Conduit hydroelectricity (also known as conduit
hydropower
Hydropower (from Ancient Greek -, "water"), also known as water power or water energy, is the use of falling or fast-running water to Electricity generation, produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by energy transformation, ...
, and in-pipe hydropower) is a method of using mechanical energy of water as part of the water delivery system through man-made conduits to generate electricity. Generally, the conduits are existing water
pipelines
A pipeline is a system of pipes for long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas, typically to a market area for consumption. The latest data from 2014 gives a total of slightly less than of pipeline in 120 countries around the world. The Un ...
such as in
public water supply. Some definitions expand the definition of conduits to be existing tunnels, canals, or
aqueducts that are used primarily for other water delivery purposes than
electricity generation
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary energy. For electric utility, utilities in the electric power industry, it is the stage prior to its Electricity delivery, delivery (Electric power transm ...
.
Historically, electricity generation from water pipelines was rare because the water would have been pumped by
other engines in the system prior to the intake of
water turbine
A water turbine is a rotary machine that converts kinetic energy and potential energy of water into mechanical work.
Water turbines were developed in the 19th century and were widely used for industrial power prior to electrical grids. Now, t ...
s to generate electricity. The energy generated from the turbines would have been offset by the power used in pumping, canceling out the power generation benefit.
However, there have been renewed interests to apply this method to recover energy when there is a need to reduce pressure in the water supply system that is normally done through
pressure reducing valves. The conduit hydroelectricity generation in this case can be done by replacing the pressure reducing valves with small turbines and
electrical generator
In electricity generation, a generator, also called an ''electric generator'', ''electrical generator'', and ''electromagnetic generator'' is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy for use in an extern ...
s.
Since 2008, there has been considerable technological development in off-the-shelf "“water-to-wire” turbine technologies including reaction, impulse, and hydrokinetic turbines that target the sub 1-MW in-conduit hydroelectric market."
Portland, Oregon
Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
uses conduit generation in its water pipes. The
Imperial Irrigation District
The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) is an irrigation district that serves the Imperial Valley and a large portion of the eastern and southern Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert region of Southern California. Established under the Stat ...
had plans for 14 new conduit hydropower projects in 2016.
In 2013, the US had "a total of 236
FERC authorized conduit exemption projects."
References
{{reflist
External links
Lucid EnergySoar HydropowerRentricity
Hydroelectricity
Water industry
Water supply infrastructure