Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Is R & D in small-turbine design still needed? An example of ongoing laboratory development based on systemisation. Vincent DENIS - MHyLab CH - 1354 Montcherand www.mhylab.com info@mhylab.com 03/08/2005
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Small hydro power plant
A small hydropower plant is a plant which, for technical and economical considerations, must not be the geometrical reduction of a large one
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Small hydro development The cost of developing a test model is of the same order of magnitude as that of a complete small hydro turbine => Independent manufacturers of small hydro turbine cannot afford this laboratory work 03/08/2005
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Small hydro and high efficiency High efficiency is important even for small hydro, because : y The efficiency mirrors optimal hydrodynamic performance y Guarantee the future production and the turbine reliability and operation y The efficiency required for one 100 MW turbine is no less justified when dealing with fifty 2 MW turbines. 03/08/2005
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Output control at site
y Not easy to implement and costly y Method frequently unsuited to small installations y Always questionable y Generally no possibilities to improve the turbine if guarantees are not reached y Penalties never compensate for the loss of production 03/08/2005
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Output control - Laboratory tests y Tests on turbines geometrically similar to the prototypes y Transposable results are obtained (according to international standards) y Possibility to correct the possible shortcomings before the prototype is built y High cost
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Succes criteria
The key words for a successfullly project are : y Simple construction to ensure economical and constructional feasability for SME y High energy efficiency y Maximum reliability ans easy maintenance
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
The Systematisation Method y Entire parameterisation of the turbineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hydraulics. y Test of the behaviour and performances as a function of the parameters. y Offers the possibility to design individually each new turbine in function of the exact characteristics of the site to equip. y Same efficiency and performance guarantees as for large hydro, even for Pm < 1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;000 kW 03/08/2005
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
The Systemisation method (Basic principle) y Simplification of hydraulic forms, and use of commercially available parts. y Measure of the impact of these simplifications on the test bench. y Direct or indirect parameterisation of all hydraulic forms, function of the site's data. y Development of mathematical and computer tools.
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
The Systemisation method (Presentation of the process) ρ
αR
Rex
Lm
m
R1
LA
Ra
αm
Rm1 Rm2
Coupe m-m
m
The first step consists in determining within what specific-speed limits, a given bucket topology can adapt to the flow by varying runner construction parameters.
d Ra
Coupe 8
x x=0
e h
Ligne de niveau a 03/08/2005
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
The Systemisation method (Presentation of the process)
Variation of the eccentricity Ď of a Pelton runner in function of the specific speed (principle diagram) 03/08/2005
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Performance guarantees
Efficiency guarantees (from laboratory tests), for La Rasse small HPP 03/08/2005
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Advantages of the method y Turbine simple to be manufactured and maintained y Optimal Hydrodynamic performance( high degree of operation security) y Respected efficiency and power guarantees y Cost savings on design y Turbine delivery-time reductions y Perfect compliance of the machine to the site's characteristics.
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Advantages of the development in the laboratory 0.90 0.89 0.88 0.87 0.86 0.85 0.84 0.83
η 0.82
y
1 Pelton turbine, 2 nozzles
y
Hn : 479 m
y
Qmax : 180 l/s
0.81 0.80 0.79 0.78 Développement en laboratoire (MHyLab) Développement empirique
0.77 0.76 0.75 0.74 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Q en l/s
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Small HPP Pas-du-Lein (CH) y 1 Pelton turbine, 2 nozzles y Hn : 299 m y Qmax : 180 l/s y PmĂŠc max : 470 kW y Manufacturer : GASA SA (Switzerland)
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Some R&D objectives
Laboratory tests Validation of results
Industrial concept
Computer programme
Short delay to deliver the garantees
Short delay to define the complete hydro profile
Systemic design
Low construction & operating costs
To provide small independent turbine manufacturers with an efficient and guaranteed technique in a short delay, and with low costs. 03/08/2005
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Hydro 2004 Porto - Portugal
Conclusions y Important work is performed to develop systemisation method. y As for many other fields (electical equipment, control and monitoring systems, civil work, these examples show that R&D is still needed for small hydro.
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