6 Best Free Online Hydroelectric Power Calculator Websites

Here is a list of the best free online hydroelectric power calculator websites. There are three commonly used hydroelectric systems. The most common is a dam where water falls from a height. This height is referred to as the head. Another two systems are run-of-river and tidal power turbines. In a dam turbine system, the amount of power available depends on the dynamic head, the amount of water flow, and the efficiency of the turbine.

This post covers 6 websites where you can calculate the total energy generation of a hydroelectric plant. Some of these calculators can calculate the power of these three types of systems. Whereas some work for the dam turbine system only. So, you can go through the post and pick a calculator as per the parameters known to you.

My Favorite Online Hydroelectric Power Calculator

Power-Calculation is my favorite hydroelectric power calculator on this list. This calculator is good for DIY estimations. It works with multiple optional parameters. For example, if you know cross-section and speed, you can use that. Otherwise, you can add flow rate and diameter instead. With that, it first calculates the maximum power. Then it determines the global efficiency and uses that to estimate total energy production and financial gain. If you need a simple and streamlined kind of calculator then you can go with OmniCalculator. It works for three different types of turbines including Hydroelectric dams, “Run-of-river installation”, and Tidal power turbines.

You can check out our lists of the best free Online Electricity Cost Calculator Websites, Online Flight Carbon Footprint Calculator Websites, and Online Light Pollution Map Websites.

Power-Calculation.com

Power-Calculation has an online hydroelectric power calculator. This calculator estimates the total power output of a hydroelectric turbine and also estimates revenue based on that. It works with more hydro resources in three sections. First, it calculates maximum power, real electric power after losses, and lastly, energy production and financial gains.

To calculate the maximum power, it needs flow rate, diameter of the pipe or cross-section of pipe or speed of water, acceleration of gravity, head (waterfall height), and density. With that input, this calculator gives you the maximum power before losses.

In the next section, it takes efficieny of turbine, pressure drop, and other losses as input and calculates the global efficiency of the system. Factoring in the global efficiency, it gives the real electric power that the turbine would possibly generate.

Lastly, the energy production and financial gains. In this section of the calculator, you can calculate the average annual energy output of the hydro-generator by the number of working days per year. In the end, you can define the electricity rate and estimate the total revenue of the hydro-generator.

Highlights:

• This calculator is for hydroelectric dam turbines.
• It estimates the real electric power (maximum power – losses).
• It calculates the average annual energy output along with revenue estimates.
• No option to change the measurement unit tho.

Final Thoughts:

This is a hydroelectric calculator for DIY estimations. It takes the raw values and estimates the total energy generation by factoring in all the losses and efficiency.

OmniCalculator.com

OmniCalculator offers a free hydroelectric power calculator. This calculator can help you estimate the power output and calculate revenue on that power. It can do that for three different types of turbines; Hydroelectric dam, “Run-of-river installation”, and Tidal power turbine. For all those turbine types, you have to provide the cross-section area, flow velocity, and flow discharge. In the case of a Hydroelectric dam, you also have to add the head dimensions. For the given inputs, the calculator gives you the total power output. You can provide the efficiency of your plant to get more accurate results. Along with that, it can also calculate the total revenue of the plan for electricity tariff value and the number of operating days.

Highlights:

• This calculator works for three types of hydroelectric turbines: Hydroelectric dam, “Run-of-river installation”, and Tidal power turbine.
• Calculates power output from cross-section area, flow velocity, flow discharge, and head.
• Estimates the total power output of the turbine for given plant efficiency.
• Calculates the revenue based on the tariff and operating days.
• Option to switch the measurement unit for each and every parameter.

Final Thoughts:

This is one of the easy and fast online hydroelectric power calculators that work for three types of hydroelectric turbines. Along with the power estimations, it also calculates the possible revenue of the hydroelectric plant.

Greener4Life.com

Greener4Life.com has an online hydropower calculator. The calculator has three sections. The first section is to calculate the power produced by a system based on flow rate, density, waterfall height, and global efficiency ratio.

The second section is to determine the flow rate of a system from cross-section area and flow velocity. And the third section is to calculate the power generation of “Run-of-river installation”, and Tidal power turbine. So, with this calculator, you can find the total power output of the Hydroelectric dam turbine, “Run-of-river installation”, and Tidal power turbine.

Highlights:

• This calculator works for three types of hydroelectric turbines: Hydroelectric dam, “Run-of-river installation”, and Tidal power turbine.
• Estimates the total power output of the turbine for given plant efficiency.
• No option to change the measurement units.

Final Thoughts:

This is a nice calculator that can find the power of three types of hydroelectric systems. It is simple and easy to use.

NoOutage.com

NoOutage has an online hydroelectric power calculator where you can estimate the power output of a dam turbine. This simple calculator needs head pressure, design flow, and pipe distance parameters. Based on that, it gives you the estimated power output and estimated energy output. It makes the estimation assuming that the system is 50% efficient and 20% off static head. Along with that, this calculator also tells the minimum pipe diameter you need to achieve those calculations.

Highlights:

• This calculator works for three types of hydroelectric dam turbines.
• It estimates the power and energy output of the turbine.
• Assumes 50% system efficiency; no option to change that.
• Calculates head losses assuming 20% off static head.
• Option to switch the measurement unit for each and some parameters.

Final Thoughts:

This is a decent calculator to estimate the power and energy output of a hydroelectric turbine. The calculator is quite limiting with fixed losses assumptions but it does offer nicely written explanations of various factors of hydroelectric plant with illustrations.

EngineeringToolbox.com

EngineeringToolbox offers a free online hydroelectric power calculator. This is simple and straightforward and estimates the total power output of a turbine. It requires density, volume flow, and head. Along with that, it also takes the efficiency of the system to factor in the losses. Based on these four values, it gives the total power output in kW. Below that, you get the definitions of each parameter used in the calculation.

Highlights:

• This calculator works for three types of hydroelectric dam turbines.
• Estimates the total power output of the turbine for given system efficiency.
• No option to change the measurement unit.

Final Thoughts:

This is a simple calculator to estimate the total power output of a hydroelectric system after factoring in the losses due to efficiency.

Reuk.co.uk

Reuk.co.uk has an online hydroelectric power calculator. This calculator estimates the power of a hydroelectric system in Watts. To calculate that, it needs head and flow rate values. With that values and assuming a 60% system efficiency, it estimates the amount of electricity generation by the system. That’s all you get with this calculator.

Highlights:

• This calculator works for three types of hydroelectric dam turbines.
• Estimates the total power output with a 60% system efficiency.
• No option for the measurement units.

Final Thoughts:

This is a very basic hydroelectric power calculator. The fixed system efficiency and direct formula value input limit this calculator to certain specific cases.