 liter/second |
= |
0.264 gallons/second |
|
1 liter/second |
= |
0.0353 cubic feet/second |
|
1 liter/second |
= |
2.119 cubic feet/minute |
|
1 liter/second |
= |
0.001 cubic meters/second |
Distance
|
1 meter |
= |
3.28 feet |
|
1 foot |
= |
0.305 meter |
|
1 yard |
= |
3 feet |
Volume
|
1 gallon (US) |
= |
3,785.41 cubic centimeters |
|
1 gallon (US) |
= |
0.003785 cubic meters |
|
1 gallon (US) |
= |
0.134 cubic feet |
|
1 gallon |
= |
3.7854 liters |
|
1 cubic centimeter |
= |
0.000264 gallons |
|
1 cubic centimeter |
= |
0.001 liter |
|
1 cubic meter |
= |
264.172 gallons |
|
1 cubic meter |
= |
1,000 liters |
|
1 cubic foot |
= |
7.481 gallons |
|
1 cubic foot |
= |
28,317 cubic centimeters |
|
1 cubic foot |
= |
0.0283 cubic meters |
|
1 cubic foot |
= |
28.3168 liters |