Hydroelectric Power Research Articles

Control of a Pelton turbine with partial jet cutting driven by a cut-in jet deflector

In hydropower plants with Pelton turbines, the output is normally regulated by controlling the flow rate using a needle valve in the injector. However, movement of the needle is slow; as rule of thumb, the power gradient should be less than 3% per second to avoid excessive pressure variations in the system. The temporal response of the needle valve is limited in most plants due to water hammer problems. This challenge of fast response can be met by diverting the jet using a jet deflector. Partial cutting of the jet enables fast control of power and the associated positive effect on stabilizing the electrical grid. In the present study, the implementation of the cut-in jet deflector has been analyzed with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), with a particular focus on the effects on the torque of the Pelton runner and the hydraulic efficiency. The flow cut and diverted away from the runner at three angular positions of cut-in jet deflector at 3˚, 6˚, and 9˚ are obtained as 1%, 6%, and 11% relative to the full jet flow at the nominal operating condition, the load decreased by 4.1%, 11.6%, and 26.1% respectively for best efficiency point.

A particle swarm optimisation-based decision-support tool for efficient sizing of hydrogen systems in hydropower plants

A particle swarm optimisation-based decision-support tool for efficient sizing of hydrogen systems in hydropower plants

ДИНАМИКА РОСТА МОЛОДИ ПРЕСНОВОДНОЙ ФОРМЫ АРКТИЧЕСКОГО ГОЛЬЦА SALVELINUS ALPINUS (L.) В УСЛОВИЯХ ИНДУСТРИАЛЬНОГО РЫБОВОДНОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА

The purpose of research is to study the growth dynamics of juvenile freshwater Arctic char in the conditions of an industrial fish farm. Objectives: to study rearing conditions, dynamics of weight, body length and safety of juveniles when fed with trout food. The object of the study was juveniles of the freshwater form of Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus (L.) of the Taimyr Peninsula, generation 2022 (n = 2892), obtained at the industrial farm of Maltat LLC. The study was carried out in a fish breeding farm in the city of Divnogorsk near the dam of the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station and at the Department of Breeding, Genetics, Biology and Aquatic Bioresources of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Krasnoyarsk State Agrarian University. The work was carried out according to the method of growing salmon fish using a combined method. Observations of the growth of char were carried out in January–August 2023. The fish were placed in a pontoon cage in the downstream of the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station at a distance of 0.8 km from the dam. The depth of the cage is 4 m, the area is 36 m2. Feeding was carried out with trout feed from the Coppens company: Coppens PRE GROWER-18 2.00 mm for fish weighing up to 25 g. The amount of feed received by the juveniles was 1.5 % of the weight of the fish. Control catches were carried out monthly; the weight of at least 25 specimens was determined by random sampling. When reared in cages, the char grew intensively in the spring and summer, and by September the weight of the fry was 51.8 g and the length was 160 ± 3.59 mm. The survival rate of juveniles when fed with trout food was more than 92% throughout the entire study period.

Hybrid Variable Renewable Power Plants: A Case Study of ROR Hydro Arbitrage

Wind and solar energy sources, while sustainable, are inherently variable in their power generation, posing challenges to grid stability due to their non-dispatchable nature. To address this issue, this study explores the synergistic optimization of wind and solar photovoltaic resources to mitigate power output variability, reducing the strain on local grids and lessening the reliance on balancing power in high-penetration renewable energy systems. This critical role of providing stability can be effectively fulfilled by run-of-river hydropower plants, which can complement fluctuations without compromising their standard operational capabilities. In this research, we employ a straightforward energy balance model to analyze the feasibility of a 100 MW virtual hybrid power plant, focusing on the northern region of Portugal as a case study. Leveraging actual consumption and conceptual production data, our investigation identifies a specific run-of-river plant that aligns with the proposed strategy, demonstrating the practical applicability of this approach.

Assessment of water quality on the reservoir of hydropower plant: case study Bajo Anchicayá dam, Colombia

Assessment of water quality on the reservoir of hydropower plant: case study Bajo Anchicayá dam, Colombia

Short-Term Optimal Scheduling of a Cascade Hydro-Photovoltaic System for Maximizing the Expectation of Consumable Electricity

Fully leveraging the regulatory role of cascade hydropower in river basins and realizing complementary joint power generation between cascade hydropower and photovoltaic (PV) systems is a crucial approach to promoting the consumption of clean energy. Given the uncertainty of PV outputs, this paper introduces a short-term scheduling model for cascade hydropower–PV systems. The model aims to maximize electricity consumption by considering individual units, hydropower plant constraints, unit constraints, and grid constraints. By allocating loads among hydropower plants and periods, it optimizes hydropower’s dual roles, supporting grid power supplies and coordinating with PVs, thus boosting the overall system consumption. In terms of model solution, linearization methods and modeling techniques such as piecewise linear approximation, the introduction of 0–1 integer variables, and the discretization of generation headwater are employed to handle the nonlinear constraints in the original model, transforming it into a mixed-integer linear programming problem. Finally, taking a complementary system constructed by 15 units of 4 hydropower stations and 2 photovoltaic groups in a cascade in a river basin in Southwest China as an example, the results show that through the complementary coordination of cascade hydropower and photovoltaic power, under the same grid constraints, the expected value of the power consumption of the complementary system in the model of this paper increased by 863.2 MW·h, among which the power consumption of photovoltaic group 1 increased by 1035.7 MW·h, and the power consumption of photovoltaic group 2 decreased by 172.5 MW·h.

Research on Concrete Crack Detection in Hydropower Station Burial Engineering Based on Quantum Particle Technology

Cracking in hydraulic buried engineering can cause localized damage or complete structural failure, potentially resulting in catastrophic project outcomes. Traditional methods for detecting cracks in hydraulic concrete buried engineering are often insufficient in terms of reliability and accuracy. With the development and application of particle-based technology, it has been widely used in the field of crack detection. This research investigates the support pier of the Yingxiuwan Hydropower Plant and the lock pier of the Yuzixi Hydropower Plant. Employing principles from quantum physics, quantum particle non-destructive detection technology is introduced to identify crack locations. A three-dimensional simulation model is constructed and verified accurately through integration with CT scanning techniques. The results demonstrate that particle detection technology effectively detects cracks in hydraulic concrete buried engineering, exhibiting minimal susceptibility to external interference. The particle detection data enable 3D visualization of cracks, accurately reflecting the conditions within embedded concrete components. This method provides a reliable and advanced technical solution for precise crack detection in concrete-embedded engineering and offers critical data for exploring crack propagation mechanisms.

A reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) model for electromechanical components in hydropower plants

Abstract Hydropower generation is world best source of renewable energy and is continuously playing a tremendous job in energy requirement. To cope up with day by day increasing demand in electric energy, it is very essential to keep the hydropower plants in sustainable operational condition. To achieve this, the maintenance strategies based on Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) analysis play a pivotal role in sustainability of the hydropower plants. In our case study various critical components of hydropower plant were identified such as turbine, governor and generator. The causes and effects of various failures in the critical components were identified using Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) and Fault tree Analysis (FTA). The main role in the study is presenting a RAM model which helps in evaluating different levels of performance in Hydropower plant. Finally, the RAM parameters were evaluated and their outcomes were suggested to find the convenient maintenance intervals. The results of the proposed model revealed that the critical flaws of the hydrogenation process such as turbines, governors and generator should to be taken on priority basis to achieve the high level of reliability and safety. The results of present framework is to achieve the high level of reliability, hence, the main flaws of the hydrogenation process such as turbines, governors and generator should to be taken on priority basis. The proposed study could be valuable for improving the availability and safety of the critical equipment in hydropower plant. As a consequence, the results of present study could be beneficial for other hydro generating facilities to achieve the sustainable maintenance and operation programs in electricity generation systems.

Meteorologically-Related Factors Leading to the 2008, 2018, and 2019 Major Spring Floods in the Transboundary Saint John River (Wolastoq) Basin

Abstract The flood-prone Saint John River (SJR, Wolastoq), which lies within a drainage basin of 55,110 km2, flows a length of 673 km from its source in northern Maine, United States to its mouth in southern New Brunswick, Canada. Major industries in the basin include forestry, agriculture, and hydroelectric power. During the 1991–2020 reference period, the SJR basin (SJRB) experienced major spring flood events in 2008, 2018, and 2019. As part of the Saint John River Experiment on Cold Season Storms, the objective of this research is to characterize and contrast these three major spring floods events. Given the floods all occurred during spring, the hypothesis being tested is that rapid snowmelt alone is the dominant driver of flooding in the SJR basin (SJRB). There were commonalities and differences regarding the contributing factors of the three flood years. When averaged across the upper basin, they showed consistency in terms of positive winter and spring total precipitation anomalies, positive snow water equivalent anomalies, and steep increases in April cumulative runoff. Rain-on-snow events were a prominent feature of all three flood years. However, differences between flood years were also evident, including inconsistencies with respect to ice jams and high tides. Certain factors were present in only one or two of the three flood years, including positive total precipitation anomalies in spring, positive heavy liquid precipitation anomalies in spring, positive heavy solid precipitation anomalies in winter, and positive temperature anomalies in spring. The dominant factor contributing to peak water levels was rapid snowmelt.

Resolving Hydropower Plant Construction Disputes through a Standing Dispute Board: A Case Study of Asahan 3 HEPP

Resolving Hydropower Plant Construction Disputes through a Standing Dispute Board: A Case Study of Asahan 3 HEPP

Tinodeslumbardhi sp. nov. (Trichoptera, Psychomyiidae), a new species from the Lumbardhi i Deçanit River in Kosovo.

Knowledge about the caddisfly fauna of Kosovo has expanded significantly in recent years; however, new species continue to be described from less-studied regions. In this paper, we describe a new species, Tinodeslumbardhi sp. nov., from the Lumbardhi i Deçanit River in the Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains of Kosovo. The new species is closely related to Tinodesurdhva Olah, 2010 and Tinodeskimminsi Sykora, 1962, but differs in the shapes of segment IX, coxopodites, harpago, phallicata and the basal plate process.Tinodeslumbardhi sp. nov. represents the sixth recorded species of the genus Tinodes Curtis, 1834, in Kosovo. The species was found in a small, isolated population within a region highly impacted by anthropogenic activities, especially the construction of hydropower plants. Tinodeslumbardhi sp. nov. was found in sympatry with some species rarely encountered in Kosovo, such as Plectrocnemiageniculata McLachlan, 1871, Rhyacophilaloxias Schmid, 1970 and Rhyacophilasiparantum Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 2021. Ongoing human activities have placed increasing pressures on the river's ecosystem, further emphasising the conservation importance of identifying and protecting these rare and specialised species within Kosovo's freshwater habitats.

Experience of Using Dipole Electrical Sounding of the Rock Mass in the Chirkey Hydroelectric Power Plant Area to Monitor its Stability

Experience of Using Dipole Electrical Sounding of the Rock Mass in the Chirkey Hydroelectric Power Plant Area to Monitor its Stability

Economic Analysis of the Operation of a Hydropower Plant in a Wastewater Treatment Plant: Toruń, Poland

The energy industry is constantly changing and evolving. One of the visible solutions is the pursuit of low-emission solutions. One such solution is investment in renewable energy sources (RESs), including hydropower, which in 2023 will constitute a dominant share in the production of electricity from RESs (47.02%) in the world. One of the alternative solutions is the use of hydropower in wastewater treatment plants, whose global potential is estimated at about 4350 TWh. An important issue in the operation of these facilities is their profitability. This article presents an economic analysis of a hydropower plant in the wastewater treatment plant in Toruń (northern Poland) in order to assess its profitability in the context of profits, costs, and payback period. The analyses showed the profitability of 9 out of 12 characterized variants, with the payback period estimated for real variants at 10.75–23.74 years and for theoretical variants at 5.06–5.32 years. The most significant factor in reducing the payback period was the level of electricity production between years, while different types of settlements and changes in electricity sales prices played a lesser role. Taking into account all profitable variants, after 25 years of operation, the net income will amount to PLN 1.07 million for the actual variants and PLN 3.18 million for the theoretical variants. The work can contribute to understanding the specifics of the operation of such facilities, which is consistent with, among others, the goals of sustainable development, climate and energy policies, or the circular economy.

Sustainable Practices in DEWA Network

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is considered as a benchmark for other utilities due to its sustainable initiatives, where it addresses Dubai's increasing energy and water demands through innovative and environmentally-oriented practices. This paper discusses DEWA’s advancements in renewable energy integration, smart grid technologies, and sustainable infrastructure, highlighting the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and the Hatta Hydroelectric Power Plant as its major initiatives. Furthermore, DEWA's efforts in water management, green building design, and community engagement also serve as examples to its commitment to sustainability. With notable achievements in energy production efficiency, significant reductions in carbon emissions, and enhanced energy management systems, DEWA greatly contributes to Dubai's Clean Energy Strategy 2050.

Three-Dimensional Particle Tracking Velocimetry Investigation of Flow Dynamics Around Simplified Stones at Low Submergence: Implications for Instream Habitat

Shallow waterways such as rapids, tributaries and smaller streams can have important ecological functions in both free-flowing and regulated rivers. As more intermittent renewable energy is introduced to the energy system to reduce CO2 emissions, the operational conditions of hydropower plants are changing. This implies various flow scenarios that can lead to more locations with shallow depths and larger variations in water levels and velocities, resulting in increased impact on the riverine ecosystem. Accurate predictions of these impacts require an understanding of the flow dynamics near large roughness elements such as boulders or trees in shallow river regions. This study uniquely investigates the effect of relative submergence, i.e., water depth relative to boulder size, on the flow field, turbulence, and potential fish habitats around idealized stone shapes (hemispheres) in shallow open channel flow using time-resolved 3D particle tracking velocimetry. The results indicate that varying relative submergence significantly affects recirculation zones, velocity and vorticity distribution, as well as turbulent kinetic energy. Notably, larger regions of lower velocity downstream of the roughness elements were generated at lower submergences, which might be favorable for fish energy conservation. Valuable insights into ecohydraulic engineering and habitat restoration in shallow waterways can be gained by understanding the fundamental flow mechanisms at low submergence for the flow around large roughness elements.

Design and Validation of a Testing Device for Sediment-Induced Erosion Based on Similarity Theory

Sediment-induced erosion is a primary cause of failure in the flow-passage components of Francis turbine units. This study adopted the Realizable k–ε turbulence model to numerically simulate the effects of sediment-induced erosion on the guide components of Francis turbines. Specifically, using flow similarity theory, a testing device suitable for studying the sediment-induced erosion behavior of turbine vanes was designed, and the similarity between the flow fields of actual vanes and testing device vanes was validated. The results revealed a high degree of consistency between the near-wall flow velocities and sediment volume fractions experienced by both vanes at 0.5 vane height. For instance, the midsection of the suction side of the stay and guide vanes exhibited relatively stable velocities of 12.5 m/s and 42 m/s, respectively. Further, sediment volume fractions at the leading edge of the stay and guide vanes reached 0.015, respectively, owing to the impact of sediment-laden flow. Overall, the proposed testing device design methodology can predict the operational lifespan of actual vanes and assess the wear resistance of various coating materials. These findings provide valuable scientific guidance for optimizing the design and operation of hydropower plants.

ENHANCING VOLTAGE STABILITY AND ENERGY OUTPUT OF PLTM SALIDO IN THE PLN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

Distributed generation (DG) integration in PLN’s extended distribution network often encounters voltage instability issues due to high voltage drops. These challenges restrict power delivery and can lead to disconnection, particularly during peak load conditions. This study investigates methods to enhance voltage stability and optimize the energy output of PLTM Salido. Using ETAP Power Station software, various operational schemes were simulated to address the problem of low terminal voltage. The study focused on the impact of reactive power injection and governor settings optimization to maintain generator performance under high demand. Results indicate that reactive power injection significantly improves terminal voltage, ensuring continuous power delivery. Adding a third generator unit further increased energy supply capacity, leveraging the full potential of available hydropower. The optimized operation of PLTM Salido with two generators increased daily energy output by 32.2%, while introducing a third generator boosted energy delivery by 107%. This research highlights the critical role of reactive power management and system configuration in enhancing the performance of small-scale hydropower plants in rural distribution networks.

Long‐term time‐dependent deformation and stability analysis of the machine hall of an underground powerhouse cavern using microseismic monitoring

AbstractThe geomechanical behaviour of the main tunnel of an underground powerhouse structure in the Himalayan region after its construction is a challenge for the geotechnical experts due to the issues of time‐dependent deformation and failure of the rock mass support system. The machine hall of the underground powerhouse of Tala Hydropower Plant facing such issues needs demarcation of the failure zone in advance, as well as parameters to assist in the proper support redesign using a real‐time continuous monitoring system. Seismic source parameters deduced using a three‐dimensional microseismic monitoring network at this powerhouse cavern provide information on the deformation zone in the machine hall and its stability status using spatio‐temporal analysis of seismic potency displacement, Gutenberg–Richter relation and log–log (energy–moment) relationship. Sectional analysis demarcates the deformation zone in the upstream and downstream wall of the machine hall and planar analysis at regular intervals of the machine hall has provided a path of propagation of deformation. This analysis has helped to increase the stability of this underground powerhouse, and the same methodology may be applied to other underground structures for marking their deformation zone to increase their long‐term stability in the Himalayan region.

A Mini-Hydro Turbine as a Solution to Power Challenges in a Society with plenty of Water

The mini hydro turbine research is aimed at designing and constructing a hydro-electric power plant model that can generate electric power, which can be used at the domestic level to power electrical appliances. There are three main sections for the hydro turbine, such as the pelton wheel which rotate due to falling water from the water storage tank through the penstock, the alternator, been made of a permanent magnet rotor and conducting coil windings on the stator connected to the turbine through a runner, and the feedback system for the continuous flow of water. The result shows that the construction of mini hydro turbine plant is feasible and there were no major problems apparent at the design and implementation stages of the mini hydro turbine power plant. Keywords- Head, Pelton Turbine, Efficiency, Reliability, Alternator

Need for hydro storage due to the challenges arising from expansion of PV electricity generation

Abstract Hydropower has a crucial role in the clean energy transition (CET) due to the low-carbon electricity production, the sustainability, reliability and flexibility it provides. Both the fast response and storage potential make hydropower a basis for integrating wind and solar power whose output vary depending on external conditions. Many European countries have considerable remained feasible potential for hydropower development, among which is North Macedonia (MK). As a member of the Energy Community, MK aligns with European energy policies by adopting and implementing EU energy directives and regulations. The energy scenarios illustrate the country’s energy transition, forecasting its reaction to EU policies and government efforts aimed at achieving a net-zero economy by 2050. However, the country’s cost-competitive potential is constrained by factors like low wind speeds and inaccessible terrain in certain regions, making photovoltaics (PV) the fastest growing renewable energy source (RES) technology. Thus, the electricity production from PVs in North Macedonia experiences exponential growth throughout the last four years. The challenges arising from PV expansion are imposing the need for improvement of the energy system flexibility to accommodate the new and highly fluctuating demands. Hence, hydropower could play a major role as dispatchable power source to back up variable PV and balance variations from PV generation. Due to this, the current state of RES capacity and generated electricity with focus on hydropower in MK has been analysed in this paper. Subsequently, an investigation of the possibilities for increasing the electricity production from hydropower to add flexibility to the power system in MK is performed and finally the related challenges have been presented. The steps towards higher flexibility of the energy system in North Macedonia are analysed including usage of existing hydropower plants (HPPs), but also construction of new storage HPPs and pumped storage HPPs for peak demand management and avoiding blackouts under critical circumstances. Some of the existing HPPs can be upgraded through equipment refurbishment and storage increase to gain flexibility. Due to being a technology able to address the flexibility challenges posed by the rise in photovoltaic (PV) installations, pumped storage hydropower was also recognised as a possibility. According to the energy strategy, construction of both large and small HPPs based on the remaining technically and economically feasible potential is envisaged. Small HPPs are prioritized due to their technical feasibility and lower investments. Financial support mechanisms are introduced to stimulate small HPPs and construction conditions are already established for some of them, however, an adjustment in accordance with the administrative requirements in certain areas is needed to ensure environmental sustainability. Moreover, integrating innovative technologies into hydropower can significantly enhance the energy transition at the national level, particularly by improving efficiency, flexibility, and environmental sustainability. Various challenges related to environmental protection, lifetime and maintenance of HPPs components so as economical limitations are being discussed.