Saturday, January 9, 2016

This could be a good idea, if it actually generates enough energy to pay it's costs, and is cheaper than other sources.


You’d be forgiven if the phrase “Portland goes green with innovative water pipes” doesn’t immediately call to mind thoughts of civil engineering and hydro-electric power. And yet, that’s exactly what Oregon’s largest city has done by partneringwith a company called Lucid Energy to generate clean electricity from the water already flowing under its streets and through its pipes.
Portland has replaced a section of its existing water supply network with Lucid Energy pipes containing four forty-two inch turbines. As water flows through the pipes, the turbines spin and power attached generators, which then feed energy back into the city’s electrical grid. Known as the “Conduit 3 Hydroelectric Project,” Portland’s new clean energy source is scheduled to be up and running at full capacity in March. According to a Lucid Energy FAQ detailing the partnership, this will be the “first project in the U.S. to secure a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for renewable energy produced by in-pipe hydropower in a municipal water pipeline." 


13 comments:

  1. Video - Suspect in Pa. cop ambush said he acted 'in the name of Islam,' police confirm

    http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2016/01/video-suspect-in-pa-cop-ambush-said-he.html

    ps. Consider adding CC to your blogroll please..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CC, I'll make you a deal! Add me to yours, and I'll return the favor. Everybody happy!

      Delete
  2. Kinda like a hydroelectric dam, except smaller and less cost effective.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I hope the pipes are powered by gravity otherwise they are total fools!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. Yes. Yes. My money is on the fools.

      Delete
    2. Yes. Yes. Yes. My money is on the fools.

      Delete
    3. Total fools? Nah! These are the total environmental geniuses who, to reduce dependence on fossil fuel, design and advocate electric cars that MUST be FREQUENTLY recharged via the power grid and its generally coal/fuel oil electricity for a net loss in efficiency.
      You see, morons live in a world where everything will be OK if you close your eyes, clench your fists and intone "There's no place like home-- without fossil fuel, global warming, greedy capitalists or anything else I might be hallucinating at the moment."

      Delete
  4. From the Portlandoregon.gov website (but this in no was means they aren't total fools for other reasons)

    Pumps & Pump Stations
    Most customers are served by gravity flow. Gravity flow reduces dependence on pumping and its expensive energy needs. It is a reliable method of piping water to facilities and customers. At higher elevations pumps deliver water to customers that cannot be served by gravity feed.

    Emergency pump connections at pump stations can be used during a prolonged power outage. A mobile generator or portable pumping unit (gasoline or diesel engine powered) can be hooked up to these connections to supply the distribution reservoir.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So what do these do to flow and pressure? I mean, we have to assume that they have gravity on their side, but each restriction slows the flow down. (Plus I'd like to know what the turbulence does to the pipe walls downstream of the "turbine"....and how much power the devices actually produce.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So what do these do to flow and pressure? I mean, we have to assume that they have gravity on their side, but each restriction slows the flow down. (Plus I'd like to know what the turbulence does to the pipe walls downstream of the "turbine"....and how much power the devices actually produce.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's Portland, so it might be more about feeling good about their "Green" virtue than actually generating energy in a sustainable and efficient way. Time will tell.

      Delete
  7. As someone who has actually dug up pipe that's been in the ground for over 20 years, yeah. That'll last. You have pipe penetration at two points for each turbine? With bearings, gears, or whatever? And have you seen what water does to pipe? The crap that coats out inside the pipe? Take apart your faucet and look in it. Really. Then tell me how long these will last.

    Or do they plan to install water pipe above ground in an area where water freezes? Cool.

    ReplyDelete