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NEW TECHNOLOGY

existing technologies, starting from existing valve
design (globe/choke type) and axial turbines. All
in all, it represents a major development in impro-
ving and progressing upon the current practices.
The available sizes range from 3” to 24” (larger val-
ves may be designed upon request) and the po-
wer output spans from 5kW up to and exceeding
150kW (depending on flow rate and pressure drop/
water head).
If we consider the availability of the “Locpower”
for – at least – 8.600hrs/year the economics of the
investment can be easily calculated, once all the
factors are considered:

The main costs are:
• Valve (including an actuator, ge-
nerator, cable, and converter/
double Inverter);
• Piping/structural modification (in
case of modification of existing pi-
pework);
• Maintenance (calculated at 5%/
year);
• Modification of existing con-
trol software / PLC pro-
gramming.

The main sources of revenues:
• Revenues from energy
produced;
(from both the hydraulic and the control • Local/national Incentives.
system point of view);
• Allows the replacement of existing control In addition, the “Locpower” users
valves, also in remote and difficult-to-reach can take advantage of the non-tan-
locations (such as offshore installations) with gible revenues that are generated
minimal modifications; by the high visibility of these types of
• Reduces the overall footprint compared to investments in terms of sustainability
conventional turbines; and company image, advantages
• Reduces Capex and Opex (just one device, that sometimes can even offset the
easy to maintain); purely financial considerations.
• The “Naca” profiles of stators and rotors are
tailor-made for the specific application and Thanks to this variety of products,
maximize the power throughput. Valpres S.r.l. guarantees a simple and
quick response for the realization of medium
“Locpower” is not a completely new technology and large-sized civil and industrial installations,
“per se” but is an innovative implementation of 100% made in Italy.

98 Impiantistica Italiana - Marzo-Aprile 2023