Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Opportunity and Economic Feasibility of Inline Microhydropower Units in Water Supply Networks
 
research article

Opportunity and Economic Feasibility of Inline Microhydropower Units in Water Supply Networks

Samora, Irene  
•
Manso, Pedro
•
Franca, Mario J.  
Show more
2016
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management

Small-scale hydropower is emerging as a decentralized source to satisfy local demand for electricity. In water supply systems, microhydropower can be used for energy recovery associated with excessive pressure control. However, there is a lack of specific solutions for applications within networks where discharges are highly variable and there are limitations of pressure. An arrangement of microturbines specially conceived for water supply networks is proposed, based on a recently tested microturbine for inline installation in pipes. The installation of up to four turbine units is possible within a buried chamber created around an existing pipe. The location of the chambers is analyzed using an optimization algorithm that considers two objective functions: energy production and economic value. The feasibility of the proposed arrangement for a microhydropower plant was assessed through a case study of a subgrid of the water supply network of Lausanne, Switzerland. A detailed analysis of the cost breakdown revealed that further to the electromechanical equipment, the number of isolation valves required in each layout may have an important role on the investments.

  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000700
Web of Science ID

WOS:000386360300013

Author(s)
Samora, Irene  
Manso, Pedro
Franca, Mario J.  
Schleiss, Anton  
Ramos, H.
Date Issued

2016

Publisher

American Society of Civil Engineers

Published in
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume

142

Issue

11

Article Number

04016052

Subjects

Microhydropower

•

Water supply systems

•

Pipeline network

•

Economic value

•

Micro propeller turbine

Note

[1086]

Editorial or Peer reviewed

NON-REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
PL-LCH  
Available on Infoscience
August 25, 2016
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/128878
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés