The Benefits of Variable Speed Operation in Hydropower Plants Driven by Francis Turbines

The Benefits of Variable Speed Operation in Hydropower Plants Driven by Francis Turbines

Climate change and environmental degradation has resulted in a reduction in water inflow at hydropower plants, as well as a decrease in reservoir levels. Existing hydropower plants suffer from water head reduction, mainly with decrease in efficiency of energy conversion in hydro turbines. This paper...

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Main Authors: Edson Bortoni, Zulcy de Souza, Augusto Viana, Helcio Villa-Nova, Ângelo Rezek, Luciano Pinto, Roberto Siniscalchi, Rafael Bragança, José Bernardes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-09-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
hydropower plants
francis turbine
variable speed operation
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3719
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spelling doaj-7c8824e35c704b1394c8a8d81b11b0072020-11-25T01:44:09ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-09-011219371910.3390/en12193719en12193719The Benefits of Variable Speed Operation in Hydropower Plants Driven by Francis TurbinesEdson Bortoni0Zulcy de Souza1Augusto Viana2Helcio Villa-Nova3Ângelo Rezek4Luciano Pinto5Roberto Siniscalchi6Rafael Bragança7José Bernardes8Electric and Energy Systems Institute, Itajubá Federal University, Itajubá 37500-903, BrazilInstitute of Natural Resources, Itajubá Federal University, Itajubá 37500-903, BrazilInstitute of Natural Resources, Itajubá Federal University, Itajubá 37500-903, BrazilInstitute of Mechanical Engineering, Itajubá Federal University, Itajubá 37500-903, BrazilElectric and Energy Systems Institute, Itajubá Federal University, Itajubá 37500-903, BrazilGeneration Projects Implementation Department, Furnas Centrais Elétricas, Goiânia 74923-650, BrazilMinas Production Department, Furnas Centrais Elétricas, São José da Barra 37945-970, BrazilElectric and Energy Systems Institute, Itajubá Federal University, Itajubá 37500-903, BrazilElectric and Energy Systems Institute, Itajubá Federal University, Itajubá 37500-903, BrazilClimate change and environmental degradation has resulted in a reduction in water inflow at hydropower plants, as well as a decrease in reservoir levels. Existing hydropower plants suffer from water head reduction, mainly with decrease in efficiency of energy conversion in hydro turbines. This paper showcases the benefits of operations with variable speed in existing hydropower plants, when working at a lower water head than the rated one. Theoretical analyses and tests were performed in a special constructed laboratorial setup aiming at evaluating the amount of efficiency recovery with variable speed operation. Connection alternatives for a constant frequency grid and applications of the learned concepts in an existent hydropower plant are presented. The investigations were applied to the Furnas hydropower plant. The results point out that economic feasibility of the application can be achieved.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3719hydropower plantsfrancis turbinevariable speed operation
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Edson Bortoni
Zulcy de Souza
Augusto Viana
Helcio Villa-Nova
Ângelo Rezek
Luciano Pinto
Roberto Siniscalchi
Rafael Bragança
José Bernardes
spellingShingle Edson Bortoni
Zulcy de Souza
Augusto Viana
Helcio Villa-Nova
Ângelo Rezek
Luciano Pinto
Roberto Siniscalchi
Rafael Bragança
José Bernardes
The Benefits of Variable Speed Operation in Hydropower Plants Driven by Francis Turbines
Energies
hydropower plants
francis turbine
variable speed operation
author_facet Edson Bortoni
Zulcy de Souza
Augusto Viana
Helcio Villa-Nova
Ângelo Rezek
Luciano Pinto
Roberto Siniscalchi
Rafael Bragança
José Bernardes
author_sort Edson Bortoni
title The Benefits of Variable Speed Operation in Hydropower Plants Driven by Francis Turbines
title_short The Benefits of Variable Speed Operation in Hydropower Plants Driven by Francis Turbines
title_full The Benefits of Variable Speed Operation in Hydropower Plants Driven by Francis Turbines
title_fullStr The Benefits of Variable Speed Operation in Hydropower Plants Driven by Francis Turbines
title_full_unstemmed The Benefits of Variable Speed Operation in Hydropower Plants Driven by Francis Turbines
title_sort benefits of variable speed operation in hydropower plants driven by francis turbines
publisher MDPI AG
series Energies
issn 1996-1073
publishDate 2019-09-01
description Climate change and environmental degradation has resulted in a reduction in water inflow at hydropower plants, as well as a decrease in reservoir levels. Existing hydropower plants suffer from water head reduction, mainly with decrease in efficiency of energy conversion in hydro turbines. This paper showcases the benefits of operations with variable speed in existing hydropower plants, when working at a lower water head than the rated one. Theoretical analyses and tests were performed in a special constructed laboratorial setup aiming at evaluating the amount of efficiency recovery with variable speed operation. Connection alternatives for a constant frequency grid and applications of the learned concepts in an existent hydropower plant are presented. The investigations were applied to the Furnas hydropower plant. The results point out that economic feasibility of the application can be achieved.
topic hydropower plants
francis turbine
variable speed operation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3719
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