Optimization of the low-head hydropower intake structure

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68407700%3A21110%2F23%3A00368603" target="_blank" >RIV/68407700:21110/23:00368603 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0170350" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0170350</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0170350" target="_blank" >10.1063/5.0170350</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Optimization of the low-head hydropower intake structure

Original language description

Barrages on watercourses are usually designed as multi-purpose structures that were built to navigate rivers for water transport, protect the area from flooding, enable water withdrawals and utilize the hydropower potential. In the layout of the low head barrage a run-of-river hydropower plants (HPPs) are usually designed. The efficiency of operation of HPPs is significantly affected by the barrage layout and by the velocity conditions in the intake structure. The efficiency of HPPs can be adversely affected by inappropriate hydrodynamic design of the individual elements, which include the coarse screens and the submerged wall as protection against coarse debris, the sill at the entry to the intake structure to exclude the bed material, the intake channel and the fine screens. If these elements are not properly designed, high pressure losses are generated, leading to a reduction in the efficiency of the HPP. In addition to pressure losses in the intake structure, the homogeneity of the velocity field in the inlet profile upstream of the turbines has been shown to affect the efficiency of the HPP. In the case of an inhomogeneous velocity field, flow disturbances occur which have a demonstrable impact on the efficiency of the turbines. Nowadays, the method of physical and mathematical modelling is often used for the hydraulic design of the suitable shape of the intake structure as well as other HPP elements. The present paper describes the use of 3D mathematical modelling for the optimisation of the intake structure of a low head HPP with respect to the homogeneity of the velocity field in the control profile upstream of the turbine inlet. There are a number of objective criteria for evaluating the homogeneity of the velocity field, which have been validated by measurements on real HPPs. The procedure is verified for the case of the HPP intake of the planned Děčín barrage on the Elbe River. Optimal velocity conditions were ensured by the use of guide pillars in the profile of coarse screens and entry sill. The resulting optimized shape was verified using the physical model. Currently, there are many HPPs at existing barrages with unsatisfactory hydraulic conditions in the intake area. The described technical solution for the application of guide pillars in the intake has minimal impacts on the architectural character of the barrage and can therefore be used to increase the efficiency of historic hydropower plants with high cultural value. The research was conducted as part of project no. DG18P02OVV004 entitled “Documentation and presentation of technical cultural heritage along the Elbe-Vltava Waterway” within a support programme for applied research and experimental development of national and cultural identity, funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

D - Article in proceedings

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

20101 - Civil engineering

Project

<a href="/en/project/DG18P02OVV004" target="_blank" >DG18P02OVV004: Documentation and presentation of technical cultural heritage on the Elbe-Vltava waterway</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2023

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Article name in the collection

7th World Multidisciplinary Civil Engineering-Architecture-Urban Planning Symposium - WMCAUS 2022

ISBN

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ISSN

0094-243X

e-ISSN

1551-7616

Number of pages

8

Pages from-to

1-8

Publisher name

AIP Conference Proceedings

Place of publication

New York

Event location

Praha

Event date

Sep 5, 2022

Type of event by nationality

WRD - Celosvětová akce

UT code for WoS article

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