Optimization of the hydrological use for hydroelectric power plants of flowing type

Abstract

Hydroelectric power stations have as mission the generation of electric power starting from the kinetic and potential energy of the water. This energy production can be carried out by means of hydroelectric plants with storage capacity, or by means of hydroelectric plants without that capacity (denominated flowing hydroelectric plants). Hydroelectric power stations of flowing type, object of this article, use the circulating flows along the river, presenting the necessary buildings and infrastructures for their conduction and utilization, but without presenting in their conception water storage systems. This type of power stations are designed and automated to operate between certain flow limits, working with constant water jump. The flow is adapted to the existent hydrological availability at any moment, presenting an appropriate operation to the behavior of the flow in the river. That is, the station produces energy when available flows exist that can be subtracted from the river inside the margins of admission of the power station: the “equipment flow” and a minimum operation flow called “technical minimum flow”. The optimization procedure proposed and developed in this work permits us to take advantage of the times of low-level flow (low water level) for production of electrical energy. The objective is to obtain that the turbine is able to work even below levels corresponding to the “technical minimal flow”. The volume used in the turbine is then expanded; that implies a higher energy production for the same use, as well as an amplification of the operation period, which implies an improvement of their efficiency. In this investigation work, the algorithms of regulation of the power station for every different flow have been devised and developed, as well as the increments in the production of the power station.