TRU Undergraduate Research Experience Award Program Proposal

A $4500 scholarship has been awarded to me for the below proposal


Despite the ever growing need to reduce our carbon foot-print, demand for energy in Canada continues to grow. With this gap expanding, the need for sustainable technologies is evermore needed. Now, older technologies that may not have been viable in the past may now be cost effective.

I would like to propose an independent and comprehensive research report on energy recovery in a pumped water distribution system. At Highland Valley Copper (HVC), a mine near Logan Lake B.C., they use large volumes of water in their mill process. I may have identified a section of their water supply system to have a viable potential to recover energy in the form of turbine generation. Because the water is pumped to reservoir (A), a percent of the energy used in the pumping may be able to be recovered from the gravity fed portion that connects to reservoir (B).

The dedication to my studies and the ability to go beyond what’s expected, will allow me to produce an analytical, accurate, and adequately referenced report on this topic. Because I will be researching my topic from the beginning to the end independently, an unbiased result will be ensured. Fluid dynamics and turbine generation are well studied and understood in the science and technology community; I can’t wait to study it all!

• Question:
Can electric power be generated from the main mill water supply line at HVC mine, by replacing existing pressure reducing valves with a specially designed power generating pressure reducing system (PGPRS) with-out disrupting normal mill operations? If so, how much power can be produced? If not, what are the parameters restricting power generation and is this idea viable on a different water system?

• Purpose:
The purpose of this research is to produce an accurate document that explains a system and method to reduce the energy consumption of a pumped water supply system.

• Goals and Objectives:
Creating this Document will improve the many skills that I have already developed with the ARET program. My goals are to create an accurate and complete working document with a clear conclusion of the outcomes, taking into account all necessary variables, and insuring a non bias report that can be used to help with the reduction of energy in the pumped water supply systems that are found around the world.

• Related studies:
The energy that mining consumes may be justified by the economic values it brings us. Because of the wealth surrounding this industry, I feel that this industry could be a leader in the use of energy reducing technologies. The article “Use of turbines for simultaneous pressure regulation and recovery in secondary cooling water systems in deep mines” by H.J. van Antwerpen and G.P. Greyvenstein is not identical to the system that I’m attempting but does serve some of the same properties. Also, it did have a positive outcome, proving “technical feasibility”. Other energy recovery turbine projects are already under way in sewage water treatment centers.

• Plan of action:
1. Study fluid dynamics and turbine power generation.
2. Create a 3 dimensional model of the two reservoirs and pipe line using satellite surface imagery imported to AutoCAD Civil 3d.
3. Identify the variables needed for determining the amount of pressure reduction needed in the water system.
4. Identify the amount of water flow.
5. Solve equations and determine viability.
6. If viable, approach HVC independently with findings and request actual engineered data to reanalyze the water system more accurately.
7. If still viable, continue with design of the PGPRS and calculate results of the actual power that could be produced.
8. If time permitting, produce a feasibility study.
9. Produce publication-ready final report for public review.
10. Present report at necessary venues and conferences in order to distribute research.
6-8. Alternate. Determine what an ideal water supply system would be, and try to locate another water system nearby to analyze, for example the Logan Lake or Ashcroft city water reservoirs. If still no luck, then design a PGPRS on the ideal system. If time is remaining, do a feasibility study.

• Plans for Dissemination:
Currently I am working on a web blog at http://aret222daisley.blogspot.com/ to promote feedback and ideas to help me with the process of this research. I would like to present my research to the public at the 2011 CUEF conference as well as any other recommended venues.

• Contribution of the Project to my academic goals and objectives:
ARET is a study of architecture and engineering which will be the basis for my career as a technologist. This project will be directly used for graduation requirements and A.Sc.T. accreditation. The teaching of ARET Fluid Mechanics in the first semester of the third year is directly related to this project and the knowledge that I will learn from this course will be used to help with the report.

• Budget:
I would like to use this scholarship award to be used as a co-op work term over the summer of 2010. Traveling expenses and loss of a work term income would be the only extra funding that I would need in-order to complete the research. Traveling expenses would be that of fuel costs for travel to the mine or in to Kamloops to meet with my supervisors or to use the school resources. There is no house hold income at my home, so any bit of funding is extremely appreciated and will be used with much respect. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to treat this project as my job working for the Undergraduate Student Research Experience Award Program.