Hydroelectric Power, Hydro Electic

Dulas have two decades of small hydro experience, with over 8MW of installed or refurbished capacity to its name. Dulas provide the practical expertise and knowledge to carry out consultancy work to the most stringent quality standards.

Full resource assessments and pre-feasibility studies including consultation with regulatory bodies and DNO (Distribution Network Operator) companies. We provide full site development services, including all aspects of planning and abstraction.

Dulas Hydro provide full system design and specification, hydrological modelling and energy output predictions. All work is conducted to strict due diligence work requirements. We also provide training, lecturing and advice services.

Consultancy work is currently being conducted for a range of clients from UK Utility companies, private developers, land owners, finance organisations and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations).

Dulas specialise in the design and installation of run of the river hydro schemes from 100kW to 2MW. We have worked with numerous grid connected and stand-alone systems up to 3MW over the past two decades. Our comprehensive experience ensures we can take projects from conception through to full power production.

Our turnkey design and installation services will take a scheme from planning; through design and system specification, selecting the right equipment and solutions to optimise the scheme; selection and management of subcontractors for construction and installation work; providing project management and relationship management, including regulatory authorities and Distribution Network Operator (DNO); before handover and delivery to operation and maintenance.

Dulas offer a range of post-construction services in order to maximise the potential of hydro schemes. These operation and maintenance services include:

• remote monitoring and generation reports
• fault diagnosis and repair
• annual maintenance and inspections

Our engineers have the understanding and experience to know how to improve under-performing sites to reach their maximum potential, and will ensure that the investment is protected.

Experienced in finding faults and resolving issues which reduce plant downtime, we ensure that each and every site has a tailored solution which allows for increased generation and reduces any potential threats to generation capacity.

Dulas Hydro have extensive experience in the refurbishment of poorly performing or redundant schemes. A fully refurbished scheme will increase generated revenue and reduce operating costs. Our services for the optimisation, modification and reconstruction of existing schemes include electro-mechanical refurbishment and control system upgrades and reprogramming.

Dulas also specialise in the installation of SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems for remote monitoring, pipeline repairs or modifications. We also have extensive experience covering intake redesign and rebuild and retrofitting of AquaShear Coanda hydro intake screens.

AquaShear Coanda intake screens are designed to provide an extremely low maintenance screening solution for water intakes without the need for any moving parts. This self-cleaning ability together with a high abstracted flow capacity is a function of the shape of the screen and the arrangement of the wedge wires that make up the screen material.

The screens are installed on the downstream side of a weir - the river water flows over the top of the screen and the Coanda screen abstracts the water with debris (greater than 1mm) being excluded and passing downstream.

Standard sizes of screens give abstraction rates from 10 litres per second upwards and can be installed as single screen or as multiple screens. Half and quarter height screens provide options for reducing head loss.

Benefits of the AquaShear Coanda hydro intake screens include:

• Self-cleaning under most conditions
• Exclude all silt and debris greater than 1mm diameter
• Eliminate operational costs of erosion damage and blockage to pipes and machinery
• Increase revenue by maximising flow availability
• Capital cost savings on both new and refurbished schemes, in many cases eliminating the need for a settling tank
• Can significantly increase plant availability and output
• Negligible maintenance time and costs
• No moving parts or power requirement
• Simple and inexpensive to install
• Can operate at very low temperatures without freezing
• Fish-friendly

Coanda screens are also recommended in SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) small hydro guidance.