Hydro Electric Power System (HEPS)
System Description – General
There are three (3) primary components/sub-components that are pre-fabricated/ pre-assembled on a factory skid, attached to an existing or new hydronic piping system:
High-efficiency turbine
High-efficiency AC Generator
Miscellaneous accessories and appurtenances, i.e. piping, valving, gauges, electrical disconnect, electrical meter, etc.
Conduit or hydronic piping system (existing or new)
Our system operates under pressure, thus making it a true hydronic piping system. Specifically, our designed assembly as described herein, operates at a system pressure specific to the system in which it is installed. And depending on actual and final configuration, system size, i.e. generated power in KW, the selection of components may change and the operating pressure will likely vary.
Our system includes the necessary compliment of miscellaneous accessories and appurtenances, including two (2) isolation butterfly valves, a flow balancing valve, two (2) pressure gauges, an electrical disconnect, electrical meter, and associated conduit and wire (within skid frame).
The fundamental concept of our “patented” HEPS system is to capture kinetic energy imparted to the hydronic piping system in which our HEPS is installed, by spinning a highly efficient turbine directly-coupled to an equally high efficient, multi-RPM generator, such that the power created by the generator is delivered directly to an electrical distribution panel or back to the grid.
Component / Sub-Component Description
Turbine
The turbine is one (1) of two (2) primary components of our HEPS system design. The other primary component is the generator. Size and capacity of the turbine and its component elements (i.e. shaft diameter, volute, impeller, etc.) will be specific to each project application. Our intent is to install a direct-coupler between the turbine and the generator, thus ensuring the optimum in performance efficiency of both the turbine and the generator.
Our primary focus is and has always been on ensuring a minimal starting and running torque and coordinating the RPM of the turbine with the generator RPM (optimizing generator KW performance).
AC generator
The AC generator in our HEPS system will be the most efficient, multi-RPM, generator. It is a variable KW generator based on RPM, ranging from a nominal output capacity of 2 KW and higher. It is a high-efficiency, multi-RPM, generator. The HEPS is available in a horizontal application with varying size and weight depending on KW output desired.
Miscellaneous accessories and appurtenances
These sub-components include two (2) isolation butterfly valves which will be low pressure-drop, with lever/gear operators; a flow balancing valve; two (2) pressure gauges; an electrical disconnect, electrical meter, associated conduit and wire (within skid frame). Also included (as required) will be a direct-coupler between the turbine and the generator to ensure that the generator-RPM/performance is optimized.
Hydronic piping system
The hydronic piping system will be project specific to every application, requiring only two (2) hot-taps (existing system) and two (2) pipe connections (new system). Our application in each case will be a “bypass” application, utilizing piping materials compatible with the new or existing piping system in which our system is installed. We reserve the right to add or delete components accordingly, and to adjust the design of our system on a project-by-project basis.
System Construction
Our base system is pre-fabricated and pre-assembled within a structural skid framework, shipped to a project site, secured in place, either initially connected to a new piping system or hot-tapped into an existing piping system. The system is then filled with water and tested, connected to the on-site electrical distribution panel or grid; then the entire system commissioned (start-up and tested).
We offer different sizes and capacities of our system, such that we will offer as low as 10.5 KW systems to 360 KW (or larger), simply by selecting the components and sub-components. This may include several components, i.e. the turbine/generator, capacity, and materials of the piping system, etc. The key to the successful operation and performance of our system(s) is in the selection and matching of components and sub-components.
Our system is available in a horizontal application, as well as any form of customized configuration required (site specific). Generally, the final configuration of our system will not affect operation and performance as we intend to ensure good engineering practice is maintained (minimal system pressure drop, proper fluid flow and velocity, etc.).
The fluid we intend to circulate within our system will be whatever is contained in the hydronic piping system in which our HEPS system is installed, ranging from conventional water with minimal chemical treatment all the way to specialized low viscosity fluids, with the intent to ensure effective system performance and long-life of all wetted components.
Fluid temperature will either be ambient or whatever the temperature is within the piping system in which our system is installed.
System Operation
When commissioned and running properly, the generators will be mechanically controlled to optimize KW output (via a flow measuring and balancing device – as required). The generated AC power shall then interface with an existing breaker feeding an “in-house” electrical distribution panel or back to the grid.