MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 1

MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER

RANDELL R. REGINIO, MIT
FERDINAND M. MABUNGA, ECE
College Lecturers, School of Engineering
Marinduque State College

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research paper was to find out the Masilig Creek: Its Potential as a Source
of Picohydro Power. It also aimed to find out the following: 1) determine the volume of water
that flow in the Masilig creek; and, 2) determine whether the Masilig creek can be a source of
picohydro power. The study was conducted at the Sitio Masilig, Brgy. Malibago, Torrijos,
Marinduque. The water that comes into the creek is used in irrigation, farming, drinking, for
cooking and washing of clothes.
This study involved the description, analysis and assessment of the potentials of Masilig
creek as a source of a picohydro power. Triangular method was utilized in this research study
that employs ocular visit or inspection, observation, interview and an experimental method.
The study revealed that the creek can produce or provide a water discharge of 0.00148
m
3
/s from the source (head) and down to its base and it found out that the creek can be a good
source of an alternative water energy. Finally, it can provide 1,131.22 watts or 1.52 horse power
of current and also technology can be developed which can convert kinetic energy from the water
into electricity that can be used by the residents of the Sitio.

Keywords: Picohydro Power, Masilig creek, Potentials


MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 2

Introduction
Electricity plays a vital role in mans life. This has become a part of peoples life wherein
it can help people in performing their daily routines easier and faster especially in industry.
Electricity powers electronic appliances such as computers, television, lights and other electronic
devices and equipment, and accommodate essential services that everyone take for granted.
According to lifesaving (2008), electricity has much more important aspects because it is
a fundamental feature of all matter. Electricity is the force that holds together the molecules and
atoms of all substances. In addition, the type of electricity that is most familiar to mankind is
electrical current. This is the flow of electrical charges through a substance called a conductor
such as a metal wire. This flow happens because some of the negatively charge electrons circling
the nuclei of the conductors are held loosely. The electrons can move from one atom to the next,
producing electrical current.
On the article of EDF Energy (2012) hydropower is the renewable energy contained in
flowing water. Electricity generated using hydropower is known as hydroelectricity and is
generally considered to be reliable. In the UK there are three main methods for generating
hydroelectricity: first, storage where a dam collects water in a reservoir, then releases it to
drive turbines, producing electricity; second, pumped storage where water is pumped to a
higher reservoir, usually during times of low-priced electricity, then released to a lower reservoir,
again driving a turbine, usually when the electricity price is higher and lastly run-of-river
where the natural flow of a river or stream is used to drive a turbine.
On the other hand, Eco Evaluators Inc. (2011), stated that hydropower or hydroelectric
power comes from using water to make electricity. Water cycles from ocean evaporation to
MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 3

cloud formation to rain and snow precipitation to runoff back into the ocean. Since this cycle and
its energy is a continual endless loop, hydropower can produce renewal energy. Currently more
than 75% of hydroelectric power is generated from renewable sources.
Eventually, hydro energy is available in many forms, potential energy from high heads of
water retained in dams, kinetic energy from current flow in rivers and tidal barrages, and kinetic
energy also from the movement of waves on relatively static water masses. However, since
province of Marinduque is an island province which is surrounded by water, there are lots of
rivers, falls and creeks which can be a source of small amount of electrical energy.
Meanwhile, according to Laririt et al. (2008), on their study which states that with the
case of Marinduque, which is primarily dependent on non-renewable sources of electricity and
has one of the highest energy rates in the country, it is but wise to look on possible sources by
tapping the potentials of its existing natural waterfalls in its six major river ecosystem.
Masilig is one of the seven (7) sitios of Barangay Malibago which are in the outlying area
of the Municipality of Torrijos. Sitio Masilig and nearby communities faced many problems
including pollution, transport limitations and absence of electric supply due to almost three (3)
kilometer distance from power lines. A significant proportion of power in Sitio Masilig is
obtained from diesel generator which charge 12V car batteries that causes pollution when
disposed to some household who cannot afford to buy diesel generator. The residents travel three
(3) kilometers to charge their 12V car batteries to charging station supplied by electricity. The
rest of the generated power from non-renewable, dirty means such as kerosene for lighting.
Cheap, easy to maintain, clean and renewable energy must be researched to fix these problems as
power or electricity is important for their progress and increase of living standards.
MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 4

Considering the problems cited, it is therefore desirable to study on the potentials of the
Masilig Creek as a source of picohydro power.
Objectives of the Study
The objective of the study was to determine the potentials of the Masilig Creek that can
be a good source of renewable energy.
Specifically, it aimed to:
1. Determine the volume of water that flows in the Masilig creek; and,
2. Determine whether the Masilig creek can be a source of picohydro power.

Methodology
Research Design
This study involves the description, analysis and assessment of the potentials of Masilig
creek as a source of a picohydro power. It used a triangular method that employ ocular visit or
inspection, observation, and interview.
The ocular visit was conducted on the Sitio Masilig where the creek was located. The
peak of the creek was visited to see and determine where the water that flows into the creek came
from.
In observation, the researchers made an observation on the situation and the status of the
creek to find out the source of water that flows into. They observed whether this water can serve
as an alternative source of renewable energy. Also, it has been observed that there is large
amount of water wasted.
Finally, in interview method, a face-to-face interview or personal communications with
the residents of the Sitio has been conducted. Since the Sitio has only five households and
MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 5

consisting of seventeen residents, these different households were interviewed. The purpose was
to find out and determine the status of the creek whether the water flows continuously even
though it is summer season and also to know how the residents manage the water from it. This
interview was a big help to find out whether the creek has potential to become a good source of
renewable energy.
Research Locale
Masilig Creek is located in Sitio Masilig of Barangay Malibago, Municipality of Torrijos
province of Marinduque. It is located at 13
o
1428.28 N and 122
o
0049.34 E which is about
12.3 km (straight distance) from the town proper of Torrijos and 2.1 km (straight distance) from
the national road of Brgy. Malibago proper.
Masilig Creek can be reached through Malibago with and approximately three (3) km
travel from the main barangay.

Data Gathering Procedures
The volume of water that flows into the creek was measured. This was performed to
determine the volume of water. Data on water velocity and discharge were gathered using the
twenty liter (20L) container which was placed at the end of the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe
and was properly recorded every time that the container becomes full. The angle of elevation of
the pipe was also measured to further improve the water velocity and volume. Using the Global
Positioning System (GPS) device, it measured the height of the source of water down to the
location where the end user utilized the flowing water.


MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 6



Formula:
To compute for the amount of power which can be generated from the creek, the
following equations were used:
Water Discharge: Area

Where: where:
Q = Water Discharge A = area of the pipe
V = Volume of the Water r = radius of the pipe
t = time

To compute for the energy or the head loss

2
+

+
1

2
+

+
(1)

where:
V
=
Velocity
P = Pressure
= gravity (9.81 m/s
2
)
z = the height
MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 7

E = Energy or the head loss


On the other hand, to compute for the horse power that the creek can be generated, the
researchers used the equation:

746

where:
HP = horse power
Q = discharge
W = is the gravity of the earth
E = energy

Results and Discussion
The Table 1 below shows the result of the water pressure test.

Table 1
Water Pressure Test

N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Volume (l/s) 14 20.00 20.00 20.0000 .00000
Time (s) 14 12.01 15.48 13.5679 1.03835
Discharge 14 1.29 1.67 1.4821 .11137
Valid N (listwise) 14


This table shows the descriptive statistics of the conducted water pressure test to
determine the water discharge using a 20 liter container. With the fourteen (14) sample test, it
showed that the minimum time garnered was 12.01 seconds and its maximum time was 15.48
MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 8

seconds. The time varied from each other because of the leak of the pipes. Moreover, it garnered
an average time of 13.5679 seconds accumulated from the data samples and an average of
1.4821 liter per second as its water discharge.
Computation
To compute the water discharge:
Q = V = 20 L = 1.48 l/s = 0.00148 m
3
/s
t 13.57s

On the other hand, the diameter of the pipe is important to know, because it is one factor
that contributes on the generation of pressure which is needed to generate the amount of power.
The equation below shows the computation of the area of the pipe.

= 3.1416 x (0.75 inch)

2
= 0.0195 m

The initial velocity (V
1
) starts from zero (0) and subsequently the two pressure (P
1
and
P
2
) points is also at zero (0) because it is exposed to the atmosphere.
To get the value of the second velocity (V
2
) it used the formula:
V
2
= Q/A = (0.00148 m
3
/s)/(0.00114 m
2
) = 1.30 m/s
Equating the formula

1
2

+
1

2
2

+
(1)
and substituting its value
it computes the energy or the head loss of the creek.
= 0 + 0 + 423m = (1.3 m/s)
2
+ 345m + E
(1-2)

2(9.81 m/s
2
)
= 423 m = 0.086 m + 345 m + E
(1-2)

= 423 m 345.086 m = E
(1-2)
E
(1-2)
= 77.914 m
On the other hand, to compute for the horse power that the creek can be generated it will
get the:
MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 9

HP = (0.00148 m3/s x 9.81 KN/m3 x 77.914 m) / 746 watts = 1.52


Summary of Findings
The study was intended to determine the Masilig Creek: Its Potential as a Source of
Picohydro power. Based from the conducted test and the data gathered, the creek was found out
that it can be a good source of an alternative water energy (picohydro power) which can power
the lights and other equipment of the residents in the Sitio which do not require large amount of
voltage.
Conclusion
The following conclusions were derived based on the concerns stated in the objectives of
the study and its results conducted by the researchers.
1. It was found out that the creek can provide a water discharge of 0.00148 m
3
/s and the
creek can produce an amount of 1.52 horse power of electricity.
2. It also found out that the creek can be a good source of picohydro power which can
power the lights of the houses of the residents of the Sitio.

Recommendations
Based on the study, the following are recommended.
1. Management of water that comes from the creek must be utilized properly. Since the
creek can be a good source of an alternative energy, development of a prototype or
technology which can convert the kinetic energy into an electricity is highly
recommended.
MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 10

2. Barangay government of the Malibago must reconstruct the existing reservoir where
large amount of water is wasted, when in fact, this can supply the needs of the
residents of the barangay in their daily household chores which requires water.
3. The residents of the said Sitio is adviced to repair the leak of the pipe in order to
increase the computed amount of water pressure generated from the creek.


MASILIG CREEK: ITS POTENTIALS AS A SOURCE OF PICOHYDRO POWER 11

References:
Lifesaving, Importance of Electricity (December 13, 2008). http://lifesaving.xomba.com/
importance_electricity. (14 November 2012).

EDF Energy, Energy Future. What is Hydropower? (2012)
http://www.edfenergy.com/energyfuture/hydromarine. (14 November 2012).

Eco Evaluator, Renewable Energy What is Hydropower? (2011)
http://www.ecoevaluator.com/building/renewable-energy/what-is-hydropower.html.

Laririt, Edgardo R. et al. Potentials of Kabugsukan Waterfalls in Sitio Kansuruk, Tugos, Boac,
Marinduque as Source of Mini-Hydroelectric Power The Marinduque State College
Research Journal in Engineering, Environment and Technology, December, 2008: 7-11.