Control de cabal ecológico

For a mini hydroelectric plant, we take advantage of an existing artificial lake to produce artificial snow on the ski slopes.



They ask us for a solution to maximize the water reserve, both for the generation of electricity and for the production of artificial snow, without affecting the minimum ecological flow that must flow through the river.



The Ministry of Environment of the Government of Andorra is also required to supervise to ensure that everything is done correctly. In a second phase, the operator asks us to determine the total catchment flow that the artificial lake receives.

1,467 / 5,000

At the facility, there are three water lines that flow into the river. One corresponds to each of the two artificial snow production stations that use lake water, which, in addition to their main function, occasionally operate irregularly. The third line, the largest and with a constant flow, drains the artificial lake from its lowest point, where the course of the river begins.



To regulate the flow of the river, three flow meters are installed, one in each of the lines, along with a valve that proportionally manages the flow of the largest line. Through control logic, the reading of the three flowmeters is added and the valve is adjusted to guarantee the minimum required ecological flow. In addition, a specific user is established for the Ministry, which allows it to monitor both the total flow in the river and the registered one.



The installation operator has a complete view of the installation and receives notifications in case of significant deviations from the required flow. Additionally, you receive a monthly email log with all the data collected.



To measure the total catchment flow, a 4-20mA hydrostatic pressure probe is installed to accurately monitor the level of the artificial lake and a gate with a calibrated opening is placed. From the height of the water and the corresponding calculations, we can determine the flow rate that flows through the river.