Hydroelectric power plants on aqueduct

An important sector for the development and application of renewable energy is represented by the installation of hydroelectric turbines along the networks of aqueducts and irrigation systems, where it is possible to exploit differently dissipated heads and flows, exploiting existing infrastructures such as pipelines and canals. In addition to the production of electricity using potential energy that would otherwise be lost, there is also the containment of environmental impact as existing infrastructure can be exploited.

LUMIEI Impianti has chosen to specialize in this sector and, after having created numerous installations on aqueducts, has designed and set up a test laboratory for testing small-scale systems in a hydroelectric power plants in Sauris, in order to simulate the future system and study the behavior of the turbine as the working conditions of the plant vary.

Drinking water is normally derived from a high altitude source and directed to users via a network of pipes. It is common for the geodesic jump to lead to a network supply pressure which, for some users, is excessive. In these cases, the use of special devices suitable for dissipating excess pressure is expected. The potential energy associated with dissipation is lost, unless a hydraulic turbine can be installed that can exploit it. Through a deviation from the aqueduct network or by inserting the turbine-generator unit directly in place of the heat sink element, it is therefore possible to produce electricity. To guarantee the continuity of the drinking water supply in all conditions, an automatic bypass of the system will be installed (as shown in the figure below). The turbine waters are preserved in their organoleptic characteristics as the parts in contact are made with materials certified for food use and the mechanical parts are moved exclusively by electric and/or pneumatic actuators, while the rotating parts are free from lubrication. Hydroelectric plants of the same nature can also be installed where it is possible to channel the overflow of the accumulation tanks of the aqueduct networks, in order to recover the flow rate that would otherwise be dissipated.

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