Design of low cost, ultra-low head hydropower package based on marine thrusters. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5252591

The object of this investigation was to determine the technical and economic feasibility of using marine thrusters as hydraulic turbines in ultralow head (3 meters or less) hyro power plants. Marine thrusters are primarily used in large ships for propulsion and maneuvering, i.e., as axial flow pumps that move through water. As fixed units in a dam, a thruster, acting as a turbine, would have its output shaft mechanically linked by a belt drive to a generator drive shaft. The design of this ultralow head power system is shown. The results of performance and cost analyses are presented. Eleven distinctively sized applications were developed and casted. Package costs, less civil works and installation, ranged from approximately $25,000 to slightly over $120,000. The corresponding range of predicted power outputs at 3 m (9.84 ft) head is 40 KW to 630 KW per package. Average cost of the ER and A-designed ULHH package is about $260/KW at three meters. Each unit was further characterized for operation between 6 and 15 feet of head. Based on the enginering results of the project and promise for significant cost-reduction, the fabrication, installation and testing of a full-scale unit at an appropriate site is proposed. (LpromieL)

• Research Organization: Energy Research and Applications, Inc., El Segundo, CA (USA); Department of Energy, Idaho Falls, ID (USA). Idaho Operations Office
• DOE Contract Number: FC07-80ID12201
• OSTI ID: 5252591
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12201-T1; ON: DE82004813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130300* -- Hydro Energy-- Plant Design & Operation
DESIGN
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HYDRAULIC TURBINES
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
LOW-HEAD HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
MACHINERY
PERFORMANCE
POWER PLANTS
RETROFITTING
SHIPS
THRUSTERS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
USES