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The stimulus was
provided by the need to reduce CO2 emissions, and the pledge by
the Government to produce 10% of electrical energy from
renewable resources by 2010.
At Gants Mill the new turbine was made by Valley Hydro of
Cornwall, and the electronic mains connection unit by GP
Electronics from Devon.
Left: Lowering the S-shaped penstock pipe though the floor
into the old waterwheel pit.
Below right:
Lowering the turbine. Inside is the turbine rotor, showing
the 30 blades that turn the generator. |
The plant was
installed by the Devon firm of Hydro
Generation Ltd (now Segen). Installation of the new
turbine started in September 2003, and the staff of Hydro
Generation tackled with enthusiasm the variety of engineering
problems encountered.
All the pieces of the pipe work, turbine and generator were
lowered into the old wheel pit using specialised heavy lifting
gear.
Assembly of the parts required particular attention to the
stresses and weights involved, with around 2 tonnes to be
supported by RSJs slotted into the walls of the wheel pit.
Gaskets between each section were carefully compressed for the
prevention of leaks.
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Near
right: Bolting the pipes together.
Far right: The turbine lowered into position.
Below left: Diagram
of the layout of the two turbines in the old waterwheel pit,
with the original one on the right and the new one on the left.
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At the same time
electrical connections were being made, both to the
external electricity pole on the grid, and within the
mill itself. Finally the time came for the testing
and adjustment of all the working parts under operating
conditions. The installation was inspected by
engineers from the electricity board to comply with G59
regulations for connection to the grid. |
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| (Above)
Turbine and generator completed, connected by belts. |
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(Above)
Trenching for the electric cable between the generator
and the local grid. |
| At the same time
electrical connections were being made, both to the
external electricity pole on the grid, and within the
mill itself. Finally the time came for the testing
and adjustment of all the working parts under operating
conditions. The installation was inspected by
engineers from the electricity board to comply with G59
regulations for connection to the grid. |
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Above: The turbine
control panel. |
Above:
Meter connection to the local grid. |
The equipment is designed
to produce up to 12 kW of electricity in continuous
operation fed into the local grid. The unit shuts down
completely in the event of any system failure or power
cut. The automatic operation also adjusts water
flow through the turbine to maximise power output while
maintaining a reserve flow of water in the main river.
The actual output of electricity depends very much on
river flow, being naturally greater during winter than
in the summer months.
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The turbine and
generator's working life started on Friday 23 April
2004, when Adam Hart Davis visited to launch the scheme.
Visitors are able to see it as part of their tour of the
mill during opening hours.
Over the centuries the mill has been adapted to society's
changing requirements, as a corn mill, fulling mill, silk mill,
then corn mill again, and is now a fine example of a small-scale
hydropower scheme, producing electricity from a renewable
resource.
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South Somerset
Hydropower Group and Mendip Power Group
invite you to attend a
Tour of Eight Hydropower Installations
The next tour will be on 23-24
October 2010.
The visits will compare:-
Crossflow, Kaplan and Francis turbines
Ossberger, Valley Hydro and Ecowave crossflows
Open and closed flume Archimedes Screw turbines, and a traditional style waterwheel
New-build penstock and turbine house vs. existing building
1.8m to 4.9m head, 2 kW to 60 kW output
Analogue and digital mainscon systems
Turnkey installations and self-build
Installation costs, electricity sales, ROCs, LECs and Feed in Tariff
Sites to be visited on the Saturday will be Hewlett’s Mill GALHAMPTON, Carey’s Mill MARTOCK, Clapton Mill
Nr. CREWKERNE, Hainbury Mill Farm ILCHESTER, ALHAMPTON Mill and Gants Mill BRUTON.
The sites to be visited on Sunday morning will be Hapsford Mill near FROME and Tellisford Mill
near FROME.
Guided tour at each site by the site owner, with discussion of the options for their installation.
Hydropower consultants Roger Hutton of Potential Energy and
Brendan Barrow of eWaterpower Company will travel with the groups on the Saturday.
These tours are of particular interest to mill owners, engineers, policy makers, local authority officers and community groups, and those looking to install hydropower.
Cost £60 for Saturday - to include all travel from and return to Bruton by coach/minibus in maximum size 15-20 in each group, morning coffee, hot cooked lunch, and afternoon tea. The tour
starts from Gants Mill, Bruton at 9am, returning by 5pm. A detailed itinerary and joining instructions
will be forwarded after booking. Technical data sheets for each site
will be provided on the day.
Cost £13 for Sunday morning – starting at Hapsford Mill at 9.30am, then Tellisford Mill at 10.30am, including film of building the 60kW installation at Tellisford and refreshments,
finishing by 12.30pm.
Delegates are free to book for either or both days. Delegates are responsible for their own travel to
Hapsford and Tellisford on the Sunday, and for their own accommodation if staying overnight. Local B&Bs can be found at
www.brutontown.com and
www.frometouristinfo.co.uk.
Please book early, as places are limited. Closing date for booking –
Friday 15 October 2010.
Booking confirmed only on receipt of payment, which will be acknowledged by letter or email.
Please email Brian, explaining your interest in hydropower
(mill-owner, engineer, etc) and he will send you a booking form.
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