An IREM Ecowatt Hydro turbine operating in stand-alone feeds a system of generation and storage of hydrogen in Predoi, Valle Aurina (Trentino Alto Adige).
The hydroelectric plant, nominal power 8 kW, consists in a Pelton turbine model TPS and RMP regulators.
The innovative electronic control constant load for hydroelectric plants in stand-alone IREM Ecowatt Hydro guarantees an electric voltage generated with a perfectly synodal wave shape and frequency values controlled with accuracy of 0,4% in all loading conditions.
These characteristics have proved essential to ensure the high level of Power Quality necessary to power the sophisticated electrolysis equipment that form the hydrogen generating system.
The maximum production of the hydroelectric system changes with the water availability of the Aurina torrent, between 8 kW of the spring– autumn period up to a minimum of 3 kW of the winter period, and it was made to power supply an Alpine house.
To ensure the energy self-sufficiency in the home, which has a medium electric absorption of 5 kW, the storage system has been implemented: the electricity is converted through the electrolysis process into hydrogen, which is stored in a compact and safe way inside of cylinders filled with metal powder. When the house needs energy, the hydrogen is conducted in a fuel cell and converted back into electricity. During the energy conversion steps, heat is also produced, which is used to heat the alpine house.
The IREM Hydroelectric Turbines and the other products of the series Ecowatt Hydro offers a complete line range for stand-alone plants.
The complete system IREM Ecowatt Hydro is constituted by a hydroelectric group, a control board and the electronic regulators of the load. This structure, available both with Pelton and Banki Turbines represents a reliable and simple solution, able to produce electric energy with a high level of power quality.
The electronic regulators make a regulation in real time of grid frequency thus getting a perfect equilibrium between the generated power of the hydro-turbine and that used by utilities.
The IREM system turbine-control board-regulators has been studied to reach the objectives of reliability, efficiency and simplicity.
This design philosophy allows to get hydroelectric plants characterized by:
- High Power Quality of the electricity generated;
- High performance;
- Simply installation;
- Facility of management;
- Low maintenance.
