Conduit hydroelectricity

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Conduit hydroelectricity (or conduit hydropower ) is a method of using mechanical energy of water as part of the water delivery system through man-made conduits to generate electricity. Generally, the conduits are existing water pipelines such as in public water supply. [1] Some definitions expand the definition of conduits to be existing tunnels, canals, or aqueducts that are used primarily for other water delivery purposes than electricity generation. [2] [3]

Historically, electricity generation from water pipelines was rare because the water would have been pumped by other engines in the system prior to the intake of water turbines to generate electricity. The energy generated from the turbines would have been offset by the power used in pumping, canceling out the power generation benefit. [4] However, there have been renewed interests to apply this method to recover energy when there is a need to reduce pressure in the water supply system that is normally done through pressure reducing valves. The conduit hydroelectricity generation in this case can be done by replacing the pressure reducing valves with small turbines and electrical generators. [5]

Since 2008, there has been considerable technological development in off-the-shelf "“water-to-wire” turbine technologies including reaction, impulse, and hydrokinetic turbines that target the sub 1-MW in-conduit hydroelectric market." [6] [7]

Portland, Oregon uses conduit generation in its water pipes. [8] The Imperial Irrigation District had plans for 14 new conduit hydropower projects in 2016. [9]

In 2013, the US had "a total of 236 FERC authorized conduit exemption projects." [10]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micro hydro</span> Hydroelectric power generation of 5 to 100 kW of electricity

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sevan–Hrazdan Cascade</span> Dam in Central Armenia

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The Vorotan Cascade, or the ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade, is a cascade on the Vorotan River in Syunik Province, Armenia. It was built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation water. The Vorotan Cascade consists of three hydroelectric power plants and five reservoirs with a combined installed capacity of 404.2 MW. It is one of the main power generation complexes in Armenia.

Kirkthorpe hydro is a hydroelectric generating plant located on the River Calder at Kirkthorpe Weir, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. The plant was opened in 2017 and expects to be generating electricity for 100 years. Kirkthorpe Weir is the highest industrial weir in Yorkshire and has prevented fish passing upstream to spawn; the new hydro project has a fish pass built into it.

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References

  1. ↑ "Conduit Projects: Energy Recovery from Public Water Systems". Canyon Industries, Inc. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Conduit Hydropower". National Hydropower Association. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Capturing Untapped Potential: Small Hydro in Irrigation Canals". Hydro Review. 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  4. ↑ "St. Louis Municipal Electric Power Plant". Electrical World and Engineer. 34 (12): 961. 31 May 1902. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "Recovering energy from an existing conduit" (PDF). International Water Power & Dam Construction (306–400X): 18–20. May 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  6. ↑ Sari, Mutiara Ayu; Badruzzaman, Mohammad; Cherchi, Carla; Swindle, Matthew; Ajami, Newsha; Jacangelo, Joseph G. (2018-12-15). "Recent innovations and trends in in-conduit hydropower technologies and their applications in water distribution systems". Journal of Environmental Management. 228: 416–428. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.078. ISSN   0301-4797. PMID   30243077. S2CID   52821294.
  7. ↑ Noon, Chris (2019-09-05). "Canal Plus: These Tiny Turbines Can Turn Man-Made Waterways Into Power Plants". GE Reports. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  8. ↑ "Energy in Oregon - Hydropower". State of Oregon. 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  9. ↑ National Hydropower Association (2016-12-13). "Get to Know Your Hydro: Conduit Hydropower". Medium. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  10. ↑ Allen, Gregory S (2013). "In-Conduit Hydropower Project – Phase I Report" (PDF). Alden Research Laboratory. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
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