It’s a Leaf Train
It’s a Leaf Train
by: David M.
Readers won’t be surprised to hear that the hydro power unit at Dudbridge is running at full power at present. It is also the busiest time of the year for the small team of volunteers that keeps the turbine running. In recent months there have been bearings to inspect and regrease, drive motors to replace, sensors to change, and software upgrades. However the most labour-intensive job is removing debris from the screen of rebars in front of the intake, the first line of defence for the trash rack which filters out anything over 1cm wide and automatically shifts it into the bypass channel. The photo shows a train of leaves, which may not look much.
But in the space of one day of wind, rain and autumn leaf fall, it builds up to this, not just on the surface but covering the whole 4m wide x 2m deep screen:
This particular lot made six wheelbarrow loads, not counting the stuff that got riddled through the bars.
The intake compound has all the tools we need, but no shelter, so when it rains we just keep going! At the moment it’s a 7-day a week activity, though fortunately, for the rest of the year, one to three days a week is enough. Anyone who lives within a short walk of Dudbridge would be handily placed to join the team and help reduce the travelling. If you can spare time for some 20 – 30 minute spells, please get in touch. Contact the hydro project manager Keith Tibbitts on 07864 272246.
