Conceptual design of a hydroelectric power plant for a rehabilitation project

Abstract

This study presents the conceptual design of a hydroelectric power plant, as a part of a large scale rehabilitation project for an existing power plant in Antalya, Turkey. The aim of the rehabilitation project is to increase the power and efficiency of the plant and its scope includes CFD aided turbine design, model production and tests, the design, production and implementation of the turbine, generator and the SCADA system. This study is the first attempt, as a preliminary study, to handle the problem and perform a conceptual design of the hydroelectric power plant. The existing plant is modeled to estimate the head and flow rate characteristics at various sections of the system. The net head and flow rate of the turbine are estimated. Transient analyses of the system are also performed to evaluate water hammer characteristics. The results of the transient analyses provide the inputs for the design of by-pass pipeline and pressure relief valve. The estimated net head and flow rate from the simulations are used as inputs for the preliminary design. The dimensions of the spiral case, the diameter of the stay vanes and guide vanes, wicket gate heights, runner diameter and rotational speed, runaway characteristics and preliminary output power are determined. The best efficiency point and the design point of the turbine are also obtained as the net head versus the flow rate. These results provide an idea on the feasibility of the increase in power.