Author(s): Daniel Innerhofer, Markus Aufleger
Linked Author(s): Daniel Innerhofer
Keywords: Hydropower, scale model tests, compact-turbines, renewable energy, run-of-river power plant
Abstract: New types of compact turbines like the StreamDiver� from Voith allow new designs for the intake structures of hydro power plants. By reducing the dimension and complexity of these structures, the construction costs can be reduced and hence power plants with low heads can also achieve high cost effectiveness. However, along comes the need to better understand the influence of the inflow conditions on the energy yield of such unregulated turbines. Since it is known that a distorted flow pattern in front of the turbine can cause negative effects like hydraulic losses, vibrations and a poorer performance of the turbine, a careful design of the inlet structure is needed. For this purpose, the University of Innsbruck's Hydraulic Engineering Unit, together with the energy supplier Grenzkraftwerke Ltd and the turbine manufacturer K�ssler Ltd, created a new test rig. In this large-scale model tests, a real turbine in an artificial channel is used. This set up allows the measurement not only of the turbine efficiency but of the overall efficiency in energy production of a run-of-river plant for different intake designs. In this paper, the focus lies on low head power plants, showing various possible designs for these power plants which also meet the criteria for an environmentally sustainable use of hydro power. Based on the findings of this research project, the effect of the various parts of the inlet structure on the efficiency can be evaluated and the use of a complex geometry can therefore be discussed. The test set up and first results are presented within this work
Year: 2017