Description

BACKGROUND

Hydropower has long been a traditional source of clean energy, representing a mature sector, with a global plant efficiency that exceeds 80%. In a rapidly changing energy scene, hydroelectric power has remained at the forefront of renewable production. However, new technologies and approaches can make plants even more efficient, flexible, durable and sustainable. Modern power stations are therefore equipped with increasingly advanced digital systems for the management, monitoring and maintenance of plant performances.

In this field, Enel Green Power has developed a number of projects to gather and transmit all the information about a hydroelectric plant in real time, also bringing benefits in terms of energy efficiency. In order to be effective in the monitoring and management of the plant, it is therefore necessary to collect data in a systematic and timely way. However, in EGP Hydroelectric scenario, there are many water derivation channels and penstocks not equipped with mass flow rate measurement systems.

The main flow meter devices currently used in Enel’s hydro power plants are installed in the penstock devoted to feed the turbines. The different applications use either the differential pressure method or the ultrasonic method.

In the differential pressure method, a narrowing of the pipeline section, for example close to turbine, causes an increase in the speed of water and a drop in pressure. The pressure difference between the upstream and the downstream points is measured. The flow rate is calculated from this data, using a mathematical function or a reference table.

The ultrasonic method is based on the measurement of transit time: using at least a pair of ultrasonic transducers that create an acoustic trajectory, it is possible to measure the average speed of the water along the trajectory by emitting and receiving ultrasonic pulses; knowing water speed, it is possible to calculate the flow rate. The accuracy of the system can be improved by implementing a multi-trajectory.

THE CHALLENGE

Enel Green Power is looking for new, intelligent, sustainable, efficient and cost-effective sensors, devices or systems to be installed on penstocks and channels, capable of providing accurate and reliable data related to the rates of flowing water. The system must be easily installed and installable both in stand-alone mode, powered by autonomous systems (solar panels, batteries...), or integrated with the existing plant systems and assets.

Submissions should address the following Solution Requirements.

The proposed solutions must:

• Measure flow rate for both penstocks and channels (either complete product or sensor only):
  • Scenario 1: Frequency of measurement: once a second;
  • Scenario 2: Frequency of measurement: once a minute;
• Be easily installed, especially in difficult to reach locations;
• Be characterized by easy and low frequency maintenance and calibration (remote/on-site);
• Be able to be installed both in an integrated way with plant systems and stand-alone power supply;
• Be characterized by low costs for the complete system supply;
  • Cost of installation < 5,000 euro;
  • Cost of maintenance, as close to zero as possible;
• Have an accuracy for channels ≥95% and for penstocks ≥99%;
• Be able to share data with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems (e.g. telemetry);
• Technology readiness level (TLR) ≥ 7. 

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

The submitted proposal should contain two parts:

1.  Collaboration Proposal including:

a.  A technical description of a solution (measurement system and method used) with an explanation of how the Solver proposes to address all of the Solution Requirements. The Seeker desires a solution with a minimum technology readiness level (TRL) of 7 and Solvers should provide enough information to indicate that their solution achieves this level. The Solver can withhold proprietary details, if necessary, but should provide convincing evidence for EGP to appreciate the merits of the approach and to allow for a feasibility evaluation. The detailed description of the solution should include, but is not limited to:

• Technical specifications of the system;
• Description of the activities required and an estimate of the cost for installation and integration;
• Any evidence for the application and existing use cases;
• Advantages and potential weaknesses of the proposed solution.

b.  A brief discussion of capabilities, facilities/equipment, and relevant expertise for executing the proposed solution. The Solver should explain what they can provide and what might be required of the Seeker. For example: “I can construct a prototype, but I would need the Seeker to help with scale up and distribution”;

c.  An overview of the proposed path forward (materials, deliverables, timelines, cost estimates);

d.  Data, patent, journal references, or any additional material that supports the proposed solution.

2.  General Information about the Solver including:

a.  The key contact person for this Challenge (including phone number and email address). 

b.  Organization/Company/University name and address (including website, if available)

(NOTE: For most Challenges, Solvers are not allowed to include personal contact information; however, for an eRFP Challenge, it is required.)

[NOTE: Only proposals from Solvers who have the ability to work as a collaboration partner will be considered.]

Challenge rules

All proposers are invited to read carefully the Challenge and the Regulation of this Challenge, attached below in the Attachments section, before submitting a solution.

By submitting a solution they automatically accept the attached Regulations other than the Terms of Use of this platform.

Eligibility

The employees of Enel Green Power and of the other Companies of the Enel Group who are involved in the organization and management of the Competition or admitted to the Open Innovability Portal back office, as well as their spouses or partners and their relatives up to the fourth degree, are not eligible for participation in this Challenge.

Also, employees of the companies of the Enel Group who have worked in the technical sector of hydro power plants and that work, in the moment of the Challenge, on mass flow measurement activities, or their spouses, partners or any of their relatives up to the fourth grade determined according to Italian law are not eligible for the participation in this Challenge.

Without prejudice to the article 5.5 of the Terms of Use, the obligation to grant the IP rights set in this article does not apply if the winning solution is proposed by an employee of an Enel company, unless the employee is the owner of the solution according to the relevant national law.

Explain your proposal clearly in English, attach documents (max 5 files, 25MB total size) if needed.

Challenge, award, IP rights

This is an electronic Request-for-Partners (eRFP) Challenge; the Solver will need to submit a written proposal to be evaluated by the Seeker with a goal of establishing a collaborative partnership.

Deadline

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (Central European Time) on October 3, 2021.

Late submissions will not be considered.

What happens next?

After the Challenge deadline, the Seeker will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the Winning Solution(s). All Solvers that submit a proposal will be notified on the status of their submissions; however, no detailed evaluation of individual submissions will be provided.

Enel will evaluate the proposal using the following criteria:

• Overall scientific and technical feasibility of the proposed solution;
• Economic potential of concept (e.g. Total Cost of Ownership);
• Business potential for Enel;
• Novelty and creativity;
• Potential for proprietary position (i.e., is the technology novel or protectable);
• User's capabilities and related experience;
• Realism of the proposed solution;
• Maturity level of the proposal.

In case the reward includes "Collaboration with Enel", once suitable solution/s have been identified, Enel will reserve the opportunity to start a collaboration, by way of example, all or part of the following activities:

• Test execution;
• Supply of prototypes (if an equipment);
• Installation and site tests;
• Follow up and monitoring of the proposed idea behavior.

Upon completion of the evaluation, you will receive feedback.

In case of success, an Enel contact person will get in touch with you to discuss the next steps.

The final award for this Challenge is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the verification process, including acceptance of the Challenge-Specific Agreement (CSA) that is the regulation for this Challenge.

The verification process includes obtaining the following from the Solver: signed affidavit (based on the CSA), employee waiver (if applicable), and proof of identify.

ABOUT INNOCENTIVE

InnoCentive collaborates with Enel to manage this Challenge.

InnoCentive is the global innovation marketplace where creative minds solve some of the world's most important problems for cash awards up to $1 million. Commercial, governmental and humanitarian organizations engage with InnoCentive to solve problems that can impact humankind in areas ranging from the environment to medical advancements.