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PREAMBLE
In recent years, there has been a strong quickening of interest in
renewable, environmentally harmless sources of energy as an alternative
to fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Although most attention has been
focussed on solar power, hydropower and notably low-head hydro power, is
being increasingly emphasized. Low-head hydro essentially is a return
to the ancient means of harnessing the power produced by water wheels
inserted into running streams such as rivers, canals, irrigation channels
and ocean tides . It is to be contrasted with high head hydropower which
produces electricity by the fall of water through heights greater than about
130 feet ( 40m).
Such developments supplied mechanical power to the textile industry
of England and New England in the 19th Century, and now coupled with
electrical generating facilities produce electricity . The whole of the
U.S., and most particularly the New England area, is dotted with dams
that were the main reliance of earlier generations for industrial power.
The renewal of interest in this widespread resource not only derives from
the desire to free this country from dependence on foreign sources of oil;
but from a recognition of the beneficial character of a source of power that
is constantly replenished by nature, is environmentally benign, and can be
made available quickly and at competitive cost to many isolated communities.
The attached paper describes a method of harnessing low head hydro
power by means of new developments of the very old water wheel concept
through a particular type of turbine whose generator is situated in tile rim
rather than the hub of the turbine and whose electrical components are
sealed off from the surrounding water.
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HARNESSING OF LOW HEAD HYDRO ELECTRICITY BY MEANS OF A STRAIGHT
FLOW TURBINE WITH RIM GENERATOR (STRAFLO)
THE STRAFLO TURBINE CONCEPT
The Straight Flow Turbine with Rim Generator is suitable for low head hydro
developments where the heads of flowing waters range from 40 metres (130 feet} down to
3 metres (10 feet) and even below. It can be developed 'in cascade' in rivers, and it
is equally suitable for use in sea water for application in Tidal Power Projects. The
concept was first suggested by the eminent American engineer, Leroy Harza, as early as
1919. It is now commercially viable, and ts available under license in the U.S.A. or
direct from the 'STRAFLO GROUP • . . (See Appendix 1( a} and (b).)
Between the two World Wars there was no pressure to develop low head hydro. The
first commercial development was delayed until 1942 when Escher Wyss AG,Ravensburg, the
German subsidiary of Escher Wyss Zurich (EWZ) built a series of 73 turbines which were
installed under weirs in the rivers Iller and Lech in South Ge~any. These machines
continue to give good service, demonstrating the inherent reliability of the concept.
They are, however, only small units with runner diameters of 1.5 to 2 metres, and
outputs of one to two megawatts. In these the generators are protected by simple lip
seals which are perectly adequate-for this purpose but unsuitable for larger machines
and higher heads.
After World War II English Electric (UK) carried out research until that Compan2
was merged with General Electric Company (UK). However, EWZ, as manufacturers of the
alternative Bulb Turbine (having the generator in a torpedo shaped housing in the
flowing water passage}, anticipated in the requirement for a more versatile low head
turbine. They developed designs and acquired patent rights of designs from other
sources, notably English Electric. While for the time being the machines are
manufactured only in Europe the intention is to ltcense manufacturers in the U.S.A~ and
For large diameter machines the upgrading is
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as fallows:
a) Improved means of protecting the generator from contact with water
by means of hydrostatic seals .
b) Improved hydrostatic peripheral bearings to transmit the weight of
the machine to the foundations.
c) Layouts of the utmost compactness leading to the reduction of associated
civil engineering costs.
In addition for all Straflo machines, the environmental and ecological advantages
are:
1) Environmental: The design of the turbines is such that riparian flooding
as associated with high dams is either eliminated or minimized. Besides
these turbines can be installed in weirs (that is over spill dams), and the
river can be developed by a series of these dams 'in cascade' thus obviating
the despoilation of scenic attractions.
2) Ecological: The Straflo rim generator type turbine has an advantage over
other water turbines in that fish can pass through the turbines apparently
without serious damage, but this is a matter being confirmed by further
testing.
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The result of all the above research is embodied in prototypes currently being built
for installations in Belgium~ Italy, Switzerland and West Germany and under consider-.. It ation in the U.S.A. and Canada . The runner diameter of these machines ranges between
It 3 and 7.6 metres; however, larger diameters can be built as required . • •t.
See Appendix 2.
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An Aide Memoire was presented to the Han. Arthur Hartman, Assistant
Secretary for European Affairs, during the visit of President Carter to the United
Kingdom in.May 1977 . The Aide Memoire outlined the availability of sites for low
head hydro development as identified by the US Corps of Engineers (see Appendix 3) .
Vigorous ac~ion has been taken by the U.S. Government in promoting the study of
feasibility of installing low head hydro generating facilities at existing dam sites .
Monies for feasibility surveys·and ultimate development of sites are being made
available by the Federal Government. (The Department of Energy).
The Straflo turbine is one form of turbine which can be used for low head
hydro. There are others but the saving on construction costs and installation together
with the increased efficiency would appear to make this machine worthy of serious
consideration as a candidate for support by the Federal Authorities under the program
for fostering the development of low head hydro power.
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The Straf1o Group is a partnership between:
ESCHER WYSS, A.G. (EWZ)
8023 Zurich, Switzerland.
(a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Sulzer Group).
and
STRAFLO LIMITED (SLtd)
1 King William Street
London EC4N 7AU
The Steering Committee is composed of:
60%
40%
APPENDIX l(a)
Chairman: Dr. Ing. V. Frey (Managing Director, EWZ)
Deputy Chairman: Edmund de Rothschild (Chairman, SLtd)
Dr. Ing. E. Mohlemann, (Product Manager EWZ)
Dr. V. Heuss (Legal Adviser ~AZ)
Dr. E. M. Wilson, PhD, FICE, FASCE (Deputy Chairman SLtd)
Support Team
Project Manager of the Straf1o Group: Dipl. Ing. H. Miller .
Technical Adviser of the Straf1o Group: Dipl. Ing. W. Meier
Consultants to the Straflo Group:
Dr. Ing. H. Fenzloff
Mr. M. Braikevitch, CEng, FIMechE, ACGI, DIC
Dr. E. M. Wilson, PhD, FICE, FASCE
Mr. J. D. Gwynn, CEng, FICE, MIMechE
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STRAFLO LIMITED
Shareholders include:-
ALCAN ALUMINIUM LIMITED,
Box 6090,
1 Place Ville Marie,
Mont rea 1 · 101 ,
Canada H3C 3H2.
APPENDIX l(b)
BRITISH INSULATED CALLENDER'S CABLES LTD.,
PO Box No. 5,
21 Bloomsbury Street,
London WClB 3QN.
EAGLE STAR INSURANCE CO. LTD.
1 Threadneedle Street
London EC2R 8BE.
LAZARD BROTHERS & CO. LIMITED
(Cushion Trust),
21 Moorfields,
London EC2R 8BE.
HOCHTIEF A.G.,
Rellinghauser Strasse 53-57,
Essen,
West Germany.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE FENNER & SMITH, INC.,
One Liberty Plaza,
165 Broadway,
New York, N.Y. 10006.
NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,
PO Box 236,
Kingsgate House,
66-74 Victoria Street,
London SWlE 6SL.
PARSONS & WHITTEMORE INC.,
200 Park Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10017.
PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE CO. LTD.,
Holborn Bars,
London ECl.
S.G. WARBURG & CO. LIMITED,
(NUTRACO Nominees)
30 Gresham Street,
London EC2P 2EB.
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SAMUEL MONTAGU & CO. LTD. (INC. DRAYTON)
(117 Ventures),
117 Old Broad Street,
London EC2N lAL •
SUN ALLIANCE AND LONDON INSURANCE GROUP,
Bartholomew Lane,
London EC2N 2AB .
EDMUND DE ROTHSCHILD, ESQ.,
New Court.,
St. Swithin's Lane,
London EC4P 4DU .
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APPENDIX 2.
STRAFLO PROTOTYPES
BELGIUM
Andenne: four units with runner diameters of 3.55 metres, lip seals and hydro
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ITALY
dynamic central shaft double bearings. The output is 3.4 megawatts.
Commissioning is in 1979.
three units with runner diameters of 3.55 metres, lip seals and hydro
dynamic central shaft double bearings. The output is 5.75 megawatts.
Commissioning is in 1979.
San Fiorano: this order is for a 600 ton thrust bearing machine with a high head
pump. The bearings are hydrostatic and commissioning is in 19j8.
SWITZERLAND
Hoengg: one unit with a runner diameter of 3 metres and hydrostatic >eals and
bearings. The output is 1.5 megawatts. The commissioning date is 1980 .
WEST GERMANY
Iller No.7: one unit with a runner diameter of 2 metres. The seals are hydro-
static with hydro dynamic central shaft double bearings. The output is
2 megawatts. Commissioning is due in 1978 .
Va.rious sites in the U.S.A. and Canada are under active consideration .
-=-Ne'H Court
tl:itSt. Swithin•s Lane
London EC4P 4DU -=-EdeR/GED -=-.
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The Han. Arthur Hartman,
ti:IIAssistant Secretary for European Affairs,
..-..Department of State,
.....,Washington, D. C . ..
tl:il AIDE MEMOIRE
APPENDIX 3.
9th May 1977
tl:tl I, Edmund de Rothschild, past Chairman of N. M. Rothschild and Sons Limited,
~have been intimately connected with the development of the Churchill Falls in Labrador
~since 1952 when Sir Winston Churchill asked my Bank to put together a consortium for
.._..Premier Smallwood of Newoundland/Labrador. This development, which was for 5.225 miilion
~kilowatts of power, was completed by the Newoundland Government in 1972. During the
tl:ltnegotiations leading up to the development a potential amount of power was made available
for Consolidated Edison but the contract proved abortive. However, power is being put
tl:itinto the Grid from the Churchill Falls from the New Brunswick tie-line into the United
States. -=--=-Low Head Hydro
11:11 Low head hydro would appear to be omitted from President Carter's thinking,
though he made a most important declaration on alternate sources of energy at an Energy
tl:iiRound Table held in Charleston, West Virginia on the 17th March, and recently underlined
his thoughts on the Energy crisis in a speech to the Special joint session of Congress on th
t~:J~20th April. The Federal Power Commission's Inventory of Hydro-electric Sources in the
United States (1972) showed that there are 182 million kilowatts of power available for the
~generation of low head hydro electricity from rivers without the necessity of constructing
major dams. Recently, the Corps of Engineers identified 49,000 sites for low head hydro
tl:ll usage although, of course, the majority of these will be for small low power units. Some,
however, may well be of appreciable power potential and could be made economically viable
tl:tt by use of the latest technology in low head turbines, which are less expensive to
install. Details of these savings in the construction of low head hydro facilities, which
t1:11 have significant environmental and ecological advantages, were given in a briefing in
Washington on the 27th April 1976, under the auspices of the British Embassy, and more
tl:il recently last month to Mr. Ronald Corso of the Federal Power Commission, Mr. Ronald ioms,
the head of the Geothermal Division of ERDA and Mr. Robert H. Bruck, Chief Electrical
41 .. Mechanical Branch -Engineering Division Civil Works Office Chief of Engineers of the Corps
of Engineers.
tl:il As I have a deep ongoing interest in the field of hydro electric development, ta:Jt especially now low head hydro, I would be prepared to make myself available with my technica
and financial experts for discussions at any time . ..........
-=-Edmund de Rothschild
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