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Turn flow control into electric power generation

Sept. 18, 2023

The first all-in-one valve and turbine built to harvest the pressure drop that is otherwise dissipated in processes such as flow, pressure, temperature and level control.

Related To: Bonomi North America

LOCPOWER is designed for medium and large-sized civil and industrial installations.

LOCPOWER control valve is the patented “green” solution of Valpres S.r.l., a Bonomi Group company. It is the first all-in-one valve and turbine built to harvest the pressure drop that is otherwise dissipated in processes such as flow, pressure, temperature, and level control, and transform it into 100% green energy. LOCPOWER is designed for medium and large-sized civil and industrial installations.

The goal of this innovation is to produce zero-emission and zero CO₂ energy through a single plug-and-play device. It is installed flange-to-flange, like a standard valve, in place of a more complex system made of 2 control valves — 1 for turbine regulation, 1 for active bypass — along with a turbine and associated piping.

LOCPOWER's available sizes range from 3 inches to 24 inches (larger valves may be designed upon request), and the power output spans from 5kW up to and exceeding 150kW.

Unlike traditional control valves where the pressure drop is achieved through a single or multi-stage trim, LOCPOWER regulates the flow by splitting the pressure drop through a single or multi-stage customized turbine. It is designed to fit perfectly into the valve’s body to maximize energy-recovery.

LOCPOWER also allows management of turbine overflows, thanks to an internal extra flow channel, which is the core of its patent. This eliminates the need for an active bypass and guarantees the main function (process control) even if the turbine stops working for whatever reason. Its advantages include:

Simplifying the complexity of the installation (from both the hydraulic and the control system point of view);
Allowing the replacement of existing control valves, also in remote and difficult-to-reach locations (such as offshore installations) with minimal modifications;
Reducing the overall footprint compared to conventional turbines;
Reducing CAPEX and OPEX (just one device makes it easy to maintain);
NACA profiles of stators and rotors that are tailor-made for the specific application and maximize the power throughput; and
High quality for long service life, 100% made in Italy.

LOCPOWER is not a completely new technology, but is an innovative implementation of existing technologies, starting from existing valve design (globe/choke type) and axial turbines. All in all, it represents a major development in improving and progressing upon the current practices in use.

The available sizes range from 3 inches to 24 inches (larger valves may be designed upon request), and the power output spans from 5kW up to and exceeding 150kW, depending on flow rate and pressure drop and water head.

Given the operation of a LOCPOWER installation for 8,600 hours per year, the economics of the investment can be easily calculated. Once all the factors are considered, the costs include:

The valve (including an actuator, generator, cable, and converter/double inverter);
The piping and structural modification (in case of modification of existing pipework);
The maintenance (calculated at 5%/year); and
Modification of existing control software and PLC programming.

Income includes:

Revenues from energy produced; and
Local or national energy incentives.

LOCPOWER users can also take advantage of the non-tangible revenues that are generated by the high visibility of these types of investments in terms of sustainability and company image, advantages that sometimes can even offset the purely financial considerations.

LOCPOWER allows smart companies and utilities to help decarbonize the electrical grid while safely controlling flow and pressure. Energize your water systems with LOCPOWER control valves. Email [email protected] or call 704-412-9031 for more information.