ABSTRACT
The small hydro power potential in Germany has been developped to a high degree along with the industrialization, the river development for navigation, flood control and power utilisation especially. Although most sites are exploited, a substantial number of ultra-low-head sites can still be developed where old mills had been given up or power generation was left out for economic reasons. The adaption to the gate requires a solid steel welded construction to match into the existing gap with the u-shaped guide. In this guide the hydraulics thrust from the head water is absorbed. A Swedish pump manufacturer has solved the problems by his own turbine design on the base of his pump components. The design with its simplicity has spread fast over the last fifteen years. Leading pump manufacturers are now researching to modify their pumps with the target to use their pumps modified at good efficiencies as turbines.
