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Content archived on 2022-12-27

USE OF GRP PIPEWORK AT HIGH PRESSURE AND REMOTE CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION FOR MICRO HYDRO

Objective

To use glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) pipework at high pressure and to control and monitor remotely a small hydro electric power station.
Difficulties included
. damage to GRP pipework from flash floods and sediment abrasion
. damage to data transmission cables from lightning
. short circuit on generator requiring factory rewind of generator
. problems of data transmission on the public telephone network
. maloperation of o-ring seals
Pipework was replaced, where necessary, and vulnerable cabling was substituted by a radio link.
The storage capacity was extended by 60,000 m3 with a 4 m earth dam to allow night time shut down in dry periods and hence maximisation of revenues.
The station was commissioned in March 1986. By June 1987 it had generated about 4,500 MWh. In 1991 energy production = 5.41 GWh.
Sections of GRP pipework, particularly useful for remote sites in rugged terrain because of its light weight, are o-ring jointed and buried to form part of the penstock. The GRP is operated up to 30 bar, which is above previously accepted pressures.
Costs are reduced by unmanned operation from 300 km distance, using the public telephone network: Interrogation of installed sensors yields information on the condition of power station plant and the water levels in associated lakes. Flow from the reservoir lake is scheduled to maximise financial returns from sales to the grid, using a customised computer model.
Technical details include :
. hydraulic
- two nozzle, horizontal shaft Pelton wheel
- control : spear valve and deflector
- speed 1011 rpm
- head 250 - 295 m
- flow 0. 15 - 0. 5 cums
- rating 1091 kw.
. electrical
- asynchronous
- voltage 660 V
- rating 1050 kw
- phases 3
- speed 1011 rpm
Annual energy of about 5.5 GWh is expected at IR 0. 0256, giving a payback of 5 years.

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DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinator

COTTONERS ELECTRIC LTD
EU contribution
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Address
MILFORD HOUSE
CARLOW
Ireland

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Total cost

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