Pump As A Turbine Guide

Pumps are well known for consuming 20% of the world’s electricity. With 90% of the cost of owning a pump being attributed to energy consumption did you know that pumps can be run in reverse and used to generate electricity?

Pumps as turbines (PAT) is a known concept of using excess flow and pressure to run a pump in reverse to generate electricity.

PAT has twin modes to enable them to pump as well as generate electricity. When a pump is used in turbine mode it is typically only 3-5% less efficient than when operating as a pump.

Pump as turbines can be used as an alternative to not only turbines which are more difficult to operate and maintain than pumps but as a viable alternative to pressure reducing valves. 

Payback can be as little as 3 years whereas turbines which can take as long as 15 years as well as being more complicated to service.

This makes pumps a more ideal solution for developing countries where access to skilled labour and machinery can be difficult.

PAT's can be installed in 2 methods – on-grid and off-grid.

Off-grid- this is where the PAT can be installed in a remote area not connected to an existing electricity-generating network. 

These are feasible between 7.5kw and 55kw

On-grid this is where the pumps can be installed connected to an existing electricity grid. These are feasible between 100-1000kw.

Pumps as turbines are a viable alternative to pressure reducing valves and traditional turbines. If you have excess pressure in your pipeline or a river and are looking at ways to recover energy please speak to us so we can ascertain whether a pump as a turbine is a viable option for you.