Small Hydropower Research and Development Technology Project

1. Water Power Peer Review Near Space Systems Incorporated: Small Hydropower Research and Development Technology Project Advanced Hydropower Development FOATopic Area : 1- Sustainable Small Hydropower Sub-Topic: 1.1: System and Component Model Development Contact: Mo Blackmore Near Space Systems, Inc. Email:mblackmore@globalnearspace.com(719) 685-8107 November, 2011 Near Space Systems Inc. Small Hydropower Research and Development Technology Project

2. Purpose, Objectives, & Integration Project Purpose: • Increase the maximum efficiencies of small hydro turbines through the reduction of friction and the utilization of existing turbulence and water particle motion in pipelines. • Efficiencies of turbines that fall outside traditional efficiency curves, especially with very low flows, will be explored as a potential for maximizing the cost effectiveness and utilization of micro and pico hydro projects. • New technologies in runner design and electrical generation will be considered, as will the potential for modular and scalable design. Objective • Provide a prototypical design for micro and pico hydro generation that is easily adaptable to a wide array of variables, while maintaining higher efficiencies than typically sized current installations. • The expected outcome of the study is a design that will lower the Levelized Cost of Energy LCOE) from small hydro turbines and enable the cost effective use of a myriad of small hydro sources.

3. Technical Approach Technical Approach: 1. The entire generator is built into one unit, incorporating both the water driven blades and the generator, not two separate units. There is no shaft drive from the ‘wheel’ to the generator, it is all included in one assembly. 2. A modular design that enables any number of generator units to be installed in series. 3. A magnetically floating rotor assembly that eliminates friction and therefore increases the efficiency of the unit by eliminating friction and heat losses, greatly reduces maintenance needs and provides a vibration free mechanism. 4. Lightweight glass filled nylon structures for the housings and blades provide a means to manufacture critical shapes and forms in large quantities without the need for expensive CNC, forging or other heavy industry approaches typically reserved for limited run production. 5. Rifled inlet and outlet runners providing a controlled flow environment, designed to match flow the water flowing into the blades to the blade design for peak efficiency. 6. Variable pitch blades that adjust to the flow rate and avoid cavitation under maximum flow rates. 7. All the electrical circuitry is external to the rotors and cannot contact the water. The blades are attached to the suspended rotor magnets and induce current in the static stators mounted in the housings, producing electricity as the rotor passes by them.

4. Impact Given the success of this project and the commercialization of the advanced small hydro turbine design that is a product of this study, the impact of this project will be substantial. • The vast numbers of small hydro sources that are today untapped could be harnessed to provide significant increases in hydropower electrical generation, contributing to the U.S. renewable energy portfolio • Using existing small hydro sources and existing infrastructure, advanced small hydro turbine power generation could be accomplished in the near term without long developmental delays and without extensive siting challenges • The small hydro turbine design that is the focus of this project is inherently environmentally friendly, thus contributing to a clean environment • By using commercially available materials and components, and mature, proven, cost-effective manufacturing methods, the small hydro turbine generator would be inexpensive to procure and operate • The beneficiaries of the advanced small hydro turbine generator application would be the American consumer in particular and our nation in the broader view

5. The project is divided into four phases with corresponding major milestones, with each milestone 90 days in length, for a total project schedule of 12 months. At each milestone, the project team delivers a report that documents the team’s results for that phase. The result of each phase advises the execution of the next phase. Phase 4 produces the final project report and the prototype design of an advanced technology small hydro turbine generator. Plan, Schedule, & Budget Project Plan and Schedule: The project is divided into four phases with corresponding major milestones, with each milestone 90 days in length, for a total project schedule of 12 months. At each milestone, the project team delivers a report that documents the team’s results for that phase. The result of each phase advises the execution of the next phase. Phase 4 produces the final project report and the prototype design of an advanced technology small hydro turbine generator.