Abstract
The paper presents the analysis of the small hydropower plant working at variable speed. The hydro-set that consists of the guide vanes and propeller turbine integrated with the permanent magnet synchronous generator is simulated by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in Ansys Fluent v18.0. The k-ε and k-ω SST models, as well as the one-equation Spalart-Allmaras (SA) model, were tested. The comparison showed the significant divergence of the calculation results. The turbulence model selection influences the average value of the power and also the speed for which the power is maximal.
Highlights
Small Hydropower Plants (SHPs) are objects up to 10MW
The standard turbine solutions implementing double regulation (e.g. Kaplan turbine) are relatively expensive and can be replaced by the simple propeller turbine working at variable speed [2]
The variable speed operation is provided by the power electronic converter (PEC) that matches electrical energy of the generator with power system requirements [3]
Summary
Small Hydropower Plants (SHPs) are objects up to 10MW. The SHPs are mainly the run-of-the-river schemes, where the water storage is limited or impossible. In order to improve the object profitability, the operating range of the turbine discharge needs to be maximal and the average efficiency of the energy conversion have to be possible high [1]. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique seems to be the most suitable taking into account qualitive and quantitive results and analysis of the fluid flow machines of complex geometries [5]. It requires a properly defined calculation model, which includes: precise geometry, proper grid generation, suitable turbulence model and correct boundary conditions [6].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
