TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
Central Campus, Pulchowk
Lalitpur, Nepal
Department of Electrical Engineering

A field visit report on

Micro-hydro power
Submitted by:
Deepak Bhatta

(069/BEL/315)

Narayan Shrestha (069/BEL/324)

Pradip Khatri

(069/BEL/328)

Saroj Sapkota

(069/BEL/338)

Umesh Pudasaini (069/BEL/347)

Submitted to: Er. Dinesh Ghimire

August 27 2016

ABSTRACT
The main target for field visit to Malekhu micro hydro power plant was learning
the operation, commissioning, design and technical aspects of the micro hydro
power plant. The one-day program of the field visits to Malekhu Hydropower,
Mahadevbesi made us familiar with the social, economic benefits to the local
people. During the visit we measured the head by two methods: water filled
tube and sighting meter method and discharge by using two methods: area
velocity and salt gulp method. A small discussion and questioning-answering
about the installation, construction, improved socioeconomic status was also
carried out during the meeting held among our visit group and committee. All
the economic status of the micro hydro was evaluated. The problem that they
normally face and their periodic maintenance routine were discussed. The micro
hydro plant has brought a lot of change in the villagers with development like
transportation facility, access to good health service, good education facilities
and increase in living standard. Total of 310 household are getting benefits from
this micro hydro plant.
It has already been 5 years of its successful operation and it has showed its
effect within this period and is seen technically and economically feasible and
viable.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank our respected teacher Er. Dinesh Ghimire for
providing us an opportunity to gain the practical knowledge about technical
aspects of micro hydro plant through this field visit.
Secondly, we would like to express our special thanks to Department of
Electrical Engineering, Central Campus Pulchowk who managed the wonderful
field visit. We would like to express our gratitude towards Madhusudhan
Shrestha sir of Department of Electrical Engineering,Pulchowk Campus for his
supervision and assistance in Micro hydro field visit.
We would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to working
committee of Malekhu khola Micro Hydro Power plant for explaining the
system available there and providing the knowledge that we need for our study
without which the visit would not be as successful. Also we are thankful to our
respected teacher Madhusudan Shrestha for his valuable time and support to us.
Also, we would like to thank all the teachers, friends and everyone who is
directly or indirectly associated to make our visit successful.

INTRODUCTION
In context of Nepal, micro hydropower plant is a small scale hydropower plant
of capacity 5 kW to 100 kW usually located in remote areas where there is no
direct access to national grid that may be due geographical difficulties and
economically unfeasible. Micro hydropower plant is the major source of energy
in the rural areas and it is a practical and cost effective way of meeting the
energy demand of people in rural areas. We visited the Malekhu Khola MHP of
26KW located at Mahadevbesi VDC, Dhading. There are middle and lower
class villagers living together with dominatingly Chepang community and
others people residing over there are Magars and Gurungs. Most of the villagers
there are engaged in agriculture. The micro hydro plant has brought a lot of
change in the villagers with development like transportation facility, access to
good health service and increase in living standard.
OBJECTIVES
To learn operation, maintenance and design aspect of micro-hydro power
plant.
Flow and head measurements in actual site. Micro-hydro plant design
with measured discharge & head.
Sizing and selection of turbine and generator.
To design appropriate ballast size.
To find out the total capital cost investment and calculate the cost per
KW.
Socio-economic development in the society due to Micro-hydro Plant.
METHOLODOGY
BEFORE FIELD VISIT:
Site selection.
Collection of documents and equipment to facilitate the visit.
DURING FIELD VISIT:
Brief study of present scheme i.e. civil, electrical, mechanical etc.
Measurement of head and discharge by various methods.
Meeting with local peoples, interactions and questioning-answering etc.
AFTER FIELD VISIT:

 Necessary calculation & selection of various components is done for

designing.

Socio-Economic Condition
Ethnic groups:
There are 310 households, which are benefited from this MHP scheme. The
total population benefited by this project is about 1500. Communities like
Tamang, Chhetri and Damai/Kami,brahaman are residing in the project area.
chhetri holds the majority of almost more than 65% but other communities also
are in same respect.
Economic condition
Economic condition of the village is not very sound. Illiteracy percentage is
high. The main source of income of the people is agriculture. Almost 90%
household depends upon agriculture. In average 4 persons per household are
involved in agriculture. About 10% household depend on labor works; in an
average one man per household is involved.
Land holdings and uses
Average land holdings per household in the project area are 5 ropanies. The
major crops grown are rice, maize, wheat, millet, oilseeds etc. besides potatoes,
garlic, beans and orange are major horticultural crops grown in the vicinity.
Canal utilization on irrigation purpose
The main crops grown in the vicinity are rice, maize, wheat and vegetables.
Implication of irrigation has increased the land yield. The water output for
irrigation purpose is designed to be 12 l/s. with this large land has been irrigated
under different cropping pattern.
Marketing and agricultural commodities
Farmers growing cereal crops generally get their cereal products milled at an
agro-processing unit (Ghatta). Farmers engaged in vegetable growing sell their
products to local main bazaar malakhu and products go to Kathmandu also for
which middlemen plays significant role in determine price of the commoditized.

TECHNICAL DETAILS OF MALEKHU MICRO HYDRO PLANT

Gross head
25 m
Measured flow

350 l/sec may 1

Available flow

334 l/sec (driest flow)

Design flow

210 l/sec

Design power

26kW

Head race

1464 m, stone masonry

Diameter of penstock
pipe

325 mm 3 mm thick and 50 m long

Types of penstock pipe

Mild steel

Types of intake

Side intake

Types of diversion

Temporary weir

Types of turbine

Cross flow

Turbine shaft power

40 kw

Mechanical
transmission

Flat belt (habasit)

Generator

50 kVA,50 Hz synchronous generator,400/230 volt and

1500 rpm

ELC

26 kW

Ballast load

Industrial immersion heater 35 kw

Total length of
transmission and
distribution

10700 m

Types of conductor used

Rabbit conductor 17600 m and squirrel

20700 m

Name of the project

Malekhu khola village electrification

project

Location

Mahadevsthan vdc

District

Dhading

Zone

Bagmati

Name of the source

Malekhu khola

No of house hold

310

Subscribed power

100 watt

Load centre

Ward no 1 2 4 and 5 of Mahadevsthan

vdc

Route to reach site

Kathmandu- Malekhu (5 hours of

walking)

MEASUREMENTS
The Measurement of discharge can be performed through the following
techniques:
- Direct method
1.Area velocity:
2. Dilution techniques
-Indirect methods:
1. Hydraulic structures Weir
2. Slope area method
The methods generally used for flow measurement are:
1. Velocity Method.
2. Salt gulp Method.
3. Bucket Method.
Salt Dilution Method is mostly used in Micro Hydro.
Head Measurement can be performed through the following measures:
1. Water filled tube
2. Sighting meters
We measured the discharge using area velocity method and salt dilution method.
Likewise, we measured the head using water filled tube and Abney levels.
Area Velocity method
This Method is based on the principle that for a fluid of constant density flowing
through a cross-section, the product of cross-sectional area and mean velocity
will be constant that is the discharge.
Q(m3/s) = Area(m2) vmean(m/s)
The most practical method of measuring stream discharge is through the
velocity-area method. This method involves measuring the velocity of a neutral
buoyancy object (e.g., wood, plastic bottles etc.) and multiplying this by the
average cross-sectional area (using a tape and rule) of the river gives the
discharge of that stream. These objects do, however, float close to the river

surface, which is faster than the average velocity of the water profile and must,
therefore, be reduced by a coefficient called correction factor (in our case we
chose the value of correction factor as 0.75).
Procedure:
Person X stays at upstream and person Y stays at down-stream at some
measured distance. Person X then puts a float at a fairly fast moving point in the
river and lets it sweep. The time in the stop watch is noted down when the float
travels the prefixed distance.
The procedure is repeated 10 times with different floats. The distance travelled
by the float divided by the time gives its surface velocity. This surface velocity
is then multiplied by appropriate correction factor to find the mean velocity. Ten
such mean velocities are calculated and mean is calculated.
The mean cross sectional area of the river is found by finding the mean depth
and multiplied it by the width of the river. The mean depth is found by
measuring depth at all locations from one side of the channel to the other side of
the channel and taking a mean.
Observation table:
Distance
Time taken to travel this
travelled, Si m
distance, Ti sec.
20
17.5
20
23
20
19.2
20
18
20
19
20
17.1
20
17.96
20
19.17
20
17.76

Surface velocity Vi = Si/Ti m/s

1.1428
0.868
1.0416
1.1
1.0526
1.168
1.1
1.0432
1.1249

Correction factor ( C.F) = 0.75

So, mean velocity with correction factor = 0.8037 m/sec
Area of cross section
= mean depth of channel width of the channel
= 0.25141.35 = 0.3394 m2

Discharge (Q)

= Area of cross section Mean velocity

= 0.33940.8037
= 0.2727 m3/s
= 272.77 l/s

Salt gulp method

Salt Gulp method is easy to accomplish, reasonably accurate (error <7 %), and
reliable in a wide range of stream types. It gives better results the more
turbulent the stream. Using this approach, a spot check of stream flow can be
taken in less than 10 minutes with very little equipment.
A bucket of heavily salted water is poured into the stream. The cloud of salty
water in the stream starts to spread out while travelling downstream. At a certain
point downstream it will have filled the width of the stream. The cloud will have
a leading part which is weak in salt, a middle part which is strong in salt and a
lagging part which is weak again. The saltiness (salinity) of the water can be
measured with an electrical conductivity meter. If the stream is small, it will not
dilute the salt very much, so the electrical conductivity of the cloud (which is
greater the saltier the water) will be high. Therefore, low flows are indicated by
high conductivity and vice versa. The flow rate is therefore inversely
proportional to the degree of conductivity of the cloud.
The above argument assumes that the cloud passes the probe in the same time in
each case. But the slower the flow, the longer the cloud takes to pass the probe.
Thus flow is also inversely proportional to the cloud-passing time.

Observation table
Discharge Measurement Using Salt Gulp Method
S.N.
Time
Conductivity
(s)
(10-6ohm-1)
1
5
4
2
10
4
3
15
4
4
20
4
5
25
4
6
30
4
7
35
5
8
40
11
9
45
16
10
50
15
11
55
14
12
60
12
13
65
9
14
70
6
15
75
5
16
80
4
17
85
4
18
90
4

Calculation of discharge
The observed value are plotted against time as below.

From this method:

M k 1
Q
A
Where
A= area under the curve = 51180 = 900 (each square box= 15 per ohm 10-6,
square box numbers= 180)
Q = Discharge in l/sec
m= mass of salt added in mg= 100g x 103
At 22C k-1=2.04x10-6 ohm-1 per mg per l
By using the formula, we got
Q = 226.67 litre/sec

HEAD MEASUREMENT
Sighting Meters
Hand-held sighting meters (also known as Clinometers or Abney levels) can
measure the angle of inclination of a slope. They can be very accurate if used by
an experienced person. They are
Small and compact, and sometimes include range-finders which save the trouble
of measuring linear distance. Since the method demands that the linear distance
along the slope is recorded, it can have the advantage of measure of the length
of penstock pipe as well.

Observation table
S.N

1
2
3
4

Angle()
degree

Slope
length(l)m

23
25
28
30

18
21
9
10

So, the total head measured =25.12 m

Height(h)=l*sin
,m
7.03
8.87
4.22
5

Water filled tube method

For this procedure the material required were U- pipe of 10 meters, staff of 2
nos.
Initially, Person X stays at uphill, Person Y stays at downhill. Person X matches
water level at expected fore bay level. Person Y then measures height of this
level at downhill. This is denoted by A1.
Person Y now stays at the same place and person X comes further downhill than
Y. Person X then measures height A2 for a height B1 measured by Y.
Person X now stays at the same place and person Y comes further downhill than
X. Person Y then measures height A3 for a height B2 measured by person X.
This process continues till turbine level is reached.

Observation table:
Head measurement Using water filled tube and graded rod
S.
N.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Downhill
Uphill
height (Ai height (Bi m)
m)
2.62
0
1.68
0.40
2.17
0.15
1.64
0.20
2.15
0.10
1.68
0.9
1.61
0.10
1.42
0.52
2.46
0.20
2.37
0.10
2.13
0.20
2.25
0.19
2.52
0.15
Total = 24.31 m

Hi=AiBi
2.62
1.28
2.02
1.44
2.05
1.59
1.51
0.90
2.26
2.27
1.93
2.06
2.37

OUR MICRO HYDRO POWER PLANT DESIGN CALCULATION:

From the above findings, the installed capacity of the plant can be determined:
Design discharge = 210 l/s
Gross head=24.715m Taking head loss = 10%
Net head = gross head head loss
=24.715 0.124.715
=22.2435 m 22 m
Overall Plant efficiency ( ) = civil works penstockturbinegenerator
line
= 0.950.900.750.850.97
= 0.5287

Turbine efficiency (turbine) = 0.75

Shaft power (P) = turbine QH/100 kW
=0.7521022/100
=34.65 kW
Plant Output = QH/100 kW
=0.528721022/100
=23.96 kW
Taking the turbine speed as 500 rpm; specific speed is given as:
Ns = N (power output in kW)0.5/H5/4
=1.2500 (34.65)0.5/225/4
=74.124
Constrained in the boundary marked by shaft power of 34.65 kW, net head 22
m, and a turbine speed of 500 rpm , the suitable turbine from the nomogram is
cross flow turbine and Francis turbine. But from part flow efficiency point of
view the cross flow turbine is most efficient . Also, during dry season, when the
ratio of flow to maximum flow is less, then the
Francis turbine doesnt prove to be efficient. Therefore, the cross flow turbine is
selected.

Fig: Nomogram chart

Fig : Part flow efficiency of various turbines

Here We have selected the turbine speed 500 rpm. So we use the belt drive
system. That means gear ratio = 3 as the speed of the generator 1500 rpm.
Diameter of runner:
Dideal 40

H net
rpm

40

22
0.38m
500

Thickness of the water jet(ideal) tjet = 0.1 Dideal to 0.2 Dideal

= 3.8 to 7.6 cm
The length of runner is given by
Q
Lrunner
t jet 2 gH net

0.21
t jet 2 10 22

0.13 to 0.26m

We can find the runner diameter from nomogram too, and we use the value obtained
from nomogram for design purpose.

Fig : Nomogram for obtaining runner diameter

From nomogram, approximate runner diameter is 0.4 m.

Calculating tjet and lrunner accordingly using the formula mentioned above,
we obtain, tjet = 0.10.4 = 0.04 m and lrunner = 0.25 m

THE GOVERNING SYSTEM

The governing system controls the speed of turbine-generator set in response to the
change in load to the generator. As, the output voltage and frequency of the generator
directly depends upon the speed of the turbine, hence there must be a provision for
maintaining the voltage and frequency within a specified limit by regulating the speed.
This can be achieved by employing a governor. The governor can be of the following
two types :

 Conventional governing
i. Oil pressure governor
ii. Electronic load controller
Non-conventional governor

The conventional governors wherein the speed is regulated by controlling the water
inlet to the turbine, through hydraulic or mechanical governing system is much
complicated to design and expensive to use in a small micro hydro system. Hence, an
electronic load controller is preferred to be used as governor. An ELC with ballast
load controls the speed of the turbine generator set by maintaining generator output
constant at all times irrespective of the change in load by the consumers. The flow is
kept constant to the turbine so speed remains constant. A constant generator output
maintained by supplying a secondary ballast heaters with the power not needed by the
consumer.
DESIGN OF ELC WITH BALLAST LOAD

Figure: ELC with ballast load

Specifications:
Generator size = 23.96 KW Rated voltage of heater = 230 V
Considering the voltage drop of 10 volt across the ELC,Voltage across the terminals
of ballast load = (230-0) V = 220V Temperature of entering water = 25 C
Temperature of outgoing water
= 50 C Allowable temperature rise = 25 C
Specific heat of water = 4200 J/Kg/K

Now we need to design the ballast load such that when all the loads are switched off,
the ballast can safely dissipate the generated power without causing excessive
temperature rise or damage.
Let us choose 3 kW water heater elements each containing a single heating element of
3 kW. Resistance of 3 kW element;
= (230)2/3000
= 17.63
When full load is diverted to the ballast, voltage across is only 220V. Power
dissipated in each 3 kW element;
Power dissipated
=(220)2/17.63
=2745.32 W
=2.745 kW
Now, consider 10 such heating elements; Total power dissipated = 10*2.745 =27.45
kW (>23.96)
Percentage oversize
= 14 % (<15%) So valid.
So we choose 10 numbers of 3 kW elements.
Water flow rate
Q=mschange in temp
Mass/second = (23.961000)/(420025) = 0.228 kg/s
Flow rate required =0.228 l/s

Fig: Water heater with ballast loads

Fig. Heating element with
10 no. 3 kW element

SELECTION OF DRIVE SYSTEM

A drive system transmits the power from the turbine to the generator at the correct
speed for the generator and in a suitable direction. The drive system comprises the
generator shaft, turbine shaft, bearings, pulleys, belts, gearboxes, or other
components to change the speed or the orientation of the shafts.
Different types of drive systems are:
1.Direct coupled drive system
2.Wedge belt drive system
3.Wedge belt drive system with extra bearings
4.Quarter turn belt drive
5.Direct coupled turbine and geared motor used as alternator
6.Turbine rotor mounted on generator shaft
In our design we have chosen horizontal arrangement of the turbine and the
generator shaft, speed of rotation of turbine being 500 RPM and that of generator
being 1500 RPM. So we have gear ratio of 3. Among the various types of drives
stated above, wedge belt drive is the most suitable option. Characteristics of wedge
belt drive system are listed below:
Alternative arrangement could also be flat belt
Axes of both turbine and generator could be vertical for both types of belts
Generator should be mounted on slide rails to obtain belt tensions
The drive applies load to turbine and generator bearing/shaft
Turbine and generator may run at different speed
Turbine and generator may be at different height
Shafts must be parallel and pulleys in line but alignment is not as critical as
for direct drive

Fig : Wedge belt drive system

SELECTION OF GENERATOR
Either one of the following options can be selected:
Induction generator
Synchronous generator
Self excited, Synchronous generator is selected for our design. It works on the
principle:
whenever the magnetic field linked with a conductor changes, an emf is
induced across the conductor. If a load is connected across the ends of this
conductor, current will be supplied to it. A three phase synchronous generator is
effective three single phase generators in one, using the same magnetic field.

Fig : Single phase synchronous generator with rotating field

Fig : Three phase star connected rotor and output voltage waveform

ampere rating compared to that required in the condition of maximum demand.

i.

This allows for possible expansion of the loads and supply systems.

ii.

This minimizes momentary voltage reductions which occur when

induction motors are started. The volt-amp rating of a generator should be
more than five times the kW rating
of any induction motor (including those built into electrical appliances)
which may be started direct on line.

iii.

Over-rated generators will run cooler.

iv.

Over-rated generators are necessary when using an ELC.

An additional 25% capacity on kVA should be made on this calculated figure to

allow for motor starting currents and to extend the life of the alternator to be
more in line with the other system components. The appropriate standard frame
size is therefore 1.25 times more without ELC. The ELC varies the current flow
to the ballast load by adjusting phase angle at which conduction starts. So if the
current starts to flow to the ballast only after voltage waveform travels an angle
, the ballast load, though resistive, acts as if it were acting as a lagging power
factor load. When the consumer load is also of lower power factor, the reactive
power drawn from the generator is more which may damage the AVR and the
generator winding. The condition is worse when ballast load is applied at a
conduction angle of 90o.
To cater this situation, add 60% rule to select the size of the generator i.e.
Generator kVA = (max kW load/power factor)1.6
Required size of generator
= 45.101 kVA

It is a wiser practice to employ a generator having considerably larger voltThe generator of size 45.101 kVA may not be available in the market. So we go
for next higher available generator which is 50 kVA.

EXCITATION SYSTEM
Brushless excitation system with AVR with roll off and rotating diodes is used.

Unlike a dc generator, the output voltage of a simple synchronous generator

falls very rapidly as the load current it supplies increases. This is due to an effect
called armature reaction caused by the load current de-magnetizing the main
field. As a result, it is essential that the main field dc magnetizing current is
adjusted as the load current changes so that the output voltage remains the same
for all loads. An automatic voltage regulator (AVR) must therefore be
provided to control the dc field current. A problem in micro-hydro set-ups is that
low- speed running of the turbine and generator may occur for prolonged
periods. The AVR may respond by boosting the excitation in order to raise
output voltage but will be unable to do this continuously without overheating.
The high field currents forced in this way have been known to destroy the
generator, even on under speeds of only 5%.

Figure: Voltage frequency relationship

The dc field supply is provided by rectifying the ac output voltage. The ability
of a self- excited synchronous generator to build up its field excitation when the
machine is started depends on the residual magnetism in the iron core and this
must not be lost. It should also be noted that an AVR is even more necessary in
a self-excited synchronous generator than in the separately
Excited type as the dc field current supply voltage is directly dependent
on, and thus decreases with, the ac output voltage.

TARIFF DESIGN
Tariff is the price paid by the entrepreneurs and householders for the use of
electricity. The tariff are fixed on the basis of loan repayment, operation and
maintenance cost and the welfare funds. There are some principles for fixing the
tariffs. The tarrifs should be discussed among the villgers and arguments should
be done on it. It should be workable in practice as well as it should match with
the findings of capability and demand survey. It should have the provision for
work replacement for underprivileged people. It should contain the advice of
almost all the villagers.
COST ESTIMATION
Estimated Cost Categorisation:
S.
Description of
Amount
N.
items
1
Installation
120000
supervision and
commissioning
charge
2
Cost of civil
5850000
construction
3
Cost
of
4262015
mechanical
component
4
Cost of electrical
4062015
component
5
Transportation
60755
cost
6
Other Costs
379000
Total
145,33,7
85

Investment Capital categorization:

S
Particulars
n
1
Expexted Subsidy from
Govt.
2
Loan Form Bank
3

Labour Contribution by

Amoun
t
644000
0
650000
0
900000

locals
Investment from Locals
Total Investment

693785
145337
85

Load Distributions:
Considering the following loads will be probably incurred to the plant
throughout the year:

S.N. Description

Lighting Loads

Runnin
Operating Time g
Power consumed Energy
Hours (KW)
Consumed
KWHr
6pm-12pm;
4am-

12

108

7am
2

Rice mill * 2

12am to 6 pm

12

72

Battery charging 10am to 6 pm

16

Other
Residential
Loads

18

54

Energy
Consumed

250

6 am- 12pm

Per Day

Total Energy Consumed per day= 250 KWHr

Total Energy Generated per day =24Hr 23.96KW

= 575.04 KWHr

Considering outage of 1 month per year for maintenance and failures:

Plant factor

Enerrgy Consumed
250

0.4 Plant Factor

Energy Generated 575.04

Investment Excluding Subsidy from Government = Rs 65,00,000

This amount must be considered to be returned in payback period of 6 yrs with
Rate of return of 10%
So Annual Cost should be
A P

r (1 r ) n
(1 r ) n 1

65,00,000

0.1 1.16
1.16 1

14,92, 449

Operation and maintenance cost = 6% of Total Investment = Rs 89,546

Total Annual Cost = Rs 1581995/So per watt cost should be =

1581995
=Rs 5.5/ Watt/ month
23.96 1000 12

Considering Rs 6/Watt/month, Yearly income = 623.96100012 = 1725120/Now Yearly Welfare Fund savings=1725120 1581995=Rs 1,43,125/-

Summary:
Name of Project
: Malekhu Khola, MHP
Location
: Mahadevsthan Malekhu
District
: Dhading
Zone
: Bagmati
Name of Source
: Malekhu Khola
No. of household Benefit : 310
Electricity demand per house: 100W
Ownership: Community
Technical features
Gross Head

= 24.7 m

Net Head
Measured Discharge
Design discharge
Plant Output

= 22 m
= 270 l/s
= 210 l/s
= 23.96 kW

Turbine
Ballast
Ballast Size
Belt
Generator
Generator Size
Plant factor
Tariff

= Crossflow
= Water heater
= 27kW
= Wedge Belt
= Synchronous
= 50kVA
= 0.4
= Rs 6/Watt/month

CONCLUSION
The field visit to Mahadevsthan micro hydropower proved to be very useful to
us. We learnt operation, maintenance and design aspect of micro-hydro power
plant. We measured the flow and head measurements in actual site by using
practical methods and performed load survey demand in actual site but there
was little deviation in measured data when compared to actual data given. We
were able to observe practically what we have theoretically learnt. By using
what the data that we obtained from our experiments, we designed a micro
hydro plant with all the components like ELC, generator, turbine, drive system,
etc. by ourselves and compared it with that in the site. Hence, it was very useful
visit as a part of study.