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Learning about Hydro Systems?

High Efficiency Hydro Systems to about 100 kW

Canyon Hydro designs and manufactures small hydro systems ranging from 4kW to 15mW. Each system is designed and built at our manufacturing facility in the USA.

For our customers with residential or small community projects, Canyon Hydro provides a broad selection of hydroelectric systems up to about 100kW, each delivering high efficiency, quality and reliability at a reasonable cost. If you have requirements for larger systems or custom designs, please refer to Canyon Commercial Hydro Systems.

This dual-jet system, located in Costa Rica, drives a 14kW generator, and uses a needle nozzle to allow adjustment for changing Flow conditions without shutting the system down.

You can purchase a complete hydro system from Canyon Hydro, or individual components. We will be happy to work with you to determine the best approach. A typical hydro system from Canyon includes the following components:

Water turbine and housing
Drive system
Generator
Electronic Governor
Assembly Frame

In addition, many of our systems are equipped with one or more of the following options:

Stainless steel runner
Variable needle nozzle
Frequency protection jet deflector

Canyon Standard Turbines

The heart of a Canyon Hydro system is the water turbine. Efficiency counts most here, and we take great care to ensure maximum power transfer. Canyon Pelton runners are all-metal, cast as a single unit. Bucket tip, splitter and exit angles maximize the transfer of hydraulic energy to the turbine shaft. Each bucket is hand-polished, with special attention directed to the rear of the bucket to minimize internal aerodynamic drag.

Similar procedures are employed for Canyon Crossflow and Francis turbines, using the highest quality materials and advanced manufacturing techniques.

Most importantly, Canyon turbines are backed by a group of experienced professionals who know hydro systems, and are dedicated to the success of your project.

Canyon Will Design Your Turbine System

We strongly recommend that you let Canyon Hydro design the proper turbine system for your site, because the most efficient system involves many complex factors. There is no charge for this service.

Canyon Hydro bronze manganese Pelton runner.

Beginning with your measurements of HEAD and FLOW, Canyon experts will specify the right combination of turbine type, diameter, bucket or blade characteristics, nozzle sizing, shaft speed, housing dimensions, and more. We think it’s important that you get the most power possible for your investment.

The most essential information we require is accurate HEAD and FLOW measurements. Eventually, we’ll also need information about your pipeline and electrical requirements, but we can assist you with defining them once we know your HEAD and FLOW.

You can learn more about HEAD and FLOW, and how to measure it, in our Guide to Hydro Power.

To get started, simply fill out our data sheet and send it to us.

Representative Canyon Turbine Specifications

Canyon Hydro produces a wide array of turbine systems, making it possible to closely match your site characteristics for optimum efficiency. See the accompanying chart for performance specifications on five representative models.

System Options

Canyon Hydro provides a broad range of turbine configurations, from bare replacement runners to complete, electronically controlled systems. Here are a few of the options you may consider for your system.

Turbine/Generator Assembly Frame

The turbine and generator must be mounted to a common frame, which is typically anchored in concrete for stable, vibration-free operation. Canyon Hydro can provide a pre-configured frame that will ensure precise alignment of your water turbine, drive system, and generator. When this option is selected, your hydro system will be shipped as modules that you can quickly assemble and align.

Runner Material

The standard manganese bronze alloy runner provides excellent life when used with clean water at heads up to 500 feet. For sites with more abrasive water conditions, we recommend our optional high-tensile, stainless steel alloy runners.

Canyon Hydro needle nozzles are machined to exact tolerances.

Extra Fixed Nozzles

The majority of Canyon standard Pelton turbine systems are equipped with fixed, interchangeable nozzles. Fixed nozzles are the most cost-effective choice for sites with infrequent changes to flow. To change flow, water to the turbine is shut off, and an access plate is removed. The nozzle can then be easily changed. Canyon can provide additional nozzles machined to any size to accommodate flow variations throughout the year.

Needle Nozzle Control

If flow changes frequently, the optional needle nozzle can simplify adjustments and eliminate the need to shut down the turbine. It permits infinitely variable flow adjustment, from zero to maximum design flow, while the turbine is running. Canyon needle nozzles have stainless steel needles and beaks for extremely long life.

Governors

Governors can range from relatively simple devices to highly complex systems for larger, grid-connected hydro projects. Regardless of complexity, however, the basic function remains the same: maintain a constant RPM at the generator, and therefore a constant voltage and frequency. We will be happy to discuss your site requirements and recommend the appropriate governor type.

Most residential-grade governors work by automatically maintaining a constant load on the generator, thus ensuring a constant RPM. Typically they measure frequency many times each second, adding or subtracting electrical load as necessary to keep the frequency stable. For example, if a stovetop burner were suddenly switched off, it would remove load from the generator, which would tend to speed up. The governor would sense the rising frequency and compensate by adding more load (such as a baseboard heater) to maintain proper speed, voltage, and frequency.

Here are the two types of governors used in the majority of residential systems.

Electronic Load Governor (ELG)

The Canyon Electronic Load Governor (ELG) is highly effective for small systems up to about 12kW. Excess power is shunted to two ballast loads (such as water or space heaters), and a variable electronic control regulates the amount of power being directed to the ballast (much as a dimmer switch can regulate power to a light bulb). This design facilitates rapid and precise control, resulting in very stable voltage and frequency under changing conditions.

Load Management Governor (LMG)

The Canyon Load Management Governor (LMG) is an enhanced version of the ELG, giving you the ability to choose and prioritize how power is used. Like the ELG, it uses a variable electronic control to apply ballast loads, but it also provides the ability to manage other devices via relays.

Canyon Hydro 15 kW dual-nozzle turbine and generator system being prepared for shipment.

The Canyon LMG allows you to prioritize and control up to eight external loads, and supports hydro systems to 100kW.

Over/Under Protection Package

The over/under frequency protection package quickly shuts down your system if something goes wrong. If your generator suddenly speeds up (for example, a tree falls on your line creating an “open” condition) or slows down (such as an overload or direct short circuit), the over/under frequency protection package will remove the water from your turbine to shut the system down.

For Canyon Pelton turbines, the package consists of a Frequency Guard monitor, a turbine jet deflector system, weighted arm and electromagnet. The weighted arm is connected to the jet deflector inside the turbine, and is held in the “up” or “operating” position by the electromagnet. The electromagnet receives power from the Frequency Guard. When the frequency is abnormally high or low, the Frequency Guard cuts power to the electromagnet, allowing the weighted arm to fall. As the arm falls, it brings the jet deflector between the jet stream and the turbine runner, allowing the system to coast to a stop. Shutdown is very fast, and since the water flow doesn’t change, there are no damaging pipeline surges. The automatic shutdown is important if the system operates for periods of time with the operator is absent.

Generators

Canyon Hydro selects only high quality generators to include with our systems, ensuring efficient operation, long life, and low maintenance. In most cases, the rotating speed of the generator is 1800 rpm or slower to maximize longevity and minimize efficiency losses in the drive system. No brushes are accepted in generators used on Canyon systems, simplifying maintenance. All have automatic voltage regulators and built in exciters.

Most smaller generator units in the Americas have a standard alternating current (AC) output of 120/240 volts, at 60 hertz single phase. Other areas of the world utilize 220VAC, 50 hertz units. A variety of voltages are available in 50 or 60 hertz frequencies, both single and three phase designs.

Canyon Hydro uses generators made only by reputable manufacturers such as Marathon Electric, Kato Engineering, and Stamford (a division of Newage international).

Canyon Hydro Engineering Assistance

Given the many possible configurations for hydro power, we strongly recommend that you let us help you design the proper turbine system for your site. The Canyon Hydro engineering team is the best in the business, and there is no charge for this service.

To get started, we’ll need a few essential facts. Most important are accurate HEAD and FLOW measurements. (You can learn more about measuring Head and Flow in our Guide to Hydro Power.)

Ready to get started? Please fill out our data sheet, and we’ll reply with some preliminary recommendations and prices.