Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Scalable, Low-impact, run-of-river Hydropower generator
EPA Grant Number: SU836021Title: Scalable, Low-impact, run-of-river Hydropower generator
Investigators: Gomes, Mario , Matheu, Andres Santizo , Dunn, Adam , Garland, Andrew , Donnelly, Chris , Leclerc, Donald , Bastian, Geoff , Sood, Harshita , Alm, Hope , Fertitta, Joe , Grates, Justin , McConnaghy, Kelsey , Negro, Mark , Marion, Matt , Wang, Michelle , Traxler, Shauna , Buckner, Tim , Kirman, Vulf , Lentlie, William
Institution: Rochester Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2011 through August 14, 2012
Project Amount: $14,936
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The negative ecological impact of existing hydroelectric projects throughout the world are being more closely examined. Dam sedimentation, river delta and floodplain habitat modification, and involuntary population resettlement, are all due to radical changes in the normal flow of the river. Even micro and pico-hydro power systems can divert large percentages of a river's flow through pipes to feed the turbine.
Phase I of this project project focused on the design of a novel, translating hydrofoil system at a small scale which may be scalable to kilowatt size and could be used world wide for point-of-use power generation. This system has the potential to minimally disturb the flow of the river system and thus minimize adverse ecological and social impacts. The translating hydrofoil system we modeled, prototyped, and tested, has the potential to sweep across almost an entire river cross-section, harvesting energy from the flow, while minimizing the harmful effects of large diversions of the natural flow of the river.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
We developed both a theoretical computer model of a dynamic translating-hydrofoil power-generation system as well as a small-scale experimental testbed. Results from the computer model predict power generation to be the same order of magnitude as was found in the experimental testbed. The testbed showed a test with average cycle mechanical power of 2.5 Watts which is 18% of the Betz limit for that parameter set. Note that at this point we neglect the power required to flip the hydrofoil and this power may be substantial, we don't know how large it is. Initial comparisons with the computer simulation show surprisingly reasonable agreement given the nature of the simplifying assumptions made in the model. Note that we have made no formal attempt to optimize system parameters for maximizing energy production at this point in the experimental device.
Conclusions:
At this point, our conclusions are based on preliminary original discoveries. On this basis it appears that reasonable amounts of power can be harvesting using a translating hydrofoil system. The system appears to be quite sensitive to hydrofoil angles. There is a significant amount of parameters which have not yet be optimized for performance, and simulation results point to other relatively simple modifications which could likely increase efficiency further. Simulations results also point to the need for alternate system designs for larger systems due to the high loads seen by the boom. Although this may be premature, if we make several assumptions that the energy loss for flipping is minimal, the percentage of Betz limit stays fixed as we scale up in size, and several assumptions for energy equivalence with coal, one could say that a larger device if operated in a 10 m wide river with a flow rate of 1.25 m/s, it as the potential to off set over 2 tons of CO2 emissions per year by o setting coal combustion for energy production.
Supplemental Keywords:
Development of alternative energy sources, innovative technology, renewable energy, low-impact, hydroelectric, and hydro-powerRelevant Websites:
Instrumented Model of Tethered Hydrofoil Exit
Tow Rig for testing tethered hydrofoil micro-hydro systems indoors Exit
Hydrofoil River Power System Exit
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.