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ASCE offers books relevant to hydroelectric power

The American Society of Civil Engineers recently released two books that have content relevant to hydropower.

Entropy Theory in Hydraulic Engineering: An Introduction explains the basic concepts of entropy theory from a hydraulic perspective and demonstrates the theory’s application in solving engineering problems. In the hydraulic context, entropy is valuable as a way of measuring uncertainty or surprise as a type of information. As hydraulic systems become more complex, entropy theory enables hydraulic engineers to quantify uncertainty, determine risk and reliability, estimate parameters, model processes, and design more robust and dependable hydraulic systems. Vijay P. Sing, PhD, explores the application of entropy in five areas important to hydraulic engineers.

Earthquakes and Engineers: An International History traces the evolution of understanding of the cause and characteristics of earthquakes and the development of methods to design structures that resist seismic shocks. Efforts in the U.S., Japan, China, India, Chile, Turkey and Italy are placed in the broader social, technological and economic contexts of their areas. Robert K. Reitherman examines the responses not only of structural engineers but also of geotechnical engineers, architects and planners.

Both books are available for purchase at www.asce.org/bookstore.

Science and technology internship program available in Canada

Natural Resources Canada offers a Science and Technology Internship Program, intended to provide an opportunity for recent graduates in natural sciences and engineering to gain relevant, meaningful work experiences within their fields of study.

According to NRCan, “Any non-federal government organization (private company, university or college, non-profit organization and provincial or municipal government) can become a partner of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) when it hires an eligible intern to work on research and development projects that are within the mandate of NRCan. Partners can receive a contribution payment for a portion of the intern’s salary. The intern is an employee of the partner.”

The program will fund a maximum of C$13,200 over a period of not more than 52 weeks. This program began in 1997, and NRCan has contributed to about 50 to 80 internships each year. More information is available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/careers/87.

Alstom, Atlantium team for invasive species prevention

Alstom has signed a bilateral agreement with Israel’s Atlantium Technologies Ltd. to expand the use of an ultraviolet (UV) ray water treatment process in its hydro equipment. The technique “destroys microorganisms that proliferate in the auxiliary water circuits of hydropower equipment,” Alstom says, including balance-of-plant and cooling systems. The company said the problem is particularly serious in North America, where the organisms can slow water flow or even block pipes.

“Atlantium has developed an innovative water treatment technique involving ultraviolet rays used especially in the pharmaceuticals and chemicals industries,” http://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2014/12/alstom-gdf-suez-selected-for-pilot-raz-blanchard-tidal-energy-project.html Alstom said. The UV rays are diffused by a lamp embedded in Plexiglass tubes and prevent microorganisms and other invasive species from reproducing.

The system is advantageous in that it does not use chlorine or other chemicals, and is easy to maintain.

Atlantium said in a white paper released in September 2013 that the use of UV technology showed promising results in controlling zebra and quagga mussel populations on dams and hydroelectric power projects.

Renewable costs (including hydro) competitive with fossil

The cost to generate power from renewable sources (including hydro) has reached parity with or dropped below the cost of fossil fuels for many technologies in many parts of the world, according to a press release from the International Renewable Energy Agency.

IRENA’s 164-page report, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2014, says that thanks in large part to the clear business case for renewables, a record high of 120 GW of renewable energy was added to the global energy mix in 2013, with similar additions forecast for 2014. Renewable energy accounted for 22% of global electricity generation and 19% of total final energy consumption in 2013.

With regard to hydropower, the report indicates capacity additions of 36 GW in 2014 (increasing 13% since 2010) and cumulative installed capacity of 1,061 GW (increasing 20% since 2010). Total installed costs were unchanged at US$450-US$3,500/kW and global LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) of US$0.02-US$0.15/kWh.

“Hydropower produces some of the lowest-cost electricity of any power generation technology,” the report says, citing average costs of about US$0.05/kWh.

Read the report at http://bit.ly/1IWwEGg.

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