Objective The construction and operation of a novel low head hydroelectric generating unit which comprises an automatic valve system which is centrally located between two air chambers. The valves operate such that as one chamber fills with water the other empties. Air in a closed circuit above the two chambers oscillates between them as first one chamber then the other is filled/emptied. A unidirectional Wells air turbine in the air circuit harnesses the energy of the air moving back and farth.It is anticipated that the annual energy production will be 394,000 kWh and that the total unit cost will be L 0.023 per kWh.The site for this demonstration project is on the River Dove at Hanging Bridge, Mayfield in Derbyshire. The ground belongs to Bowmer Bond Ltd and a supply leat and control works exist from a previous water wheel installation. The double box system will pass water from the leat to a by-pass channel. The key components of the system are the automatically controlled valves, which are arranged as a series of vertical, rotating louvres set in a cross formation, and which divert the water to supply and empty both chambers alternately. In the closed air circuit mounted above the chambers there is a self rectifying Wells air turbine, in turn connected to an asynchronous generator, the output of which will be directly connected to the local grid.The design features of the plant are as follows;Water head 2.75 m Water flow 4.0 m3/s Turbine speed 4800 rev/minGenerator speed 3000 rev/min Generator output 30 kW Programme(s) ENG-ENDEMO C - Programme (EEC) of demonstration projects and industrial pilot projects (EEC) in the energy field, 1985-1989 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinator Hydro Energy Developments Ltd EU contribution No data Address Rowanburn DG14 0RG Canonbie United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data
