Malibu Hydro
| Malibu Hydro Power | |
|---|---|
  Location of Malibu Hydro Power in British Columbia | |
| Country | Canada |
| Location | Jervis Inlet, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 50°8′40″N 123°52′40″W / 50.14444°N 123.87778°WCoordinates: 50°8′40″N 123°52′40″W / 50.14444°N 123.87778°W |
| Status | On-line |
| Owner(s) | Malibu Club in Canada |
| Thermal power station | |
| Type | Micro hydro |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 580 kW Pelton |
| McCannel Creek Dam | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Malibu Hydro Dam |
| Location | Jervis Inlet, British Columbia, Canada |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | McCannel Creek |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | McCannel Lake |
Malibu Hydro System was designed to provide electricity to the Malibu Club in Canada. This hydro system starts from a high alpine lake where water is diverted from the lake through a steel penstock to a power house nearly 1,250 feet (380 m) below near the shore of Jervis Inlet. The flow of water turns a pelton wheel which is attached to a generator to create electricity. The electricity is then transmitted to camp by a submarine cable running under Jervis Inlet at a high enough voltage to ensure little loss. Power is then distributed throughout camp on the existing and upgraded electrical system.[1]
Sources
The hydro turbine is feed by a yearlong creek called McCannel Creek which is directly across the Jervis Inlet to Malibu which is about two miles (3 km). The source of the creek is a lake called McCannel Lake which is at an elevation of 2,600 feet (790 m). At the outlet, a dam was built to maintain the lake level and control the flow of the creek
Weir (Item A)
A small dam was built at the lake outlet to aid in maintaining the water at a higher level by limiting the discharge into the creek. The weir has a large pipe and valve in its base to pass the minimum required 2 cubic feet per second (0.057 m3/s) required to maintain the creek. This is in addition to the water which will be spilled to create power.
Intake (Item B)
Water regulated at the lake will flow down the creek from the 2,300-foot (700 m) level to the 1,200-foot (370 m) level. Here a weir was built across the creek that forms a large deep pool from which the 12-inch (300 mm) penstock draws water at a rate of up to 7 cu ft/s (0.20 m3/s).
Power House (Item C & D)
The power house is a building that houses the turbine, generator, and the necessary equipment to control and distribute the electricity for Malibu. It is located a short distance above the beach. The following diagram and table explains what happens once the water flow reaches the Power house (read the diagram right to left)
| Item | Process | Function | Measure | Parameter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Jet & Spear Valve | Intake Water Velocity | Pressure at Valve in Penstock (PSI) | 10-620 PSI |
| B | Deflector | Deflects water flow away from turbine | Angle position of Deflector (controlled by Governor) | 0° - 90° Degrees |
| C | Turbine | Pelton Wheel turns in direction of water flow | How fast the Turbine is turning (RPM) | Fixed (rpm) |
| D | Shaft | Distributes turning motion of turbine to the generator | How fast the shaft is turning | Fixed (rpm) |
| E | Generator | Generates the three phase AC electricity | The frequency output generated | = 60 Hz |
| F | Governor (ELC) | Maintains even load on Generator and flow on turbine | Frequency Sample either from Shaft, or Generator, or Switch Gear. | = 60 Hz |
| G | Switch Gear | Breakers to breakup flow if necessary | Halts flow of electricity if to high | --- |
| H | Transformer | Steps the voltage up to be xfered to camp | --- | 600V – 14000V |
Power Line (Item E)
The electrical power is transmitted via an underwater power line consisting of three parallel conductors. Transformers at the hydro generator will raise the generator voltage from 600 to 15,000. Transmission voltage will be at 15,000 volts. Another transformer at camp will step the line voltage down to 120 and 208 volts for use at camp.
History
Began installation in 2005