Installation of a Marine Thruster as a Hydroelectric Turbine at Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery : Final Report.

Technical Report · Sat Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6386507

A 70kW hydroelectric plant utilizing a marine thruster and an induction generator was commissioned on May 15, 1985 at the Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery near Estacada, OR as a Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) demonstration project. The marine thruster, normally used to maneuver large ships, was run ''backwards'' to produce electricity. The plant was completed and tested by J.F. Sato and Associates, Inc. (JFSA). The marine thruster was seen as a method for reducing the capital cost of small, low head hydro projects by utilizing readily available, off-the-shelf equipment. The owner of the hatchery, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USF and WS), has an active energy conservation program and looked hopefully at a match of inexpensive hydroelectric technology and an available site at the hatchery to offset their annual 650,000-kWh usage. The preliminary results of the testing program indicated a water-to-wire efficiency in the mid-70 percent range and a turbine efficiency in the low-80 percent range. Total gross head was 19 feet with a maximum flow of 65 cubic feet per second. The unit was tested at four different speeds by varying sheave diameters on the drive system. Flow measurements were taken using the Venturi principle at a reducer in the penstock. A downstream weir was constructed to correct low tailwater conditions. 7 refs., 44 figs., 11 tabs.

• Research Organization: Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, OR (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FC79-85BP22515
• OSTI ID: 6386507
• Report Number(s): DOE/BP-22105-1; ON: DE87009359
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130300* -- Hydro Energy-- Plant Design & Operation
130500 -- Hydro Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
130600 -- Hydro Energy-- Environmental Aspects
COST
DESIGN
DIAGRAMS
ECONOMICS
ENGINEERING DRAWINGS
FLOW RATE
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
Hydroelectric generators - Technological innovations
LOW-HEAD HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
MAINTENANCE
Marine engines
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POWER PLANTS
TESTING
THRUSTERS