To demonstrate that abandoned, small, low head hydroelectric plants can be economically reactivated with centralized planning and management. Work is also being carried out to demonstrate a new type of large adjustment system for scale Kaplan turbines.
Energy output from the 13 reactivated plants is expected to total about 1,600 MWh/year, giving payback periods for the initial investment varying 15 to 24 years for the majority of plants.
Under management of CHE ELEKTRONIK 13 mini hydro plants had been reactivated. The first concept was to introduce compact tube turbines from LEROY SOMER, France, Typ HYDROLEC H4 - H11. LEROY SOMER stopped production of turbines. In veiw of this circumstances we had to find other manufactors. Finally 11 cross-flow turbines of WKV Volk, D 7908 Simonswald, one submersible hydro-turbine generator of FLYGT, Sweden had been installed. One old FRANCIS turbine had been restaurated. The energie of all plants is fed with asynchronous generators to the electrical grid, reduced by the operators part of energie consumption. If the operator needs more energie than the plant is generating, loss power is taken from the grid. All plants work with flow regulation and water level controllers. In most cases screen cleaning machines are installed. The maximum available power rate differs from 4 kW to 100 kW, heads are varying from 0,9 m to 10 m and flows from 120 l/s/ to 4300 l/s. The complete electrical equipment for delivery and consumption by TEH Power company. In addition CHE ELEKTRONIK also installed a kWh-meter to determine the plants own total production. Electrical power, flow of water and head of three own total production. Electrical power, flow of water and head of three characteristic plants had been stored on RAM dards. This measuring data had been transferred to floppy disc once a month and processed in a PC according to a specific evaluation programme. The hydraulic equipment and the measuring results are relevant for european hill regions. Under economical aspects the cross flow turbine with its large regulation scale from 16% - 100% has given best operation results. The realisation of the project had been delayed by long procedures to get official operating permissions and by the delivery stop of provided french turbines.
Thirteen abandoned low-head hydroelectric plants have been identified for renovation. Hydraulic conditions :
Head 1. 5 - 6 m
Flow 0. 4 - 4. 3 m3s-1
Rating typically 12 - 40 kw (two sites are 75 and 80 kw)
Total rating 480 kw
Management of the total project is centrally planned, with the benefits of bulk purchasing being exploited whenever possible. Costs are also reduced by taking advantage of existing installations, such as civil works.
A new automatic regulation device, developed and patented by the manufacturer, was also part of the original project, although this was unsuccessful and has been abandoned.
Utilisation of the energy produced is centrally organised, with output going to local consumers and any surplus to the grid.