Welcome to PVHydro
This quick start guide will help you design your first hybrid PV and hydro power plant in just a few steps. PVHydro follows a logical workflow: first design the hydro system, then design the PV system to power it.
Design Workflow
Step 1: Enter Project Information (Optional)
Fill in project details like project name, client name, and location. This information will appear in your reports.
Step 2: Design Hydro System
Enter hydraulic parameters, configure the penstock, and design the reservoirs. Click "Calculate Design" to get results.
Step 3: Design PV System
Select location, configure PV components, set losses, and enter economic parameters. Click "Calculate PV Design" to get results.
Step 4: Review Results
Examine the calculated results, performance metrics, and economic analysis in the Results Panel.
Step 5: Generate Report
Export a professional PDF report with all design details, calculations, and visualizations.
Quick Hydro Design
Basic Parameters
In the Hydro Design tab, Basic sub-tab, enter:
| Parameter |
Typical Value |
Description |
| Head (m) |
50-200 |
Vertical height between reservoirs |
| Flow Rate (m³/s) |
1-10 |
Design flow rate |
| Pump Efficiency (%) |
75-85 |
Pumping system efficiency |
| Turbine Efficiency (%) |
85-95 |
Turbine efficiency |
Penstock Configuration
In the Penstock sub-tab:
- Enter Length of the penstock in meters
- Select Material (Steel, HDPE, or GRP)
- Check Auto Diameter to automatically calculate optimal diameter
Reservoir Design
Configure reservoirs:
- Check Set Radius Manually (checked by default)
- Enter Reservoir Radius in meters
- Enter Upper and Lower Reservoir Elevations
Calculate
Click the "Calculate Design" button. Review the results in the Results Panel.
Tip: Start with default or typical values. You can refine the design later based on results.
Quick PV Design
Important: You must complete Hydro Design first. The PV system is sized to power the hydro pumping system.
Location Selection
In the PV Solar Design tab, Location sub-tab:
- Select Solar Location from the dropdown (e.g., "Desert (Arid)", "Tropical (Equatorial)")
- The software automatically sets location-specific parameters (irradiance, temperature, etc.)
System Configuration
In the System sub-tab, enter:
| Parameter |
Typical Value |
Description |
| Panel Power (W) |
400-600 |
Rated power per panel |
| Panel Area (m²) |
2.0 |
Area of each panel |
| Panel Efficiency (%) |
20-22 |
Panel conversion efficiency |
| Inverter Power (kW) |
50-100 |
Rated power per inverter |
| Inverter Efficiency (%) |
97-98 |
Inverter conversion efficiency |
| AC/DC Ratio |
1.25 |
Ratio of AC to DC capacity |
Losses (Optional - Defaults Available)
In the Losses sub-tab, you can adjust loss parameters. Default values are provided and work well for most projects.
Economic Parameters (Optional)
In the Economic sub-tab, enter cost parameters for economic analysis. Default values are provided.
Calculate
Click the "Calculate PV Design" button. Review the comprehensive results.
Understanding Key Results
Hydro Design Results
- Power Output: Calculated power generation capacity (MW)
- Head Losses: Energy losses in the penstock
- Penstock Specifications: Diameter, velocity, flow characteristics
- Reservoir Capacity: Storage volume and energy capacity
PV Design Results
- PV Capacity: Total installed PV capacity (MWp)
- Panel Configuration: Number of panels, strings, and arrays
- Performance Ratio (PR): System efficiency metric (typically 75-85%)
- Capacity Factor: Ratio of actual to theoretical maximum output
- Annual Energy: Total annual energy generation (MWh)
- LCOE: Levelized Cost of Energy ($/kWh)
- Total Cost: Estimated project cost
Generating Your First Report
- Complete your design calculations (Hydro and/or PV)
- Go to File → Export → PDF Report or click the PDF export button
- Choose a save location and filename
- Click "Save"
The PDF report includes all design parameters, calculations, results, and visualizations in a professional format.
Saving Your Project
To save your work:
- Go to File → Save Project or press
Ctrl+S
- Choose a location and enter a filename
- Click "Save"
You can reopen the project later using File → Open Project or Ctrl+O.
Next Steps
Now that you've completed your first design:
- Experiment with Parameters: Try different values to see how they affect results
- Use Optimization Analysis: Explore the Optimization Analysis tab to find optimal configurations
- Read the Full Manual: See the User Manual for detailed information on all features
- Generate Multiple Scenarios: Save different design variations for comparison
Common Tips
- Start Simple: Use default values first, then refine based on results
- Check Results: Review calculated values to ensure they're reasonable
- Save Frequently: Save your project regularly to avoid losing work
- Use Location Presets: The location dropdown sets optimal parameters automatically
- Enable Auto Diameter: Let the software calculate optimal penstock diameter