British Hydropower Association
Upgrading hydro schemes
to enhance output
Adrian Loening
Director: Mór Hydro Ltd
What’s Watts? And Why?
James Joule
James Watt
BHA 2014
The unit of Energy and Power
o  The Joule (J) - Energy
Based on the unit of force (the Newton) and the unit of
distance (the meter)
n  The energy used by moving 1 Newton a distance of 1
meter (1N-m) (not to be confused with the unit of
torque)
n  Roughly the energy consumed lifting an apple up by 1
meter
n 
o  The Watt (W) - Power
n 
The use of 1 Joule every second – Joules per Second
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Names and Prefixes
o  Names
The Joule – J
n  The Watt – W
n 
o  Denote orders of magnitude (note case)
m – milli 0.001
n  No prefix = one 1
n  k – kilo 1,000
n  M – mega 1,000,000
n 
o  The combination
kW – Kilowatt – 1,000 Watts
n  MW – Megawatt – 1,000 Kilowatts
n 
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Add in time
o  Units of Power
n 
J / s = Watts – W
o  Units of Energy
W x hours = Wh = 3,600 J
n  kW x hours = kWh = 3,600,000 J
n  mW x hours = mWh = 3.6 J
n 
o  What does not exist
mw - there is no definition of ‘w’
n  KW – there is no definition of ‘k’
n  kWh/h – just equals kW!
n 
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Why is this important
In hydro projects:
kW ≠ kWh
o  Feed in Tariff Legislation
n  Based on kW installed capacity
n 
Pays out on kWh produced
o  Minimise kW and maximise kWh
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System efficiency
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System Efficiency
100%
90%
Turbine Efficiency %
80%
70%
60%
50%
Francis
40%
Turgo
30%
20%
10%
0%
0
200
400
600
Flow l/s
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800
1000
1200
Turbine Upgrade
o  The Upside;
Much improved low flow efficiency
n  New FiT period for 2nd generator
n  Potential to operate both together
n 
o  The Downside;
Increases T.I.C.
n  Might be rated at aggregate T.I.C. with degression
n  Technically challenging controls
n 
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Adding water storage
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Modelling Water Storage
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Modelling Water Storage
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Physical Options
o  Orifice plate –
Constant flow proportional to depth
n  Can’t stop/start on demand
n 
o  Single valve –
n 
Automatic stop/start
o  Multiple valves –
Variable flow proportional to depth
n  Needs screening
n  Poor control of upstream level
n 
BHA 2014
The Legislation
o  CAR Licence Impoundment granted easily! But:
Summer – Maximum ‘weekly’ level variation 400mm
n  Winter – Maximum ‘weekly’ level variation 650mm
n 
o  Reservoir Act 1975 / 2011
Design approval and inspection required
n  2011 Act has risk based assessment
n 
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Tilting Weir
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The effect?
o  Predicting 200MWh (8%) annual uplift in output
n 
Potential to ‘on demand’ generate
Red Rate advantage ~ £28/MWh
p  Triad?
p 
BHA 2014
Thanks
Mor Hydro Ltd
www.morhydro.com
[email protected]
07831 288901
BHA 2014