Field demonstration of Pumps as Turbines for Micro-Hydropower Glasgow, 14/11/2019 Daniele Novara & Aonghus McNabola Trinity College Dublin
Field demonstration of Pumps as Turbines for Micro-HydropowerGlasgow, 14/11/2019
Daniele Novara & Aonghus McNabolaTrinity College Dublin
1. Who we are
2. Pumps as Turbines (PAT)
3. PAT Applications
4. Barriers to large-scale PAT adoption
5. PAT selection software
6. Demo site n.1 in Wales
7. Demo site n.2 in Ireland
8. Conclusions2
Index
The Dŵr Uisce Project aims at reducing
the energy consumption and CO2
emissions of the water industry, and to
decrease the associated costs of water
supply and treatment.
Part-funded by the Interreg Ireland Wales
Co-operation programme 2014-2020.
3
Who we are
• Low purchase cost (5-10 times less expensive
than a conventional hydro turbine)
• Compact dimensions
• Mass manufactured, short delivery time
• Easy maintenance
• Work within a pressurized pipeline
4
• Low part-load efficiency
• Design uncertainties due to the unavailability of
performance curves given by producers
• Absence of sound design guidelines
Pumps As Turbines (PAT)
5
PAT Applications• Traditional run-off-river hydropower for private or public users
• Particular interest in rural electrification (South-East Asia, Latin
America...)
• Energy recovery devices from pressurized water networks:
• Drinking water networks
• Irrigation networks
• Skiing resorts relying on artificial snow
• Mining sector
• Industrial cooling systems
• Upgrade of non-powered dams
• Integration of pre-existing hydropower schemes
Insight: lack of proven design guidelines and a lack of awareness by potential
users/customers.
6
Barriers to large-scale PAT adoptionPump manufacturers
Not interested in investigating PAT use or promoting sales due to the
marginality of the sector respect to their core market
Potential PAT users
Not informed about PAT, risk averse (e.g. water utilities)
Hydro design firms and consultants
Unaware of the PAT potential, unexperienced, not willing to take on
project liability, concerned by the lack of design guidelines and existing field
applications
7
PAT selection software (1/2)A comprehensive PAT design software has been developed and validated through a laboratory testing campaign.
8
PAT selection software (2/2)
PAT lab test rig
9
10
Demo site n.1 in Wales (1/10)4 kW run-off-river hydropower scheme at Ty Mawr Wybrnant, Wales
11
Demo site n.1 in Wales (2/10)Electric scheme
12
Demo site n.1 in Wales (3/10)Intake construction
13
Demo site n.1 in Wales (4/10)Powerhouse construction
14
Demo site n.1 in Wales (5/10)Turbine and generator
15
Demo site n.1 in Wales (6/10)Electric components
Demo site n.1 in Wales (6/8)
16
17
Demo site n.1 in Wales (8/10)
Comparison
with other
turbine types
18
Demo site n.1 in Wales (9/10)
19
Demo site n.1 in Wales (10/10)
• 3.68 kW of power, grid connected (G98)
• Total investment 25,700 GBP (incl. VAT)
• Expected output 19,000 kWh per year
• Expected revenues 2,900 GBP per year
• Predicted payback between 8 and 9 years
• Electricity cost ≈ 0.13 GBP/kW
Key figures:
Official opening on
21/11/2019!
20
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (1/10)4 kW hydropower scheme at Blackstairs Water Treatment Plant
21
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (2/10)
Source river Settling tank
Raw water tank
22
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (3/10)Gross head 60 m, measured flow rate in the range 8-33 l/s
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Flo
w r
ate
(l/s
)
23
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (4/10)
Results
from the
PAT
selection
software
24
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (5/10)Preliminary
design
25
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (/)4.3 kW hydropower scheme at Blackstairs Water Treatment Plant
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (7/8)
26
27
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (8/10)Official opening on 2/5/2019
28
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (9/10)Performance monitoring since startup
0
1
2
3
4
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
P (
kW)
Q (
m3
/h)
Q (m3/h) P (kW)
29
Demo site n.2 in Ireland (10/10)
• 4 kW of nominal power, grid connected
• Total investment 25,300 GBP (incl. VAT)
• Expected output 25-35,000 kWh per year
• Expected revenues 3,400-5,200 GBP per year, given to charity
• Ideally, payback between 4 and 7 years
• Electricity cost ≈ 0.07 GBP/kWh (!)
Key figures:
30
The developed PAT selection algorithm can be utilised to select the
appropriate PAT family and system configuration for any given potential
site in order to meet the existing constraints and satisfy the stakeholder’s
expectations.
The novelty of the two built pilot plants lies in the proof of the applicability of
PAT technology to both run-of-river and in-pipe hydropower schemes, as
well as proving the validity of the design guidance developed.
The adoption of PATs has the potential to achieve the economic feasibility of
schemes down to the "pico" scale (e.g. less than 5 kW of installed power).
Conclusions