scalable low-head axial-type venturi-flow energy scavenger

1 | Program Name or Ancillary Text eere.energy.gov

Technology to scavenge low-head hydropower in existing waterways, canals and streams

Water Power Peer Review

Research and develop revolutionary hydropower harvesting technologies to meet DOE WPP vision for 2030

PI: Ram Prasad; Co-PI: Satish RanadeNew Mexico State UniversityEmail: [email protected] (575) 646-3623 [email protected] (575) 646-3704

Elephant Butte Irrigation District: Henry Magallanez, Fernando Cadena, Zack LibbinTremont Electric Inc: Aaron LeMieux

Scalable Low-head Axial-type Venturi-flow Energy Scavenger

November, 2011

2 | Wind and Water Power Program eere.energy.gov

Purpose, Objectives, & Integration

Relation to Program Objectives:Develop low-cost environmentally friendly hydropower harvesting technology that integrates off-the-shelf power generating components, and can be easily manufactured, assembled and deployed to harness the unused hydropower potential in natural and human developed waterways

Project Purpose

To meet the DOE objectives precisely with a revolutionary design and prototyping of turbine components using highly durable plastic and use of variable-speed generators with appropriate power conditioning electronics to provide reliable power supply that can be easily integrated into the electric grid

DOE Program ObjectivesTo develop a hydropower generating micro-grid infrastructure for low head irrigation power and rural electrification along rivers, waterways, canals and streams using variable speed generators and low-cost turbines manufactured with plastic materials

TeamNew Mexico State University

in partnership with Elephant Butte Irrigation District and Tremont Electric Inc.

Goal is to streamline the process of Research, Design, Development, Testing, and Commercialization


Technical Approach - Design Concept

An approach enabling rapid manufacturing, assembly and deployment of Scalable Low-head Axial-type Venturi-flow Energy Scavenger utilizing off-the-shelf power

generating components and advanced plastic materials


Technical Approach

An integration of research and systems engineering towards developing a revolutionary hydropower harvesting technology

Obtain venturi-turbine parameters and

establish impeller configurations having

3-blade and 4-blade geometries for optimal

energy conversion through CFD simulations

Establish generator type, speed/torque characteristics, and

power converter ratings through simulations Design and develop sensor-based

instrumentation scheme for data acquisition, monitoring and control

Manufacture, assemble, integrate two 10kW

prototypes

Test and validate performance of prototype

generators

Detailed design drawings of venturi-turbine and associated flow-control

components for CNC manufacturing of injection moldings

Detailed design drawings of 3-blade and 4-blade impellers for CNC manufacturing

of injection moldings

Detailed design drawings of submarine-type generator housing and associated

shaft coupling components for CNC manufacturing of injection moldings and

steel rotor shaft machining

Research Systems Engineering and Design Fabrication

Deploy at the EBID drop gate with existing

infrastructure

Field Deployment

Test & Evaluation


Plan, Schedule, & Budget

Schedule• Tentative Initiation date: January 2012• Planned completion date: December 2013• Milestones:

– End of June/July-2012: Perform studies, establish venturi-turbine and impeller design parameters. Establish manufacturing, deployment, testing strategy through partnership

– End of November/December-2012: Complete simulation studies of electromechanical dynamics, identify generator type/characteristics and power convertor ratings, develop instrumentation for data acquisition, monitoring and control, and complete the physical design of two 10kW Scalable Low-head Axial-type Venturi-flow Energy Scavenger prototypes

– End of May/June-2013: Complete fabrication of prototypes and integrate instrumentation for testing

– End of August/September-2013: Deploy Scalable Low-head Axial-type Venturi-flow Energy Scavenger prototypes to EBID test site, conduct tests and evaluate performance

– December 2013: Submit final report to DOE

Budget AllocationFY2012 FY2013

DOE Cost-share DOE Cost-share$149,656 $3,000 $149,656 $71,828


Project Partners & Contributors

Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) and Tremont Electric Inc., will contribute significantly to the success of this project in terms of manufacturing, assembling and testing two 10 kW Scalable Low-head Axial-type Venturi-flow Energy Scavenger generating units.

EBID’s extensive network of gravity-fed canals provide wide range of low-head and low-flow rates serves as our ‘living laboratory’ to test and evaluate the proposed Scalable Low-head Axial-type Venturi-flow Energy Scavenger hydropower generators. Contributors are: Henry Magallanez, Fernando Cadena, Zack Libbin.

Tremont Electric Inc., has a distinguished track record in advanced energy technologies and will participate in suggesting/recommending fabricating and commercialization strategies of the Scalable Low-head Axial-type Venturi-flow Energy Scavengertechnology. Contributor is Aaron LeMieux.

Tremont Electric's nPower® Wave Energy Converter EBID Leesburg Drop site


Project Management

The Principal Investigator Ram Prasad has received a U.S. Fulbright Scholar award for teaching and researching hydropower harvesting in Vietnam for a period of 6 months beginning January 2012 through June 2012. Through a prior telecon with Erik Mauer, Hoyt Battey and Ed Eugeni it has been agreed that Ram Prasad will be in frequent contact with Satish Ranade (Co-PI) and graduate students via email and telephone towards successful conduct of work at New Mexico State University. Ram will be returning to fulltime normal duties as PI in July 2012.

The synergy between the DOE award and the vast amount of low-head hydropower available in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong River Delta, will allow better understanding of how efficient approaches to harvesting can bring about energy sustainability. Ram’s Fulbright experience will add considerably towards building better insights to harvesting the unexplored potential of low flow-rate hydropower resources. This is an important realization in fulfilling DOE’s WPP vision of meeting 30+ GW of hydropower generation by Year 2030 from low-head/low-flow waterways in the U.S.

scalable low-head axial-type venturi-flow energy scavenger

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