New Hymalayan Water Wheels

At a glance..

The basic idea in developing alternative hydro power systems is to find ways to keep these small power sources useful and within the reach of rural people. Yet it is obvious that improvements such faster grinding and the capacity to run additional machines, are often needed. The designs presented in this paper show certain achievements, gained through mainly a practical approach.

The details..

"New Himalayan Water Wheels" is an informative guide to small-scale hydro power systems in Nepal. The authors delve into the history of traditional water mills used for wheat grinding, which are still widely dispersed throughout the country today. They then explore various designs for modernizing these mills using alternative means of utilizing mini hydro power.

The book provides technical drawings and data on conventional mini-hydro turbines as well as multi-purpose power units that can run additional machines such as saws or pumps. It also covers alternative designs made from materials like wood or metal pelton, low-head turbines.

The authors highlight new Nepali water mill developments that have improved efficiency through practical approaches rather than engineering expertise alone. They discuss how UNESCO has assisted in implementing a mini-hydro project proposal while German Nepal Help Association is assisting pilot mill installations.

Overall, this publication aims to encourage further efforts towards improving small scale hydropower systems accessible to remote areas where people depend upon agriculture for survival.