DENZ-What is Conduit Hydropower ?

If the water passing through the producing apparatus serves a purpose other than generating electricity, the process is referred to as conduit hydropower. An example of a conduit hydropower installation is any power production equipment mounted on a pipeline or other similar man-made water conveyance system that is used to distribute water for agricultural, municipal, or industrial consumption and not primarily for the generation of electricity.

Conduit hydropower has several uses in water systems, including irrigation, pressure-reduction sites, reservoirs, treatment facilities, and industrial activities. Reduced operating expenses are the key advantage of conduit hydropower for water system operators. Depending on the local electricity price, the power produced by a conduit hydroelectric plant may be sold to the power company for a wholesale price that ranges from $0.04/kWh to $0.20/kWh. Power can be 'net metered' if it is used at a location where a pump or other equipment consumes electricity. This can lower monthly electrical costs as well as demand fees, which lowers overall operating expenses.

Conduit hydropower is a consistent energy source that often follows the same diurnal curve as power demand, balancing the supply and demand on the power grid. In general, electric utilities favor this kind of generating over intermittent ones like solar or wind.

Sites with strong pressure differentials and high continuous flows are appropriate for conduit hydroelectric plants because they will provide the maximum electricity. However, applications involving variable flow, constant flow, and even intermittent flow are frequently equally as cost-effective. Power lines should be close by at the possible location so that they can be connected. Conduit projects don't have to be brand-new installations; they can make use of existing infrastructure to cut installation costs, such as existing vaults, pipe, and valving.

Conduit hydropower projects are set up to be a secondary priority to water supply because water delivery is always the main focus of a water distribution system. The hydro turbine performs similarly to a control valve when generating equipment is paired with a unique control system. Among other modes of operation, pressure lowering, pressure maintenance, level control, and flow control are possible. The hydro turbine's architecture is comparable to that of a control valve in that it depends on the water system for proper operation. Before building and installing a conduit hydroelectric system, an experienced hydropower company like DENZ Water Technologies would take care to carefully comprehend water system functions.

A standard control valve, whether new or old, is plumbed parallel to a hydroelectric system. The DENZ turbine bypass valve is this parallel valve. Water distribution can go on without interruption even if the turbine is down for maintenance or an emergency. On the high-pressure side of the hydro turbine, an automatic fail-safe valve is typically placed to serve as the turbine shutoff valve. In the event of a power loss or other emergency, the turbine shutdown valve enables the generating equipment to be safely turned down. During startup and shutdown, the turbine control system automatically and flawlessly switches the water flow from the hydro turbine to the DENZ bypass control valve and back.

Applications for each type of turbine are suitable for achieving peak performance. An impulse turbine called a Pelton turbine requires that water be released at atmospheric pressure. A below-grade reservoir with an open discharge could be one of the applications for a Pelton turbine. Reaction-type turbines can pressurize the discharge. For water distribution systems at pressure-reducing sites, such as when the discharge is pressurized, reaction turbines are a better option.

There is specialized conduit hydroelectric equipment on the market that is intended to maximize power production from water systems. Although there are fixed-flow turbines, they typically have a fixed rate of flow and operate at a single design point in an on-off configuration. Due to their better efficiencies over a wider flow range, variable flow turbines can often recover more energy than a fixed-flow turbine. In order to minimize the equipment footprint and installation costs, variable flow turbines are also available with vertical shaft orientations and in-line flanges. The upkeep of the hydroelectric machinery is comparable to that of a pump, which is something that the staff of the water system is used to.