This book is devoted to small hydropower systems of capacity ranging
from hundred watts to hundred kilo watts and is named as
micro-hydropower systems. Micro-hydropower systems contain a number of
devices including turbines, generators, voltage converters/inverters,
voltage and frequency regulators etc used for the conversion of
hydropower into electricity of standard voltage and frequency.
Development and implementation of micro-hydropower systems is possible
in many countries that have some hydropower resources. Micro-hydropower
systems would be very useful especially in mountain countries, where it
is difficult to construct long transmission lines. At the same time it
is obvious that socio- economical development of their remote and
mountain areas depend on energy supply to the population, agriculture
and industry there. The utilization of the hydropower in these regions
will definitely elevate living standards of the community, develop the
virgin and unused lands, and populate new lands. Utilization of low
power hydropower systems will not create environmental pollution except
of visual intrusion.