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Distributed, baseload, renewable hydropower

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How it works

The hydroEngine employs a unique linear drivetrain with two parallel shafts and carbon fiber belts between the shafts to make a horizontal loop. Cups analogous to Pelton turbine cups are mounted by cross bars on the belts so that the cups make two parallel rows outboard of the belt. A unique, flat nozzle projects flow from the center out to the two rows of cups. Flow is converted to force in the belts much like Pelton cups react with the water stream. This achieves Pelton performance profiles for low head, high flow sites as many Pelton-like cups are simultaneously impacted by the flow projected in the flat stream. Either shaft drives a conventional generator.

Watch the video below to see how the hydroEngine works.

Operations of the hydroEngine

Advantages

The hydroEngine delivers high performance and low cost for high flow, low head sites. It is more compact and less expensive than conventional lower head Kaplan or Archimedes turbines, while delivering similar power.

In addition, because it is an impulse turbine, it does not cavitate, enabling simpler civil works and reducing excavation by as much as 80% compared to the conventional bulb, Kaplan, or other reaction-type turbines, allowing for higher flexibility and lower cost.

modular icon

Modular, mass produced

less expensive turbine icon

15% to 20% less expensive turbine

simple plant icon

Simple plant, minimal excavation

lower installed cost icon

30% to 50% lower installed cost

compact icon

Compact, high performance

3 to 5 cents per kWh icon

3 to 5 cents per kWh

moderate operating pressure icon

Moderate operating pressure

fish friendly icon

Fish friendly operation

Competitive Advantages

hydroEngine Kaplan Pelton Archimedes Screw Crossflow
Applicable under 6 m of head circle-fullYes circle-fullYes circle-emptyNo circle-fullYes circle-emptyNo
Cavitation circle-fullNo circle-emptyYes circle-emptyYes circle-fullNo circle-fullNo
Civil Works
& Excavation
circle-fullLow circle-emptySubstantial circle-halfModerate circle-halfModerate circle-halfModerate
Flow Range circle-fullWide circle-fullWide circle-emptyNarrow circle-fullWide circle-fullWide
Fish Friendly circle-fullYes circle-emptyNo circle-emptyNo circle-fullYes circle-halfMaybe
Cost circle-fullLow circle-halfMed to High circle-emptyHigh circle-emptyHigh circle-halfMed to High

The reduced excavation, shorter penstock, and simpler configuration of the hydroEngine allows 30% to 50% cost savings in civil works, compared to conventional reaction turbines.

Excavation

Excavation comparison bulb-hydroEngine

Reduced capital cost

hydroEngine installation cost

Explore hydroEngines

Performance & testing

Natel has extensively verified both generation output and durability of hydroEngine through field-verified hydraulic scale testing and a rigorous component fatigue testing program.

Hydraulic Test Facility

To support ongoing hydroEngine R&D efforts, Natel built a fully instrumented hydraulic test facility at its headquarters in Alameda. The facility can test a production scale hydroEngine at 0.3 cms at 10 m of head and was built to the PTC-18 standards for hydro turbine performance testing.

The in-house facility provides data to validate computational fluid dynamics models for both design verification and for optimizing site configurations. The facility utilizes a recirculating variable-rate pump-driven loop, with high precision flow, pressure, torque, speed measurements.

Fatigue testing

Natel’s Fatigue Lab has the ability to life-cycle test all wear components of the hydroEngine. Dedicated test rigs put components through high-cycle fatigue tests at full scale.

The testers are designed to go through high loads and tens of millions of cycles to verify life of core components. Focus has been primarily on long running fatigue testing, and on exploring new materials and methods of fabrications. The test is also a great way to see the hydroEngine in operation at our Alameda facilities.

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Highlights

Natel Awarded DOE Funding

Natel Awarded DOE Funding

Natel’s Fish Safe Turbines Featured on ASME

Natel’s Fish Safe Turbines Featured on ASME

Symbion Power Announces Low-Cost, Mini-Hydro Pilot in Rwanda with Natel Energy

Symbion Power Announces Low-Cost, Mini-Hydro Pilot in Rwanda with Natel Energy

Africa MyHydro Energy Venture Launched with Natel Energy

Africa MyHydro Energy Venture Launched with Natel Energy

Contact

Natel Energy, Inc.
2401 Monarch Street
Alameda, CA 94501, USA

Tel 510.342.5269
Fax 866.710.5144

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Restoration Hydro Overview

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