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I Turbines&Generators CONVENTIONAL AMJET 1 i ii .Generato Box Gear Box Hydraulic Controls Box , >, High head AMJET Low head water in BOX water out Gear Box �O -0 Civil orks Box Low head Or ,i?=jry water out -- 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 USA4.indd 1 1857/2014 15.021 100