Do You Need an “Inline” Solution? (And What That Means)

When clients ask about “inline” water turbines, they usually have a specific need: the water must stay in the pipe and under pressure even after passing through the turbine. This is common if you need to fill a reservoir higher up, or push water through an irrigation system right after generating power. You want to capture energy from the pressure difference while keeping enough pressure left to do the next job.

You’re asking, “Can a turbine fit directly into my pipe and keep pushing water out the other side?”

Here’s the Key Point:

Some turbines (like Pelton and Cross Flow) require the water to exit freely, open to the air. They can’t handle pressure pushing back from the pipe downstream.

But other types are designed specifically to work within a sealed, pressurized pipeline, allowing them to handle that necessary pressure after the turbine.

Our Go-To “Inline” Solution: The PAT (Pump as Turbine)

For situations where you need to maintain positive pressure in the pipeline after the turbine, the Pump-as-Turbine (PAT) is often the perfect fit.

Why? Because pumps are built to work in pressurized pipeline systems! When used in reverse as a turbine, a PAT is inherently designed for this kind of “inline” application where back pressure is needed. It installs directly into your existing pipe network.

The Great Opportunity:

If you currently have a valve in your system just to reduce water pressure, you are wasting energy! Installing a PAT in place of that valve allows you to capture that pressure energy and turn it into electricity, while still achieving the required pressure drop.

In Short:

If your idea of an “inline” turbine means needing the water to stay pressurized in the pipe after the turbine to go somewhere else, you are likely looking for a PAT solution.

Let’s discuss the specifics of your site – the pressure and flow available – to see how a PAT can help you generate power from your system.