Hydropower Design Research Articles

Water Tales from Turkistan: Challenges and Opportunities for the Badam-Sayram Water System under a Changing Climate

The Badam River, a tributary to the Arys River located in the Syr Darya basin, is a crucial natural resource for ecological, social, and economic activities in the semi-arid region of southern Kazakhstan. The river basin is heavily influenced by manmade water infrastructure and faces water scarcity, particularly during summer, highlighting the importance of understanding its hydrological processes for effective water resource management. In this study, a semi-distributed conceptual hydrological model of the Badam River was implemented using the RS MINERVE hydrological software to evaluate the impacts of climate change on hydrology and to test the resilience of the water system. Connected HBV models were implemented for each of the hydrological response units that were defined as altitudinal zones. The hydrological model was calibrated using daily time steps between 1979 and 2011, and the resulting flow exceedance curves and hydrographs were used to assess the potential impacts of climate change on the basin, using CMIP6 precipitation and temperature scenarios. Future climate scenarios for the 2054 – 2064 period demonstrate that the peak discharge will be shifted to spring/late spring compared to the current early summer with no significant decrease in average discharge per day of the year. The insights gained from this hydrological-hydraulic model can be used to effectively manage the water system and inform future hydropower design decisions and serve as a blueprint for similar studies in the region and elsewhere.

Importance of Variable Turbine Efficiency in Run‐Of‐River Hydropower Design Under Deep Uncertainty

AbstractWhen less water is available, hydropower turbines are less efficient, or have to stop altogether. This reality is often neglected in recent work on the planning and operations of hydropower systems, despite widespread expected increases in drought intensity, frequency and duration. This paper is the first to integrate variable‐efficiency turbines into a hydropower plant design framework that accounts for design optimization as well as deep uncertainty in climatic and socio‐economic variables. Specifically, this framework focuses on leveraging multi‐objective robust decision making for the financially robust design of run‐of‐river hydropower plants, whose output is highly sensitive to flow variability. Application to five plants in Türkiye challenges two key design assumptions, use of net present value as a design objective and use of identical turbines. Instead, maximizing the benefit‐cost ratio yields plants with better financial viability over a range of plausible futures. They tend to have smaller capacity, and feature a small turbine that is well‐adapted to low‐flow periods. Another key insight is that socio‐economic uncertainties have as much or even more impact on robustness than climate conditions. In fact, these uncertainties have the potential to make many small hydropower projects too risky to build. Our findings are of considerable practical relevance at a time where 140 GW of unexploited small hydropower potential could help power the energy transition. They also highlight the need for similar research in reservoir‐based plants, considering over 3,000 such plants planned or in construction worldwide.

An Investigation of Thrust Bearing Temperature Rise in Unit 2 Koto Panjang Hydropower Plant

Turbines and generators are the main components of hydropower plants that are supported by several bearings, one of them is the thrust bearing. Thrust bearing unit 2 experienced a temperature rise that exceeded the alarm limit (77℃). This study aims to investigate the temperature rise and provide a solution. The investigation was conducted by visual observation; collating temperature and oil flow rate data; and reviewing the hydropower design. The results showed that the temperature rise was attributed to air (oil vapor) trapped in the lubricant circulation system. Therefore, the lubricant circulation system was modified by adding a pipe to the stayring as an outlet for trapped lubricant vapor. This measure effectively normalized the thrust-bearing temperature and flow rate.

IoT, machine learning and photogrammetry in small hydropower towards energy and digital transition: potential energy and viability analyses

This research aims to evaluate and put into practise the design of a small hydropower plant on a stream at São Vicente, in Madeira Island, supported by internet of things (IoT). The photogrammetry technique is also used with a comprehensive digital transformation, in which new concepts, methods and models, such as machine learning (ML), and big data analytics play an important role due to the huge availability time series that have to be exploited in hydropower design studies. Nowadays, digitalization and massive data availability are imposing new ways to address many of the current challenges associated with the energy and digital transition. This research is based on a simple small hydropower design, to present an integrated methodology using new methods assigned by an internet protocol system, which includes the development of different steps and components supported by GIS, photogrammetry and the use of advanced tools, with the support of a drone survey with internet communication (IoT) that allow the generation of experimentally-based estimates in situ characterization, the volumetric flow, the hydrological data treatment, the hydraulic calculations and economic estimations for a real hydro project. Therefore, hydrological variables, hydraulic analysis and topographical survey are carried out in the IoT application platform supported by new tools and methods to optimise the size of hydraulic structures, estimate the performance and potential of the hydropower plant towards the best solution for energy and digital transition. Firstly, the data-base for the all study and posterior sizing of the case study of hydropower plant are defined and then the corresponding analyses and results are presented. Then, the cost estimation for the construction, maintenance and operation of the selected elements that compose the hydropower topology are determined, as well as the respective economic balance, considering the annual energy production. In addition, both economic and environmental return on investment is discussed. Finally, an analysis to equate the cost estimates and the respective benefits of hydropower generation using this new approach applicability is stablished, taking into account some economic indicators to determine the profitability of the project.

Design of a Self-Supporting Liner for the Renovation of a Headrace Tunnel at Chivor Hydropower Project

Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, as declared in the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, requires both the inclusion of new renewable energy sources, and the renovation of existing hydropower infrastructure, since this resource is considered a key strategy to support flexibility in electric grids with high penetrations of variable generation. This paper addresses the design of a self-supporting lining for the renovation of a headrace tunnel, that has been affected by a buckling event, in order to extend the operating life of the Chivor Hydropower Project, located in Colombia. Studies performed by AES Corporation about the buckling events that affected the headrace tunnel and the condition assessment are first described. Then, the design alternatives to renovate this important part of the hydropower plant’s infrastructure are presented in a general way. The detailed design and construction planning for the selected alternative are then illustrated by showing some calculations used in hydropower design. Such a renovation project is one of the first of its class in Colombia and goes from studies of the buckling events to the design of a modern lining that will be constructed while keeping the 1000-MW (6% of Colombia’s demand) hydropower plant in operation conditions, in order to extend its life for 50 more years, which represents an example for managers and practitioners of large-scale hydraulic engineering projects.

LCOE-Based Optimization for the Design of Small Run-of-River Hydropower Plants

Run-of-river hydropower plants are a cost-efficient technology that produce a power output proportional to the instantaneous flow of water diverted from the exploited stream by exploiting several mechanical, hydraulic, and electric devices. However, as no storage is available, its design and operation is tailored according to the unpredictability of its power generation. Hence, the modelling of this type of power plants is a necessity for the promotion of its development. Accordingly, based on models from the literature, this study proposes a comprehensive methodology for optimally designed small run-of-river hydropower plants based on a levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The proposed methodology aims at facilitating a faster design for more cost-effective and energy-efficient small hydropower plants. Depending on the average daily flow rates and the gross head of a given site, the model proposed in this study calculates the diameter, thickness, and length of a penstock; it also suggests the optimal selection of a turbine, determines the admissible suction head of a turbine for its optimal implementation, and determines the optimal number of turbines, all in order to minimize the LCOE of the proposed project. The model is tested to design a small run-of-river hydropower plant with a capacity of 6.32 MW exploiting the river Nyong in Mbalmayo. The results confirm the profitability of the investment with an LCOE of around 0.05 USD/kWh, which is the lowest limit value of the LCOE range for small hydropower plants, as presented in the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report, assuming a project lifespan of 50 years and a discount rate of 12.5%. These results also show that it may be worth to provide the energy sector with a small hydropower design tool with a graphical interface. In addition, it would be appropriate to use a similar method in an off-grid context where a hydropower plant, with or without storage, is combined with another source to meet the electrical needs of a given population.

Advancements in Hydropower Design and Operation for Present and Future Electrical Demand

With the current infrastructure, meeting the ever-growing demand for electrical energy across the globe is becoming increasingly difficult [...]

Micro hydropower plant potential study based on Landsat 8 operational land imager satellite data

Remote sensing technology has been widely applied in various fields, including oil, gas, and mineral exploration, spatial planning, and environmental monitoring. This paper describes the application of remote sensing technology for the potential study of a renewable micro hydropower plant (MHP) using Landsat 8 satellite data. The Sukaati Watershed, West Java, Indonesia, was selected as the case study area. Landsat 8 satellite data, acquired on August 21, 2020, was applied to extract information on land use, geology, and potential landslides. Drainage patterns, watershed boundaries, and head height were obtained from topographic map data. Drainage patterns, watershed boundaries, and land use are used to calculate flow rates. Geological map and landslide are the basis of layout of MHP components, such as water intake, dam, waterway, settling tank, penstock, and powerhouse. A field survey to acquire actual flow rate and head height was conducted to validate the results of the remote sensing data interpretation. Two potential sites of MHP were selected with a hydropower design of 129 kW and 5.18 MW. This study showed that remote sensing technology is beneficial for studying the potential of MHP because fieldwork can be done more quickly and efficiently.

Building Information Modelling Usage in Federal Hydropower Design and Construction Management

The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is widespread within the engineering and construction industry, with huge strides in both usage and technological advances in the past two decades. The benefits of design collaboration, communication, visualization, and risk mitigation are untold. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers foresaw the benefits of BIM and began to write policy for its mandatory use across the enterprise in the early 2000s. As BIM technology evolved, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has struggled to keep pace with the speed of industry but continue to make improvements to policy and more widespread usage across the enterprise. The MILCON program sees widespread use in the planning and design phases using BIM for visualization, communication, creation of 2D construction drawings, and rough estimating. BIM usage stops short in two major areas of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work: hydropower rehabilitation and construction management. Professionals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in design management, hydropower engineering, and construction management all agreed that BIM, utilized and implemented properly, can have a very strong impact in each major field that would improve efficiencies, aid stakeholders in better understanding of complicated design concepts, and realize a more streamlined construction management process for complicated hydropower work. Through literature review and interviews with construction professionals, this research studied how BIM is being used within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, specifically within hydropower rehabilitation programs, for design and construction management. This research also focused on how private industry has been and is currently using BIM in construction management, and to correlate how processes used in private industry may be used on hydropower generation unit rehabilitation projects at USACE-owned facilities.

Water-energy-ecosystem nexus in small run-of-river hydropower: Optimal design and policy

Small run-of-river hydropower may significantly contribute towards meeting global renewable energy targets. However, exploitation of river flows for energy production triggers environmental impacts and conflicts among stakeholders, thereby requiring optimal water resources allocation strategies. The variety of interests at stake demands instruments to quantitatively assess manifold effects of water management choices. In this work, analytic tools to guide design of run-of-river power plants when incommensurable objectives must be jointly maximized are presented. The approach is grounded on the concept of Paretian efficiency and applied to a hypothetical case study in Scotland, where energy production could compete with regionally relevant ecosystem services. We found that a multi-objective design complying with predefined environmental regulation entails significant economic losses without safeguarding ecological functions. Conversely, if the environmental flow is regarded as a decision variable subject to minimum lawful values, economically appealing and ecologically effective plant configurations emerge. Our findings suggest the existence of broadly valid alternative strategies for designing small run-of-river hydropower while preserving ecological functions, associated to small or large plant capacities. Local hydrologic conditions and target ecosystem services determine the most effective strategy for specific case studies. The analysis indicates that larger power plants are sometimes the most effective way to preserve ecosystems services through economically viable projects. Therefore, renewable energy policy should avoid incentive schemes that penalize a priori larger installations. The approach offers an objective basis to identify effective hydropower design, management and policies when additional ecosystems services are considered, thus supporting a sustainable intensification of run-of-river energy production.

Economic analysis of planning for utilization of tabang hydro power plant

From the technical side, analyzing the hydropower design planning that matches the conditions of the Belayan River. From the economic side, analyzing the feasibility of hydropower projects through investment costs along with cash flow to the economic life of the project, using several methods, namely Net Present Value (NPV), Payback Period (PBP), Benefit Even Point (BEP), Benefit-Cost Ratio (B-CR), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). The results of technical analysis with reliable discharge Q (10%) produce an output power of 439,4 MW with 4 generators, the power is then transmitted to the Melak Main Station with a distance of ± 100 km. Investment costs incurred in the planning of the construction of the Tabang hydro power plant (PLTA) in East Kalimantan is 3.673.356.951.235. The net present value (NPV) obtained is Rp.3.911.323.016.835 with a return on investment of 7.77 years and a break-even point for expenses and income in the 11,36 year. The ratio of project cost and benefit ratio is 1,32 and IRR (Internal Rate of Return) calculation is 19.53%. These results indicate that the plan to build a Tabang hydropower unit in East Kalimantan is economically feasible.

Standard module hydraulic technology: A novel geometrical design methodology and analysis for a low-head hydraulic turbine system, Part I: General design methodology and basic geometry considerations

Low-head hydropower has the potential to generate a significant amount of electricity from rivers that traditionally were unsuitable for developing hydraulic power plants and supporting the resiliency of the U.S electricity system. Based on the 2016 Hydropower Vision Report, across the U.S, approximately 65.5GW of new stream-reach hydropower capacities are available. The development of those resources could be possible only if the technologies for low-head hydropower that balance efficiency, economics, and environmental sustainability were developed. The traditional hydropower design method was limited to the new challenges of the Low-head application. Therefore, a Standard Modular Hydropower Technology (SMH) was proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2017. This new concept offers a new paradigm for small hydropower technology development based on the premise that standardization, modularity, and preservation of stream functionality must become essential and fully realized features of next-generation hydropower technologies and project designs. This technology has three major modules: Generation Module, Passage Modules, Foundation Modules. This paper is the first of this series of papers that propose and develop a new design methodology for the Generation Module that is a low impact, damless Kaplan turbine system for the low-head new stream-reach sites SMH application.

ASSESSMENT OF FLOW DURATION CURVES AT DIFFERENT TIME SCALES

Flow Duration Curve (FDC) is one of the most fundamental tools that provide information for the design of hydropower projects particularly. Therefore, for practitioners who deal hydropower design, understanding the flow duration curve becomes extremely important. The time scales of FDC can be taken as either daily, ten daily, monthly, or annual. Decision makers decide for the required time scale of the FDC based on the purpose of hydropower project in consideration. In this study, FDCs were produced at daily, monthly and annual time scales from the observed mean streamflow data of a selected gauging station from the Meric-Ergene river basin in the European part of Turkey. The data used were obtained from State Hydraulic Works (DSI) of Turkey. Comparison of flow duration curves at different time scales shows that FDCs at shorter time intervals look more beneficial in getting more accurate quantiles needed for hydropower design. By considering the FDC of the gauging station, it is possible to produce power duration curves of the hydropower plant which is an important practical tool.

Performance Testing of Low Head Small Hydro Power Development in Thailand

This paper presents the development of low head small hydro power in Thailand. Hydropower is one of the renewable resources which spread across all regions in the country. Moreover, it is a source of renewable energy that cheaper than others. The development of local small hydropower design and manufacturing is important to the cost of generating electricity and the stability of domestic energy. The small hydro turbine designed as axial propeller turbine suitable for reservoir with water head range 10 to 20 meters. The runner blade designed as marine propeller shape with reversed mean camber line that obtained a high performance hydro turbine. The turbine has four fixed blades with a diameter of 0.4 meters, 0.35 hub to tip ratio and the 12 pieces of adjustable guide vanes. The turbine shaft directly coupling with a 160 kW induction generator at a rotational speed 1,000 rpm. The performance test results suited for water head all range of 10 to 20 meters with the guide vane angle 40 to 45 degrees and derived with the overall efficiency of 70% to 80%. Total cost of the small hydro turbine generator is USD513/kW.

Socio-environmental integration of hydropower facilities

Centre for Environmental Design of Renewable Energy (CEDREN) is a research centre focusing on hydropower production and environmental impacts of hydropower. The main objective of CEDREN is to develop and communicate design solutions for renewable energy production that address environmental and societal challenges at local, regional, national and global levels. Environmental design means that planning, building and operation have to include technical, economic, environmental and socio-political aspects throughout the whole life-span of the project. Methods and tools to ensure environmental design are developed in CEDREN and applied to case studies in Norway and internationally. These methods and tools focus on finding physical and biological bottlenecks for affected species and ecosystems by mapping, modelling and analysis of both physical conditions and ecological status. CEDREN proposes different measures, tools and methods to improve the environmental conditions as well as how to maintain or increase the power production. In addition, a strong focus must be made on political governance to ensure more representative participation of relevant stakeholders in the process of finding the best technical, economic and political solutions for power production, the environment and the society. Key research findings used to develop relationships between physical factors like flow, flow fluctuations, water temperature, water velocity, water depth and water-covered area and biological response will be shown. Examples of improved methods for better planning procedures with stakeholder engagement will be proposed. Examples of methods and tools for environmental design of hydropower will be given for several regulated rivers in Norway and abroad.

Study of Suspended Sediment and Its Mineral Content Analysis with Impact on Hydropower Design: A Case Study of Rahughat Hydroelectric Project

Study of Suspended Sediment and Its Mineral Content Analysis with Impact on Hydropower Design: A Case Study of Rahughat Hydroelectric Project

Development of an Automated Approach for Updating of the Annual Runoff Module Map

<p>Several Russian Hydropower Design and Research Institutes have recently fulfilled studies of hydropower potential estimation for NorthWest, Caucasian and Angara River’s regions in Russia. An approach to automate the calculation of river flow characteristics, based on the usage of annual flow rate map, was proposed and tested by the authors for the aims of the studies.</p><p>Annual river flow characteristics together with the terrain data are the most important data sources for evaluation of the hydropower potential.</p><p>A set of requirements was made for the approach and for automation of annual flow rate maps creation in order to provide ability for updates in every 5-10 years.</p><p>A problem of lack of hydrological data for small and medium sized rivers was faced. To determine the hydrological characteristics the Russian code specification "Determination of Design Hydrological Performance" was used for the conditions of the lack of hydrological data, methods of spatial interpolation were also used.</p><p>To solve the problems it is necessary to define the parameters of the annual flow distribution: average annual flow, variation coefficient, coefficient of skewness.</p><p>Mapping is based on the assumption of a smooth change of annual flow rate for any territory in accordance with the distribution of climatic and physiographic factors (topography, soil, groundwater depth, etc.).</p><p>Milestones of flow rate mapping included: preparation of hydrological initial data; creating of the updated flow rate maps; determination of the corrections to the influence of local azonal factors; estimation of the accuracy of flow characteristics calculations.</p><p>In order to update the annual flow rate maps a special GIS application “Hydrologist” was created. The GIS application includes computer-assisted tool for processing the hydrological data, import/export tools, tools for analysis of area zoning data, tools for analysis of annual flow rate values in centroids of drainage-basins, location of water stage gauges, also the old and updated flow rate maps.</p><p>The article deals with the approach description, main problems that were faced and presenting the results.</p><p>The technology has been applied for North-West, Volga and Siberian Federal Districts in Russia. Comparison of the created annual flow rate map with the previously used map shows that the updated map is better of acquiring hydrological data for small and medium sized rivers.</p>

Semi-theoretical approach to optimisation of gate ratio for small concrete dams and weirs

In hydropower projects, the geological, topographical and economical aspects favour building of small concrete dams or weirs which may have a gated spillway to discharge the flood water. As the dimension of the gate influences in the volume of concrete used for the dam, this obviously reflects in the overall cost of the structure. A study was carried out by taking eight different river cross sections and assuming four different elevations for the dam for each case to get the optimum ratio of the gate height to the structure height. A relation was developed between the physical and geometrical characteristics of the valley and the ratio of the gate height for the weirs to the total height of the structure on the basis of the optimum cases using linear genetic programming technique. The results showed that the proposed approach can successfully be applied in identifying the gate ratio and can be a solid base for preliminary decision for defining the ratio from the physical and geometrical characteristics of the valley. This study proposes decreasing the iterations required for deciding the height of the gates and expediting the process of the design decision in the early stages of the hydropower design projects.

Promoting interdisciplinarity in engineering teaching

With funding from the UK' Royal Academy of Engineering, the University of Edinburgh has developed a series of truly interdisciplinary design courses aimed at improving penultimate-year students' ability to operate across disciplines and improve their preparation for industry. Led by a Visiting Industrial Professor, the course on hydropower design requires students to provide a full feasibility study of a small scheme in western Scotland tackling issues from hydrology through to grid connection. The course has had several very successful outcomes which include: appreciation of other engineering disciplines; experience of teams where different skills and expertise are available; demonstration of the links between engineering design and economic viability; introduction to non-technical areas essential to the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence; and enhancing interest in the hydropower sector in technological and career terms. The key message from this project is the need to ensure balance across tasks, within groups and staff support across disciplines.

Discharge Measurements In Low Flow Conditions With ADCP Technology – First Experiences In Nepal

Low flows prevail during about nine months of the year in Himalayan rivers as a result of the influence of the monsoon climate. They account for a large portion of the annual water balance and accurate information about these flows is therefore critical for water resources planning, development, management and hydropower design. Issues that occur with the neighbouring country India are often related to low flows and make exact information on low flows a prerequisite for successful transboundary water management. However, reliable and long-term information on low flows are generally not available as most basins are ungauged. In addition low flow measurements are often associated with measurement errors as measurement cross-sections change during the flood season. Changes in measurement cross-sections are natural, but need frequent re-surveying of the sections in order to obtain good quality discharge measurements. This is often done on in-frequent basis and changes between big flood events are not recorded. The equipment used for discharge measurements is rarely recalibrated leading to additional errors. Internationally, in the last two decades river and stream discharge measurements have been improved with the introduction of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) technology. This new technology for hydrologic data acquirement has so far not been used extensively in the Himalayan region. First experiences with a StreamPro ADCP in Nepal as a part of a technology evaluation confirmed the commonly stated advantages of this technology compared to current-meter measurements, and showed its promising potential for various future applications including the application for accurate low flow measurements. Keywords: Discharge measurement; ADCP; low flowDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jhm.v7i1.5615 JHM 2010; 7(1): 40-48