Castle Rock, Colorado: ClearPower North America announced the launch June 14 of a patented, axial flow, fixed-blade Kaplan Industrial Turbine Generator (ITG) that utilizes gravity-fed pipelines or outfalls to convert their water flow into a source of low-cost electricity.
The ITG features a direct-drive, synchronous, permanent magnetized generator that captures the energy of moving water from gravity-fed pipelines. The company says its simple design avoids the need for an outside powerhouse or generator to convert power to electricity and does not require additional cooling equipment. The use of permanent magnets makes the turbine and generator act as one, eliminating the need for transmission gearing as well as separate motors and shafts. The all-in-one rim design of the generator removes the need for a central shaft and couplings, resulting in a simplified, compact and efficient generating system that improves efficiency, limits noise and vibration.
ClearPower's services can be used in a variety of manufacturing settings that use a high volume of water, including paper mills, mining companies, glass makers, chemical refineries, and more. The ClearPower technology can also be used by utilities, other major energy producers, municipalities, and agriculture.
For more information, visit visit www.clearpowerna.com, call 1-303-993-5438, or send an email to
In a similar story, in early July in-pipe hydroelectric power developer Rentricity announced completion of a 360 kW installation on Richmond Irrigation Company water distribution system in Utah. The project uses what Rentricity calls its "Flow-to-Wire" system and was installed as part of a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation upgrade designed to mitigate water loss.
"By transitioning to a pressurized pipeline, we have eliminated seepage and water evaporation losses experienced in our previous open-ditch system where 40% of the diverted water was lost," Richmond Irrigation president Terry Spackman said.
Energy generated by the installation will be distributed via a grid owned by Rocky Mountain Power.
"The addition of the microgrid to generate power from the pressurized irrigation water while continuing to serve our shareholders jut made perfect sense," Spackman said.
Richmond's system is one of several Rentricity has completed or is currently working on. HydroWorld.com reported in February 2016 that the New York-based company had begun installing in-pipe systems in Grand Lake, Colo., and Ferron, Utah, amongst others.