Sustainable Energy Management System™
Key Benefits
Optimization
A unique feature added to Rentricity’s control schemes and programming is the ability to optimize power output for a variety of hydraulic conditions (flow/pressure combinations) and provide either flow control or pressure control downstream. Rentricity works with the Owner/Client at the functional design stage to determine which specialized programming features are required to provide maximum benefit (total net generation).
Pressure Management
These capabilities have been deployed in projects beginning in 2012. The experience gained provides confidence in Rentricity’s ability to address the most unique and stringent customer requirements for pressure management transparent to normal operating conditions and protection of critical infrastructure.
Simplicity
Rentricity approach is simplistic, yet elegant utilizing pneumatic actuators for their simplicity of function, cost and support. Flow-to-Wire’s pump-as-turbine approach has over 60 years of operating history and will provide long operating life (40 to 50 years) with minimal maintenance. SCADA integration bring all the monitoring and control to your fingertips.
The key to designing and deploying clean energy in-conduit hydropower technology in solid-pipe water infrastructure is the seamless integration of all mechanical and electrical equipment in a transparent way with a control system that integrate all protection, control and monitoring features. Rentricity’s Sustainable Energy Management System (SEMS) brings together the power electronics with controls to provide Flow-to-Wire users with an integrated control system at their fingertips. SEMS includes a control panel, actuated valve(s) and program logic controller interface to support local on-site and control room management (via SCADA) of the Flow-to-Wire system.
How it Works
A typical electrical design includes:
SEMS Control Panel
A typical electrical design includes:
- Interconnection, power quality monitoring and generating equipment for grid protection.
- Microprocessor based unit(s) including programming to drive protective actions on equipment and alarms alerting trends in abnormal directions.
- Monitoring of a wide variety of input sensors, valves, system parameters and system condition states and sending to the clients’ SCADA system.
Since 2012, Rentricity has developed a series of control systems to meet the most basic to the most complex In-conduit hydropower projects. These systems are deployed in four, basic to complex, models.
Selecting a Control Panel Model for your Project
The table below defines the major features and applications of the SEMS control systems. These systems assure optimal energy recovery and pressure management objectives are met, namely:
- Assure pressure boundary integrity
- Customer/Owner is in control of the system at all times
- All electrical (NEC, State, and Local) codes are met
- Suitable protective features are included to meet electric utility requirements
- Panel sizes range from 4’H x 3’W x 1’D, and up
Click on Specs for details
Model
SEMS (B)
Basic Irrigation or Industrial Applications
SEMS (S)
Standard with Core Control Animation
SEMS (D)
Dual Panels with Split Control for Control & Monitoring
SEMS (M)
Multiple Turbines with Complex Control Schemes
Key Features
UL 508 A Certified
Utility Grade, Multi-Function Relay
Flat Panel Interactive Touch Screen Display
On-Board PLC with Full Programming
Flow & Pressure Management
Standardized Ethernet Connection with SCADA
Multiple Turbine Support
Multiple Independent Demands for Flow/Pressure
All models feature:
- UL508 A certified panels covering all aspects of design, components, and fabrication at our certified panel fabrication facility.
- A utility grade multi-function relay to monitor all aspects of power; i.e. voltage, current, frequency, phase relationships, and provide protection against any abnormal conditions including preventative automatic shut down of the Flow-to-Wire system.
Depending on the complexity of the site, additional features include full SCADA interface for access to up to 200 parameters, on-Board PLC with full programming, capability for management of multiple turbines/combinations, inlet control valves and sophistication to manage and respond to multiple independent demands or conditions for downstream water.
Pressure Management & In-conduit Energy Optimization
Rentricity deploys two kinds of valves in its energy recovery systems:
- Inlet Control Valves – these valves are situated just upstream of the turbine generator providing isolation and depending on the project’s requirements – modulation.
- Pressure Reduction Valves – For projects that are new or upgraded sites. These valves are located in parallel to a paired turbine generator.
Inlet Control Valves (ICV) typically range in size from 4-12” in diameter. They are matched with an actuator. The specific actuator type can be electric or pneumatic and is generally dictated by the Owner/Customer’s preferences for standardization within their current system.
ICVs serve two major purposes; provide isolation and where required modulation. The isolation function can occur either as an initiating event in a normal shutdown such as a maintenance period or a cautionary alarm. A normal, controlled shutdown can occur manually by the operator at the front of the control panel or through SCADA. An emergency shutdown could occur if the power quality does not meet the electric grid’s requirements and the multi-function relay trips initiating an automatic closure of the ICV. In either case, the Flow-to-Wire becomes isolated and the turbine coasts down.
Should a project require one or more forms of flow or pressure control, a modulating function is utilized. Pressure Reduction Valves (PRVs) are included in Rentricity’s Flow-to-Wire systems packages for new or upgraded sites. This does not apply to existing sites that have a suitable PRV that can be re-purposed. PRVs in their most basic form provide pressure breakdown modulating to various positions to maintain a fixed downstream pressure regardless of the upstream dynamics. Rentricity has utilized a variety of combinations of this hardware to provide an optimized energy recovery/pressure management solution.
Let us know what you need.
Interested in learning more about what Rentricity can do for you you? Fill out the simple contact form, OR get a complimentary project assessment via the button at the top of the screen.