6.1f ERMUSR 09-09-2014 Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Tom Sagstetter- Conservation and Key Accounts
John Dietz—Chair Manager
Al Nadeau—Vice Chair
Daryl Thompson—Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
September 9th, 2014 6.1f
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
DISCUSSION:
• Met with representatives from Amjet Turbine Systems about the possibility of installing
hydroelectric generation on the Lake Orono Dam. The turbine systems can be installed
without major reconstruction as they can be installed in the existing spillways. First
impressions from the Amjet Turbine representatives were encouraging. The current design
of the dam would allow for up to 6 MW of generation. The technology is relatively new to
Minnesota. Brainerd Public Utilities will be installing a system in 2015. Attached is a copy
of an International Water Power&Dam Construction Brochure which spotlights turbines and
generators.
• Participated in a conference call sponsored by NISC to learn about different approaches for
pricing community based solar projects. The focus of the pricing options outlined by the
three utilities was to avoid customers not participating in the program from subsidizing
customers that did. The most effective way to do this was to charge customers an initial cost
that ranged from$1,400 to $2,200. The costs varied based on the amount of grants received
from 3rd parties and if operation and maintenance was factored in up front.
• This past month we experienced an extremely high call volume from customers regarding
their high bills. This was due to the fact that July was the first month that air conditioners ran
consistently and based on the high humidity many folks were using dehumidifiers. The
customers were surprised to learn that a dehumidifier is like plugging in a refrigerator and
leaving the door open. Dehumidifiers are large energy users. One customer learned that she
used 150 kWh by running her dehumidifier for a week to dry out a room that had a water leak
due to a clothes washer.
• Attended the 25 Anniversary of the GRE Resource Recovery Project. The program was well
attended.
ATTACHMENT:
• International Water Power& Dam Construction Brochure
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inside i the box
Amjet Turbine Systems has utilised marine propulsion technology to create a new turbine/generator
unit for low head hydroelectric sites.
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CONVENTIONAL AMJET
1
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.Generato
Box
Gear Box
Hydraulic
Controls Box , >, High head AMJET Low head
water in BOX water out
Gear Box
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-0 Civil orks Box Low head Or
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-- Figure 2:"Thinking Inside the Box"with the ATS-63
A n advanced hydroelectric turbine/
generator now in development has reversed this technology to create applications for Integrated Turbine/Generator Unit
low-head hydroelectric sites.The water drives Within the integrated turbine/generator,
been designed to enable more low-head the turbine,and the turbine drives an electric permanent magnets are located on the tips of the
projects in the US and worldwide US firm Amjet generator. turbine rotor blades.As the turbine turns,these
Tbrbine Systems(ATS)is developing its ATS-63 Most current low-head hydro technologies magnets rotate inside the generator stator ring
unit for customer delivery starting in the Fall of use multiple separate and site-customised that encircles the turbine tunnel.The generator
2015. components brought together to achieve a stator features multiple individual power
The ATS-63(named for the 63-inch/1.6m complete generating plant.These individual segments connected to work together. If one
internal diameter of its turbine housing)is "boxes"as shown in Figure 2 are assembled to segment fags the others keep operating,albeit at
intended for sites with 1.5-28m of head,and work together to go from water-to-wire.Water lower total electric output.This provides a'fail-
8.8-2..6.2ruf/sec of flow.This range will enable flows through a turbine"box".The turbine box soft'mode of generator operation.
electric generation output from 100-2500kW. typically has mechanical wicket gates to control Power electronics convert the alternating
Sites with higher heads and larger flows can be the water flow in such a way to enable the current output of the segments to direct current,
accomplished using multiple ATS-63 units in turbine to operate at constant speed.The pitch and control the speed of the turbine.The direct
series(for higher heads)and in parallel(for higher of the turbine blades is typically also varied by current is then inverted into 480 VAC,three-
flow rates). a hydraulics box as water conditions vary.The phase output for step-up to the voltage of the
ATS claims its latest development represents turbine is connected to a gear box to change local electric grid using standard distribution
a dramatic departure from current technologies. the turbine rotational speed into the required transformers.
"The ATS-63 has been designed from the tailrace- constant generator speed. Finally,the generator Other low-head hydro technologies are
up to negate the disadvantages of low-head box converts the rotation of the shaft into typically manufactured from metal in a one-off,
hydro",says David Jansson,ATS CEO."Those electricity and feeds it to the switchgear box for site-specific basis using time-and labour-
disadvantages include high initial unit cost. connection to the electric grid, intensive,subtractive approaches such as
heavy weight,requirements for extensive civil Some conventional technologies have up to grinding and milling to remove excess metal from
work including power house structures,long 70 mechanical moving parts in all of the boxes. poured castings. In contrast,the ATS approach
lead times from order-to-delivery,complicated In contrast,the ATS-63 incorporates all of these uses lightweight but strong composite materials
operating machinery,and lengthy time and functions into a single,integrated turbine/ like those now appearing in extensive use in
labour requirements for maintenance,repair or generator unit. It has only one moving part-the advanced jet aircraft. Such materials can be
replacement" turbine rotor.The result is reduced mechanical moulded or printed using additive(that is,non-
complexity,weight and maintenance "We subtractive)manufacturing techniques.And they
Genesis in Marine Propulsion smile when we hear organisational theorists are corrosion-resistant.
The multi-patented technology comes from the encouraging everyone to'think outside the box"', "The turbine and generator are integrated into
marine propulsion industry.American I lydro says Paul Roos,ATS Vice President of Technology a single unit",Roos explains. "Each unit will
Jet Company(AHJ),a sister company to ATS,is and creator of the technology. "With the ATS-63, be the same physical size across the range of
the developer of hydro turbine engines for large we emphasise the advantages of thinking inside electric outputs,so they will share common parts.
boats.Think jet-skis,but a lot bigger.ATS has the box." Together with the composite materials,this will
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1
Turbines&Generators
for a wide variety of applications.They can
be mounted with the turbine shaft vertical,
"` horizontal,or at any angle`a,`, `, ,?„� Y gle in between.Their
,{, \�;;s relatively light weight(3600 pounds for a 100kW 1. Y� 1, rr unit,to 12,000 pounds for 2500kW)and the
i fact they can be installed either above water or
completely submerged means less civil work.A
power house building is not necessary.
f ..,A- Figure 4B is an illustration of the ATS and an
`i1!i:1J.1.'1.1x'✓E!"° j I•. example mounting rack for installation.The unit
i I ' I can be mounted on rollers so it can be easily
Li, 1 I I ti moved from its operating location to a nearby
1:-. 4*-'''' i 4‘. -- -r.t-� maintenance station(Figure 4A)where it can
1 I y be tilted and maintained.The unit is designed
for removal/repair/replacement in only one day.
111 This contrasts with weeks or months required for
_ other technologies.
The units can be installed in dam bulkheads
in a weir,in canals or conduits,submerged
Below:Figure 3:The ATS-63 Low head hydro integrated turbine/generator in a bypass dam or canal,or in any variety of
Above:Figure 4:a)Example of the maintenance position;b)Example of the operating position retrofit applications to replace existing older
units. For example,if an existing plant has its
hydro turbines in a pit outside the generator
result in light-weight turbine/generators that can demonstration unit will be made entirely of hall and connected through a bulkhead to the
be mass-produced,lowering manufacturing time composite materials. Portions of the unit will generators by power shafts,the ATS-63 turbine/
labour and cost". be made using 3D printing techniques,within generator can replace the turbines submerged
The ATS-63 has been in development since the current state-of.the art.The demonstration in the turbine pits.The generator hall can be
2009,with investor funding and assistance from project Includes additional research to enable emptied of equipment because it would no
the State of Iowa,Lee County,and the City of additional portions of the unit to be built using longer be required. In multi-unit applications,
Keokuk.A 1/B-scale model unit was successfully 3D printing materials and techniques as that the mass-produced ATS units can be installed
tested for hydraulic and electrical performance technology continues to mature in standardised,"cookie-cutter"fashion,
by the University of Iowa's Hydraulics Lab minimising engineering design requirements.
in 2012,confirming computer performance Advantages of Variable Speed
designs and computational fluid dynamics(CFD) The ATS unit offers further advantages in terms More practical
performed earlier.With funding from the DOE of operating flexibility.Traditional technologies Transport of the modular ATS-63 from the
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy(EERE) operate at constant speed to enable their factory to the site is simple With maximum
programme in 2013,ATS completed the full-scale generators to synchronise with the electric grid. outside dimensions of only 2.3m in diameter
unit design and is now ready to manufacture Instead the ATS turbine/generator will operate at by 1.6m long,it is designed to fit in a standard
them. In April 2014,the company received an variable turbine rotor speeds in accordance with truck or shipping container. "It is designed for
additional US$1M DOE/EERE Small Business changes in the available hydro resource.This is applications across the US or around the world,"
grant made possible using modern power electronics. ATS CEO David Jansson says.
for continued efforts.A full-scale demonstration Variable speed means the unit does not need The advantages of the ATS-63 technology
test at an actual operating site is planned for early the mechanical wicket gates,hydraulic blade will make more new and retrofit low-head hydro
2015. pitch controls or gearboxes to change turbine projects technically feasible and cost-effective
With the exception of the generator magnetic speed to generator speed typically found in says the company.It is a technology not just
and electric conductive elements,the traditional technologies.'I'bis for developed countries,but developing ones as
saves operating complexity, well.
maintenance costs and "We can light more homes and businesses
L '41..,,. weight. "Instead in the US and other developed countries using
�,,�.. of managing the clean,renewable energy because it costs less.
l \�� { 11 ; variable water flow We can also enable the advent of electricity
to work around the in communities in developing countries that
\tip * ' limitations of the simply could not have it before.The possibilities
,. .l turbine and generator are endless,"concludes Bob Schulte,ATS'vice
(( 1I \ �� •i .i technologies,we president of marketing. ■
?g3 f 1 r rill
/ ? _ ' r
I3 ' t use our advanced• technology to
,
accommodate the
r .+`l,5" Further details
'•���,�:1d..1 • • natural variations in
^�,r�dv✓p, + the waver resource,” For more information about the ATS-63,
• ±!�` �L`�'�. . ;fir refer to the company's website at
says Roos. www.amjetturbines.com,or contact
I \\/..,,,r, ; The integrated turbine/ Bob Schulte via e-mail:
I,erator units are designed rhschulte@amjetturbines.com
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