Operational Evaluation of a Small Hydropower Plant in the Context of Sustainable Development

Walczak, Natalia

doi:10.3390/w10091114

Cited by 23 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…5% of the cross-section. With regard to corresponding coverage of the cross section by plant debris [34], it was observable that the water level decreased by 0.05 m. Szabo-Meszaros et al [49] indicated that hydraulic losses on clean trash racks can reach 0.05 m depending on the trash racks designs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of the Resistance Value of Trash Racks at a Small Hydropower Plant Operating at Low Temperature

Walczak

Nieć

2020

Energies

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Trash racks are the first element mounted in inlet channels of hydraulic structures. Their primary task is to capture coarse pollutants flowing in the riverbed/river channel and protect water facilities downstream. With the use of these devices, it is possible to separate coarse suspended matter, branches carried with the current, floating plastic elements, etc., which undoubtedly contributes to a trouble-free flow through culverts or channels and prevents hydroelectric power plant turbines from failure. An important issue here is also to ensure the proper operation of trash racks, particularly in respect of hydraulic structures whose task is to convert water energy into electricity (hydropower plants). Proper operation of trash racks minimizes losses arising from obstructing the free flow of water through accumulated waste or, in the wintertime, through icing. Incorrect work in this area entails specific head losses, and consequently leads to economic harm. In the paper, the resistance values of trash racks were analyzed at small hydropower plants (SHPs) operating at low temperatures, determined under laboratory conditions, with the occurrence of frazil ice and ice. The results indicate that the added ice into the channel resulted in the formation of a cover in front of the trash racks with an average thickness of about 0.02 m. The accumulated ice increased the head losses up to 14%. The range of the ice cover depended on the weight added ice and reached 0.6 m in analyzed cases.Energies 2020, 13, 1775 2 of 14 cover included only large watercourses, while information on smaller rivers was relatively scarce [8,9]. Winter river management is a key element of sustainable development regarding the use of water resources in cold regions [10].Buffin-Bélange et al. [11] noted that freezing processes occurring in smaller rivers are strongly dependent on their morphology, and because of their smaller size freezing actions are more contrasting and extreme. They result from a larger decrease in the water table and higher values of hydraulic forces characteristic for small watercourses. In addition, there is a risk that one watercourse can undergo several cycles of freezing processes, which can lead to aggregation of ice forms, with their varied shapes affected by the exchange process between ground and surface waters.Climate change is another important factor. However, it is pointed out that even if individual countries can feel the significant effects of climate change in connection with the production of hydropower, in global terms these changes should not lead to significant changes in hydropower generation [12]. Changes in ice and river regimes caused by climate change can have both positive and negative consequences for the operation of hydropower plants. The positive consequences are due to the shortening of icing time and the reduction of static ice loads. Negative consequences will be associated with unstable winters, which can lead to increased frequency of freezing and thawing in the winter season [13].Ice phenome...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The input of small hydropower plants (SHP) can be adversely affected by numerous factors obstructing their operation [33,34], i.e., flooding, inundation, hurricanes, heavy rain and snow load.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the Resistance Value of Trash Racks at a Small Hydropower Plant Operating at Low Temperature

Walczak

Nieć

2020

Energies

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“…For different water levels, debris parameters change. At low and medium flows, mainly leaves, twigs, fragments of macroliths, i.e., fine organic materials, are transported [51]. When a surge occurs, blades of dry grasses, tree trunks located on slopes, and branches are transported.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Debris on Water Intake Gratings in Small Hydroelectric Plants: An Experimental Study on Hydraulic Parameters

Walczak

Nieć

2021

Energies

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Deposition of debris on the screens of hydroelectric power plants translates into measurable economic losses. Occurring plant debris, although it is an organic material, is characterised by different forms and structure. It is often leaves, branches, and grasses in lowland areas, while in mountainous regions, broken boughs and trees can be expected. On the trash racks of power plants, debris may be deposited in different forms, shapes, and places. This work aims to determine the impact of the degree of submergence of debris on the values of the force acting on the racks. This paper analyzes the influence of the rectangular shape of the debris deposited on the trash racks and its degree of submergence and weight on the obtained values of the force acting on the racks as a result of water pressure, which directly affects the hydraulic losses and productivity of hydroelectric power plants. Our research confirms the negative influence of the deposited plant debris on the value of forces recorded on the gratings. The increase in the recorded force, and thus the resistance on the grating, is obviously dependent on the degree of obstruction of the debris by the grating obtained by changing the degree of debris immersion and its weight. In the case of changing the degree of submergence, the increase in force recorded on the gratings varied during the experiment from about 25% recorded for the fully submerged debris compared to that of the partially submerged debris for the mass of 100 g; in comparison, an increase of about 31% was recorded for that of the mass of 200 g. However, comparing the values of the forces recorded on the obstructed grids to that of the forces recorded on the clean grids, the increase ranged from about 15–53%.

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“…As a result, physical reliability of the power plant will be compromised. The efficiency and cost to hire manpower can also influence the reliability of the power plant . Skilled manpower will attract more expenditure compared to that of unskilled manpower, but the system efficiency will increase due to the involvement of the expertise of the skilled employee in the system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The efficiency and cost to hire manpower can also influence the reliability of the power plant. 7 Skilled manpower will attract more expenditure compared to that of unskilled manpower, but the system efficiency will increase due to the involvement of the expertise of the skilled employee in the system. The rate of selling electricity and cost incurred for power production are the other two drivers of reliability in the power plant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real time reliability monitoring of hydro‐power plant by combined cognitive decision‐making technique

Majumder

Saha

et al. 2019

Int J Energy Res

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Summary Hydro power plants are one of the most cost‐effective renewable technologies which have the potential to replace the conventional fuels. However, reliability of the plant varies with time due to irregularity in flow pattern of the river which depends on the pattern of climatic parameters like precipitation and evapo‐transpiration. The reliability of the plant performance also varies with the efficiency of the power equipment and conveyance coefficient of penstock, both of which are time dependent. When reliability reduces, performance efficiency also gets degraded. That is why, monitoring of reliability in hydro power plants is essential and required to be conducted periodically. But at present, such activities are expensive due to the requirement of extensive surveys, data collection and performance audits of the equipment and structures involved in the power production. There is a lack of single indicator based real time monitoring processes which can be utilized to continuously regulate the reliability of the power plant. Such system can reduce both cost and time required for conducting reliability assessment procedures. That is why, in the present study, an objective and cognitive technique was utilized to develop a single index for real time monitoring of the reliability of a power plant. The results indicate that efficiency of generator, levelized cost of electricity and rate of selling per unit electricity are the most significant indicator which have the capability to represent reliability. A model developed for the present study by Polynomial Neural Network also ensures that regular monitoring of reliability of an HPP is possible.

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Operational Evaluation of a Small Hydropower Plant in the Context of Sustainable Development

Cited by 23 publications

References 33 publications

Assessment of the Resistance Value of Trash Racks at a Small Hydropower Plant Operating at Low Temperature

Assessment of the Resistance Value of Trash Racks at a Small Hydropower Plant Operating at Low Temperature

Influence of Debris on Water Intake Gratings in Small Hydroelectric Plants: An Experimental Study on Hydraulic Parameters

Real time reliability monitoring of hydro‐power plant by combined cognitive decision‐making technique

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