MODELING OF HYDRAULIC TRANSIENTS IN SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANT OPERATION

Abstract

Due to constant increase in the price of fossil fuel and its effects on the environment and ecology there is a consciousness world wide for power generation from renewable energy sources. Among renewable energy sources, Small. Hydropower (SHP) is one of the most promising as it is robust, cost effective and environmental friendly. For safe and cost effective operation of any SHP station it is necessary to consider the operational problems at the design stage itself. Hydraulic transients are one of the operational concerns that need to be taken care of. Hydraulic transients are the disturbances in a fluid and its impact on the boundary during a change from one steady state to another. They may result in maximum pressure rise in the water- conductor system. This pressure rise is commonly known as water hammer, which may cause temporary or permanent damage to the various components of SHP. SHP stations mostly have small inertia turbines. The speed of the turbine rises during load rejection. Speed has considerable influence on transients. In this dissertation work, various aspects of hydraulic transients, . parameters and causes have been studied. An attempt has been made to convert the mathematical models of different components of SHP plant into software models. A SHP plant model has been developed with the various components of SHP plant.