Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar a possibilidade de confeccionar juntas soldadas pelo processo de soldagem por fricção com pino consumível (Friction Hydro Pillar Processing), em aço classificado como grau R4 de acordo com a norma IAC W22. As juntas soldadas foram produzidas com três diferentes forças axiais: 30 kN, 45 kN e 60 kN, e após a soldagem, submetidos a três diferentes tempos de tratamento térmico de revenimento: uma hora, duas horas e quatro horas, na temperatura de 650 C. A microestrutura predominantemente martensítica resultante destes processos, foi caracterizada através de microscopia óptica, e de um mapeamento de microdureza Vickers. As soldas tiveram suas zonas afetadas pelo processo mensuradas através do software de análise de imagens ImageJ, sendo observadas maiores zonas para menores forças axiais empregadas. Caracterizou-se ainda, o nível de tensões residuais oriundos do processo de soldagem através do método de difração de nêutrons, para uma solda produzida com força axial de 45 kN, em duas diferentes condições, no estado de como soldado e com revenimento de quatro horas após a soldagem. Com os resultados obtidos neste trabalho pode-se concluir que as juntas soldadas com a força de 60 kN apresentaram a melhor combinação de propriedades avaliadas, que são, um menor tamanho de zonas afetadas pelo processo, e manteve um bom nível de dureza mesmo após o revenimento. Todas as juntas soldadas apresentaram uma ótima união metalúrgica, e os diferentes tempos de tratamento térmico empregados promoveram alterações microestruturais e nas propriedades do material já esperadas para o tratamento térmico de revenimento. / The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of making joints welded by Friction Hydro Pillar Processing, in steel grade R4 according to IAC W22. The repairs were produced with three different axial forces: 30 kN, 45 kN and 60 kN, and after welding, subjected to three different tempering heat treatment times: one hour, two hours and four hours, at a temperature of 650 C. The predominantly martensitic microstructure resulting from these processes was characterized by optical microscopy and a Vickers microhardness mapping. The welds had their zones affected by the process measured through the ImageJ image analysis software, with larger zones being observed for smaller axial forces employed. It was also characterized the level of residual stresses from the welding process, through the neutron diffraction method, for a weld produced with axial force of 45 kN, in two different conditions, as welded and annealing for four hours after welding. With the results obtained in this work it can be concluded that the welded joints with the force of 60 kN presented the best combination of evaluated properties, which are, a smaller size of zones affected by the process, and maintained a good level of hardness even after the annealing. All the welded joints presented an excellent metallurgical bonding, and the different times of thermal treatment employed promoted microstructural changes and in the properties of the material already expected for the heat treatment of annealing.

Dans le but de vérifier l'efficacité des dispositifs de scellement ou des barrières ouvragées dans le stockage géologique des déchets radioactifs, l'Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) a mis en œuvre le projet expérimental SEALEX (SEALing performance EXperiments) auquel ce travail est étroitement lié. Dans le cadre de ce projet, des essais in-situ sont effectués à l'échelle représentative et dans des conditions naturelles sur un mélange compacté de bentonite et de sable. Ce matériau de mélange a été choisi pour sa faible perméabilité et surtout pour sa capacité de gonflement qui permet de colmater les vides existant dans le système, notamment le vide technologique correspondant au vide radial entre le noyau de scellement et la roche hôte et qui est inévitable au cours de l'installation du noyau dans le forage. Une fois les vides scellés, le gonflement à volume constant engendre une pression de gonflement aussi bien sur la roche hôte (radiale) que sur les structures de confinement en béton (axiale). Le comportement de ce matériau dans ces conditions de couplages hydromécaniques est alors étudié dans ce travail. La microstructure du matériau à son état initial a été premièrement examinée par micro-tomographie rayons-X. Ceci a permis de voir la distribution des grains de bentonite et de sable ainsi que le réseau de pores dans l'échantillon. Des macro-pores se sont retrouvés concentrés à la périphérie de l'échantillon ainsi qu'entre les grains de sable, ce qui pourra affecter à court terme la perméabilité. L'hydratation du même matériau en condition de gonflement limité a été ensuite observée par une photographie 2D et par la micro-tomographie aux rayons-X. Le mécanisme de gonflement par production de gel de bentonite, la cinétique de gonflement, la diminution de densité et l'homogénéisation du matériau final on été analysés. L'hydratation en conditions de gonflement empêché a été aussi étudiée par des essais où la pression de gonflement a été mesurée dans deux directions : radialement et axialement. La différence retrouvée entre les pressions de gonflement axiales et radiales a évoqué la présence d'une anisotropie de microstructure qui a été analysée en fonction de la masse volumique sèche de bentonite dans le mélange. Des essais en modèle réduit reproduisant à une échelle 1/10ème les essais in situ (SEALEX) ont été également effectués afin d'étudier le comportement du noyau compacté après la reprise des vides au cas d'un accident détruisant les éléments de confinement. Des mesures locales de pression de gonflement le long des échantillons ont permis de mettre en évidence l'évolution du gradient de densité durant le gonflement axial. Finalement une comparaison entre les résultats obtenus dans ce travail et ceux d'un essai in situ (SEALEX) a été faite. Une bonne correspondance entre les valeurs d'humidités relatives a été retrouvée pour les mêmes longueurs d'hydratation tout en prenant en compte la saturation par le vide technologique radial. Par contre, la comparaison des évolutions et des valeurs de pressions de gonflement était plus compliquée vu les différences de configurations des essais / In order to verify the effectiveness of the geological high-level radioactive waste disposal, the French Institution of Radiation protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) has implemented the SEALEX project to control the long-term performance of swelling clay-based sealing systems, and to which this work is closely related. Within this project, In-situ tests are carried out on compacted bentonite-sand mixture in natural conditions and in a representative scale. This material is one of the most appropriate sealing materials because of its low permeability and good swelling capacity. Once installed, this material will be hydrated by water from the host-rock and start swelling to close all gaps in the system, in particular the internal pores, rock fractures and technological voids. Afterwards, swelling pressure will develop. In the present work, laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the sealing properties under this complex hydro-mechanical conditions taking into consideration the effect of technological voids. The microstructure of the material in its initial state was first examined by microfocus X-ray computed tomography (µCT). This allowed identification of the distribution of grains of sand and bentonite as well as the pores in the sample. Macro-pores are found concentrated at the periphery of the sample and between the grains of sand, which could affect in the short term the permeability. The hydration of the same material in limited swelling conditions was then observed by 2D photography and 3D µCT. The swelling mechanism with bentonite gel production, the swelling kinetics, the density decrease and the homogenisation of the material were analyzed. The hydration in the conditions of prevented swelling was also studied by swelling pressure tests with radial and axial measurements of swelling pressure. The difference found between the axial and radial swelling pressures suggested the presence of an anisotropic microstructure. Mock-up tests at a 1/10 scale of the in situ SEALEX tests were carried out for the study of the recovery capacity of the mixture in case of an accident causing the failure of the confining structures. Local measurements of swelling pressures along the sample allowed analysis of the density gradient evolution during axial swelling. Finally, a comparison between the laboratory results and those from an in-situ test was done, showing a good fitting in the relative humidity curves for the same infiltration length while considering the saturation effect from the technological void. The swelling pressure comparison was more complex because of the different configurations of the tests (existence of technological void in-situ that could affect the kinetics)

Bertioga possui todos os tipos de Unidades Geológicas-Geomorfológicas Quaternárias (UQs) que podem ser encontradas no restante do litoral paulista, encaixados em uma planície costeira de pequenas dimensões. Tendo em vista a escassez de trabalhos que integrem os atributos hidrológicos da paisagem, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar a dinâmica hídrica atmosférica, subterrânea e superficial da Bacia do Rio Guaratuba, tendo como viés a distribuição espacial das UQs, a partir de uma série de monitoramento de 24 meses, entre julho/2009 e agosto/2011. Para tanto foram analisados os seguintes componentes hídricos: (a) atmosféricos - por meio da análise das distribuições de pluviosidade, temperatura e umidade relativa do ar, para a caracterização do balanço hídrico climático (BHC) da bacia; (b) subterrâneos, a partir da variabilidade do nível do lençol freático; (c) superficial por meio da análise morfométrica das UQs. Os resultados foram tratados à luz de análises sinóticas dos sistemas atuantes no período de monitoramento e das séries históricas (décadas de 1960 a 1990) de pluviosidade e temperatura. Foi identificada uma tendência positiva na distribuição das chuvas, da praia para a baixa encosta da Serra do Mar, caracterizando assim o efeito orográfico. Chamou a atenção à ocorrência de invernos bastante úmidos em 2009 e 2010, ao contrário de 2011 e das tendências da série histórica. Neste sentido, não se pode descartar a possibilidade de influência de fenômenos de mesoescala, como o ENOS (El Niño e Oscilação Sul). Entre 2009 e meados de 2010 atuou o El Niño, sucedido pela La Niña, desde junho/2010 até o presente momento (início do decaimento em maio/2011, segundo dados do INPE). Os índices registrados se assemelham aos do ano de 1990, quando também ocorreu elevado volume de chuva durante o inverno e atuava um El Niño de forte intensidade. A temperatura e a umidade relativa do ar variaram de modo mais marcante entre áreas naturais e antropizadas, embora tenham se apresentado relativamente elevadas durante todo o período de monitoramento, quando comparadas às médias para a região. O BHC normal (série histórica) apresentou déficit hídrico apenas em agosto, com todos os outros meses caracterizando excedentes hídricos. Já o BHC sequencial (período de monitoramento) alternou-se entre excedentes hídricos elevados e meses de déficit hídrico, como ocorreu em abril e maio/2010 e maio e junho/2011. Portanto, entre essas duas séries parece ter havido uma migração do período seco, de agosto para abril/junho. Na planície costeira os níveis de lençol freático (NA) mais profundos ocorrem nas UQs mais antigas e de topografia mais elevada (terraços marinhos e fluviais pleistocênicos), localizados salvo quando há interferência local do horizonte B espódico, que regula a profundidade do (NA) e pode torná-lo temporariamente mais elevado ou mesmo suspenso. Os mais rasos (aflorantes e subaflorantes) estão nas paleodepressões estuarinas-lagunares holocênicas a atuais, localizadas na porção central da bacia. A oscilação vertical do NA ao longo do tempo apresentou correlação positiva com a variação mensal do BHC sequencial, mostrando que o sistema está em relativo equilíbrio. / Bertioga has all kinds of Quaternary Geomorphological-Geological units (UQs) that can be found in the rest of the coast paulista, embedded in a small coastal plain. Given the paucity of studies that incorporate the attributes of the hydrological landscape, the aim of this study was to analyze the dynamics of atmospheric water, groundwater and surfacewater of the Guaratuba River Basin, with the bias of the spatial distribution UQs from a series of 24 month-monitoring between July/2009 and August/2011. Therefore, were analyzed the following hydrological components: (a) atmospheric - by analyzing the distribution of rainfall, temperature and relative humidity, to characterize the climatic water balance (BHC) basin, (b) underground, from variability of groundwater level, (c) surface by means of morphometric analysis of UQs. The results were treated in the light of analysis of the synoptic systems operating in the rainfall and temperature monitoring period and the time series (the 1960s to 1990s). It was identified a positive trend in the rainfall distribution, from the beach to the low slope of Serra do Mar, characterizing the orographic effect. Attention has been drawn to the occurrence of very wet winters in 2009 and 2010, unlike 2011 and the historical series trends. In this sense, one cannot rule out the influence of mesoscale phenomena such as ENSO (El Niño and Southern Oscillation). Between 2009 and mid-2010 El Niño has happened, followed by La Niña, from June/2010 to the current date (beginning of the decay in May/2011, according to data from INPE). The rates are similar to those from the year 1990, when high rainfall also occurred during the winter and El Niño happened. The temperature and relative humidity ranged from a more marked way between natural and disturbed areas, although they have been performing relatively high throughout the monitoring period, compared to the averages for the region. The BHC normal (series) had only water deficit in August, with every other month featuring over water. Since the BHC sequential (monitoring period) alternated between high water surpluses and months of drought, as occurred in April and May/2010 and May and June/2011. Therefore a migration of the dry period from August to April/ June seems to have happened between these two series. The deeper coastal plain groundwater levels (NA) occur in oldest and with highest topography (Pleistocene marine terraces and river) UQs, located except when there is local spodic B horizon interference, which regulates the depth of the (NA) and can make it higher or temporarily suspended. The shallowest ones (outcrop and under outcrop) are in the lagoon-estuarine paleodepressions the current Holocene, located in the central portion of the basin. The vertical oscillation of the NA over time was positively correlated with the monthly variation of BHC sequence, showing that the system is in relative balance.

A receita operacional de uma empresa de geração predominantemente hidrelétrica é composta de duas parcelas: a comercialização de seus contratos de energia e a liquidação na Câmara de Comercialização de Energia (CCEE). A parcela de receita de contratos é previsível, mas a receita proveniente da liquidação da CCEE é de difícil mensuração porque depende das alocações do Mecanismo de Realocação de Energia (MRE) e do Preço de Liquidação das Diferenças (PLD). O trabalho apresenta os conceitos gerais dos componentes que influenciam a receita do mercado de curto prazo e um modelo para sazonalização da energia assegurada que é um dos fatores determinantes para a alocação de MRE e para a liquidação das diferenças. O modelo foi detalhado e implementado em uma ferramenta computacional utilizando Algorítmos Genéticos para a minimização da perda esperada e do risco com a sazonalização. / The operating revenue of power generation companies has two different components: revenues arising from power purchase agreements and from spot market, managed by the Câmara de Comercialização de Energia - CCEE The income of contracts is predictable, but there are a lot of difficulties to do prognosis with the spot market revenue component, because it depends on both the Energy Reallocation Mechanism (MRE) and the spot price (PLD). This text presents the influences of some components in spot market incomes and a model to alocate the assured energy along the year since this is the main factor influencing the MRE and the spot market revenues. The model was formulated and implemented in a computational tool using Genetic Algorithms (AG) to minimize the expected losses and the sazonal risk.

Bertioga possui todos os tipos de Unidades Geológicas-Geomorfológicas Quaternárias (UQs) que podem ser encontradas no restante do litoral paulista, encaixados em uma planície costeira de pequenas dimensões. Tendo em vista a escassez de trabalhos que integrem os atributos hidrológicos da paisagem, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar a dinâmica hídrica atmosférica, subterrânea e superficial da Bacia do Rio Guaratuba, tendo como viés a distribuição espacial das UQs, a partir de uma série de monitoramento de 24 meses, entre julho/2009 e agosto/2011. Para tanto foram analisados os seguintes componentes hídricos: (a) atmosféricos - por meio da análise das distribuições de pluviosidade, temperatura e umidade relativa do ar, para a caracterização do balanço hídrico climático (BHC) da bacia; (b) subterrâneos, a partir da variabilidade do nível do lençol freático; (c) superficial por meio da análise morfométrica das UQs. Os resultados foram tratados à luz de análises sinóticas dos sistemas atuantes no período de monitoramento e das séries históricas (décadas de 1960 a 1990) de pluviosidade e temperatura. Foi identificada uma tendência positiva na distribuição das chuvas, da praia para a baixa encosta da Serra do Mar, caracterizando assim o efeito orográfico. Chamou a atenção à ocorrência de invernos bastante úmidos em 2009 e 2010, ao contrário de 2011 e das tendências da série histórica. Neste sentido, não se pode descartar a possibilidade de influência de fenômenos de mesoescala, como o ENOS (El Niño e Oscilação Sul). Entre 2009 e meados de 2010 atuou o El Niño, sucedido pela La Niña, desde junho/2010 até o presente momento (início do decaimento em maio/2011, segundo dados do INPE). Os índices registrados se assemelham aos do ano de 1990, quando também ocorreu elevado volume de chuva durante o inverno e atuava um El Niño de forte intensidade. A temperatura e a umidade relativa do ar variaram de modo mais marcante entre áreas naturais e antropizadas, embora tenham se apresentado relativamente elevadas durante todo o período de monitoramento, quando comparadas às médias para a região. O BHC normal (série histórica) apresentou déficit hídrico apenas em agosto, com todos os outros meses caracterizando excedentes hídricos. Já o BHC sequencial (período de monitoramento) alternou-se entre excedentes hídricos elevados e meses de déficit hídrico, como ocorreu em abril e maio/2010 e maio e junho/2011. Portanto, entre essas duas séries parece ter havido uma migração do período seco, de agosto para abril/junho. Na planície costeira os níveis de lençol freático (NA) mais profundos ocorrem nas UQs mais antigas e de topografia mais elevada (terraços marinhos e fluviais pleistocênicos), localizados salvo quando há interferência local do horizonte B espódico, que regula a profundidade do (NA) e pode torná-lo temporariamente mais elevado ou mesmo suspenso. Os mais rasos (aflorantes e subaflorantes) estão nas paleodepressões estuarinas-lagunares holocênicas a atuais, localizadas na porção central da bacia. A oscilação vertical do NA ao longo do tempo apresentou correlação positiva com a variação mensal do BHC sequencial, mostrando que o sistema está em relativo equilíbrio. / Bertioga has all kinds of Quaternary Geomorphological-Geological units (UQs) that can be found in the rest of the coast paulista, embedded in a small coastal plain. Given the paucity of studies that incorporate the attributes of the hydrological landscape, the aim of this study was to analyze the dynamics of atmospheric water, groundwater and surfacewater of the Guaratuba River Basin, with the bias of the spatial distribution UQs from a series of 24 month-monitoring between July/2009 and August/2011. Therefore, were analyzed the following hydrological components: (a) atmospheric - by analyzing the distribution of rainfall, temperature and relative humidity, to characterize the climatic water balance (BHC) basin, (b) underground, from variability of groundwater level, (c) surface by means of morphometric analysis of UQs. The results were treated in the light of analysis of the synoptic systems operating in the rainfall and temperature monitoring period and the time series (the 1960s to 1990s). It was identified a positive trend in the rainfall distribution, from the beach to the low slope of Serra do Mar, characterizing the orographic effect. Attention has been drawn to the occurrence of very wet winters in 2009 and 2010, unlike 2011 and the historical series trends. In this sense, one cannot rule out the influence of mesoscale phenomena such as ENSO (El Niño and Southern Oscillation). Between 2009 and mid-2010 El Niño has happened, followed by La Niña, from June/2010 to the current date (beginning of the decay in May/2011, according to data from INPE). The rates are similar to those from the year 1990, when high rainfall also occurred during the winter and El Niño happened. The temperature and relative humidity ranged from a more marked way between natural and disturbed areas, although they have been performing relatively high throughout the monitoring period, compared to the averages for the region. The BHC normal (series) had only water deficit in August, with every other month featuring over water. Since the BHC sequential (monitoring period) alternated between high water surpluses and months of drought, as occurred in April and May/2010 and May and June/2011. Therefore a migration of the dry period from August to April/ June seems to have happened between these two series. The deeper coastal plain groundwater levels (NA) occur in oldest and with highest topography (Pleistocene marine terraces and river) UQs, located except when there is local spodic B horizon interference, which regulates the depth of the (NA) and can make it higher or temporarily suspended. The shallowest ones (outcrop and under outcrop) are in the lagoon-estuarine paleodepressions the current Holocene, located in the central portion of the basin. The vertical oscillation of the NA over time was positively correlated with the monthly variation of BHC sequence, showing that the system is in relative balance.

This study focuses on the design, construction and operation of a distributed generation system based on micro-hydro technology. The project is sited in the Totara Valley, a small rural community approximately 70km from the Massey University, Turitea campus, Palmerston North. The Massey University Centre for Energy Research (MUCER) has a long history of renewable energy research within the Totara Valley community. This project complements these existing schemes and provides a foundation for future research into distributed generation technologies. The project encompasses the following objectives: - to gain practical experience in the design, engineering and implementation of a distributed generation system in rural New Zealand; - to evaluate contemporary micro-hydro technology and compare the performance of this equipment in a theoretical and practical context; - to identify barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of micro-hydro systems in rural New Zealand; - to develop a spreadsheet based life cycle costing tool. The results from this study demonstrate that economic considerations are the fundamental aspect to be considered when assessing the long-term viability of these projects. The viability of micro-hydro projects are primarily determined by four factors: - the volume and head (height) of water available above the turbine site; - the length and therefore the cost of the pipeline required for transporting water to the turbine; - the legal and administrative costs involved in obtaining a resource consent to maintain access to the water resources; - the prices received and paid for electricity. Considerable charges were payable to the local authority to secure and maintain the right to harness the water resources at this site. This cost contributed considerable risk to the project and creates a significant barrier to establishing similar systems at other sites. The reduction of resource consent charges to levels that fairly reflect the negligible environmental impacts of these projects would encourage the adoption of this technology and deliver benefits to rural New Zealand communities.

This study focuses on the design, construction and operation of a distributed generation system based on micro-hydro technology. The project is sited in the Totara Valley, a small rural community approximately 70km from the Massey University, Turitea campus, Palmerston North. The Massey University Centre for Energy Research (MUCER) has a long history of renewable energy research within the Totara Valley community. This project complements these existing schemes and provides a foundation for future research into distributed generation technologies. The project encompasses the following objectives: - to gain practical experience in the design, engineering and implementation of a distributed generation system in rural New Zealand; - to evaluate contemporary micro-hydro technology and compare the performance of this equipment in a theoretical and practical context; - to identify barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of micro-hydro systems in rural New Zealand; - to develop a spreadsheet based life cycle costing tool. The results from this study demonstrate that economic considerations are the fundamental aspect to be considered when assessing the long-term viability of these projects. The viability of micro-hydro projects are primarily determined by four factors: - the volume and head (height) of water available above the turbine site; - the length and therefore the cost of the pipeline required for transporting water to the turbine; - the legal and administrative costs involved in obtaining a resource consent to maintain access to the water resources; - the prices received and paid for electricity. Considerable charges were payable to the local authority to secure and maintain the right to harness the water resources at this site. This cost contributed considerable risk to the project and creates a significant barrier to establishing similar systems at other sites. The reduction of resource consent charges to levels that fairly reflect the negligible environmental impacts of these projects would encourage the adoption of this technology and deliver benefits to rural New Zealand communities.

This study focuses on the design, construction and operation of a distributed generation system based on micro-hydro technology. The project is sited in the Totara Valley, a small rural community approximately 70km from the Massey University, Turitea campus, Palmerston North. The Massey University Centre for Energy Research (MUCER) has a long history of renewable energy research within the Totara Valley community. This project complements these existing schemes and provides a foundation for future research into distributed generation technologies. The project encompasses the following objectives: - to gain practical experience in the design, engineering and implementation of a distributed generation system in rural New Zealand; - to evaluate contemporary micro-hydro technology and compare the performance of this equipment in a theoretical and practical context; - to identify barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of micro-hydro systems in rural New Zealand; - to develop a spreadsheet based life cycle costing tool. The results from this study demonstrate that economic considerations are the fundamental aspect to be considered when assessing the long-term viability of these projects. The viability of micro-hydro projects are primarily determined by four factors: - the volume and head (height) of water available above the turbine site; - the length and therefore the cost of the pipeline required for transporting water to the turbine; - the legal and administrative costs involved in obtaining a resource consent to maintain access to the water resources; - the prices received and paid for electricity. Considerable charges were payable to the local authority to secure and maintain the right to harness the water resources at this site. This cost contributed considerable risk to the project and creates a significant barrier to establishing similar systems at other sites. The reduction of resource consent charges to levels that fairly reflect the negligible environmental impacts of these projects would encourage the adoption of this technology and deliver benefits to rural New Zealand communities.

This study focuses on the design, construction and operation of a distributed generation system based on micro-hydro technology. The project is sited in the Totara Valley, a small rural community approximately 70km from the Massey University, Turitea campus, Palmerston North. The Massey University Centre for Energy Research (MUCER) has a long history of renewable energy research within the Totara Valley community. This project complements these existing schemes and provides a foundation for future research into distributed generation technologies. The project encompasses the following objectives: - to gain practical experience in the design, engineering and implementation of a distributed generation system in rural New Zealand; - to evaluate contemporary micro-hydro technology and compare the performance of this equipment in a theoretical and practical context; - to identify barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of micro-hydro systems in rural New Zealand; - to develop a spreadsheet based life cycle costing tool. The results from this study demonstrate that economic considerations are the fundamental aspect to be considered when assessing the long-term viability of these projects. The viability of micro-hydro projects are primarily determined by four factors: - the volume and head (height) of water available above the turbine site; - the length and therefore the cost of the pipeline required for transporting water to the turbine; - the legal and administrative costs involved in obtaining a resource consent to maintain access to the water resources; - the prices received and paid for electricity. Considerable charges were payable to the local authority to secure and maintain the right to harness the water resources at this site. This cost contributed considerable risk to the project and creates a significant barrier to establishing similar systems at other sites. The reduction of resource consent charges to levels that fairly reflect the negligible environmental impacts of these projects would encourage the adoption of this technology and deliver benefits to rural New Zealand communities.

This study focuses on the design, construction and operation of a distributed generation system based on micro-hydro technology. The project is sited in the Totara Valley, a small rural community approximately 70km from the Massey University, Turitea campus, Palmerston North. The Massey University Centre for Energy Research (MUCER) has a long history of renewable energy research within the Totara Valley community. This project complements these existing schemes and provides a foundation for future research into distributed generation technologies. The project encompasses the following objectives: - to gain practical experience in the design, engineering and implementation of a distributed generation system in rural New Zealand; - to evaluate contemporary micro-hydro technology and compare the performance of this equipment in a theoretical and practical context; - to identify barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of micro-hydro systems in rural New Zealand; - to develop a spreadsheet based life cycle costing tool. The results from this study demonstrate that economic considerations are the fundamental aspect to be considered when assessing the long-term viability of these projects. The viability of micro-hydro projects are primarily determined by four factors: - the volume and head (height) of water available above the turbine site; - the length and therefore the cost of the pipeline required for transporting water to the turbine; - the legal and administrative costs involved in obtaining a resource consent to maintain access to the water resources; - the prices received and paid for electricity. Considerable charges were payable to the local authority to secure and maintain the right to harness the water resources at this site. This cost contributed considerable risk to the project and creates a significant barrier to establishing similar systems at other sites. The reduction of resource consent charges to levels that fairly reflect the negligible environmental impacts of these projects would encourage the adoption of this technology and deliver benefits to rural New Zealand communities.