San Giovannello System
Power recovery system at San Giovannello water node
Client: Siciliacque S.p.A. – Place: Erice (TP)
Since January 2022, the first PRS system, model D300, has been in operation at the San Giovannello water node, part of the Montescuro Ovest aqueduct, replacing a pressure-reducing valve to convert excess hydraulic energy into renewable electricity.
The system, consisting of a PRS turbine, Galvi negative electric brake and Siemens asynchronous generator, is designed to operate with variable flow rates (60–180 l/s) and pressure heads from 2 to 4 bar, ensuring a stable downstream pressure of 3 ± 0.1 bar. The turbine’s nominal power is 70 kW, with an annual energy production of 330 MWh.
The PRS system is designed to operate in parallel with the grid, with the generated energy directly fed into the national electricity network. It is fully integrated into the water utility’s SCADA system and, thanks also to the bypass with a needle valve, ensures continuity and flexibility in water management, even under particularly demanding hydraulic conditions.
