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Analysis of Hydroelectric Dam System

Gilstrap II, Smith, Andrade, Alatowi

Analysis of Operational Flow in a Hydroelectric


Turbine Dam System
EricGilstrap II 1 Kalon Smith 2

Isaias Andrade 3

Majid Alatowi4

Written Spring Semester May 3 2016


Mechanical and Energy Engineering
University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76207, USA
Email: eegilstrap@verizon.net, Kalon115@yahoo.com, andrade_panduro@hotmail.com, and
MajidAlatowi@my.unt.edu

Abstract
The analysis of each component in a hydroelectric dam power system is important to raise efficiency and
ultimately optimize the energy production from the system. The operational flow rate is the targeted area
in maximizing energy production. In order to make a hydroelectric dam system function reach its optimal
flow rate, the total system needs to equal zero. Factors such as pressure drop in the pipes and the turbine
as well as the total pressure at the base of the dam contribute to the result of the flow rate of the total
system. Calculation of each component along with a visual analysis of each of these factors is an
important way to engage this issue. Computer programs are set to calculate and plot each factor in an
efficient way to analyze the total system.

Included variables

density of water
dynamic viscosity

Kresistance coefficent

2wicket gate angle

K L losses coefficient

angular velo of turnbine


roughness of pipe

bturbine blade width

1outflow angle
V velocity of water

Ddiameter of pipe

efficenecy of turbine

Analysis of Hydroelectric Dam System


Gilstrap II, Smith, Andrade, Alatowi

All units in the SI system

Introduction
Each variable on the right side of equation (1)
should be analyzed to reach the desired flow
rate. The pressure drop in the pipes is a very
important principle that needs to be address.
First, the factors that affect the pressure of the
water flowing through the pipes need to be
analyzed. The Darcy friction factor is important
because it has an effect on pressure drop
throughout the pipe. The given equation for the
Darcy friction factor is shown in equation (2).

Throughout history turbines have been a good


source of energy to power machines, homes, and
much more. Hydroelectric turbines in dams have
provided a vast amount of power to the world
around them. Due to the increase in need of
power the analysis of hydroelectric turbines and
how the system functions as a whole has been
taken into consideration.

Background and Theory


(3)

In order to optimize power production in the


hydroelectric turbine, it is important to take note
of the operational flow rate. The desired
operational flow rate for optimized performance
in a turbine is zero. Therefore, it is important to
analyze the factors and variables that contribute
to the operational flow rate. This analysis can be
done by breaking the system down into three
elements. These elements are the pressure drops
in the pipes and turbines along with the total
pressure at the base of the dam. The equation
that relates the operational flow rate with these
variables is the one shown below.

1.11
1
6.9
D
=1.8 log [
+(
) ]
2
3.7

This can be done by integrating by using a


predetermined Reynolds number. To solve for
the Reynolds number the use of equation (3) is
needed.

VD

(4)

Once the Darcy friction factor is calculated it


can be plugged into the final pressure drop
equation for the pipes in the system. Losses of
pressure due to the curvature of the pipes need
to be considered when solving for the pressure
drop.

(1)

f ( Q )= gH P pipes ( Q ) Pturbine (Q)

Operational Flow Rate Requirement

f ( Q0 ) =0

Pressure Drop through the pipes

(2)
2

Analysis of Hydroelectric Dam System


Gilstrap II, Smith, Andrade, Alatowi

The last element to be analyzed is the total


pressure at the base of the dam, which is
described by the equation below. This involves
the density of the water, gravitational
acceleration, and the height from the base of the
dam.

P=gH

(8)

Procedure
The computer programming program Octave
will then be used to combine all of these factors
and equations to help solve for the turbine
design issue. For Octave code refer to pages 5-7.

KL
f

L
+K
D

P=

Results

(5)

Fig. 1 System Operational point


On the graph above are four different curves of
pressure vs flow rate appear: pipe pressure
curve, turbine pressure curve, combine pressure
curve, and available pressure curve. Note that
the material used for the pipes is cast iron tubes.

The pressure drop from the turbine needs to be


the next calculated element. The work done by
the turbine is important in relation to the
pressure and the flow rate.

For this project, some criteria of the


system are given, and others fixed so
solving this particular problem should be
done by using the available constant
values. In order to find the effect on the
shaft power from the wicket gate angle

Work done by turbine


2
b
Q

(tan 2 2 tan 1 )
W =
2 b2
b1

(6)

and the outflow angle

, we

must use and manipulate the provided


.equations

The pressure drop can then be calculated from


the next equation. With assumption that the
efficiency of the turbine is one ( =1

P=

W
Q

Pipes pressure curve

(7)

First, all the equations for the pipe should


be changed to have one variable Q.
Therefore, equations (3), (4), and (5) must
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Analysis of Hydroelectric Dam System


Gilstrap II, Smith, Andrade, Alatowi

be solved in order to get the pipe curve.


Second, we must define the velocity in

pressure of the pipe and the turbine. The


combined curve is much bigger than the
pipe and turbine curves individually,
.which was the sought after result

Q
equation (4) so that V= A , where A=
D2
4 . Third, with this new
information, we can solve equation (4).
Finally, equation (5) can be solved, and
.then graphed

Turbine pressure curve


For turbine pressure curve equations (6)
and (7) are used, assuming that the
efficiency is 100% in the turbine. For
equation (6), we substituted VA for Q, 0
for 1 ,

(33180)

for 2 , and

Available pressure curve


The available pressure is the total pressure
or in other words, is the pressure at the
point where the water leaves the dam and
the pressure drop of the pipe and turbine.
From equation (2) we know Q=0,
therefore, from equation (1) we can
conclude that the available pressure is
equal to gH minus the combined
pressure curve. By using the equations (1)
and (2) we are able to obtain the desired
.graph

Fig. 2: Turbine Performance vs

by doing so we can find W . Next, we

W
plugged in the

1 and

in to equation (7)

Fig. 3 Optimal Operational Settings

and as a result, we were able to find the


pressure drop across turbine

Combine pressure curve

The graph above was produced by using


numerical minimization routine to identify
.the angles of operation

In this curve, we combine equation (5)


and (7), therefore, giving us the combined

Result and Analysis


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Analysis of Hydroelectric Dam System


Gilstrap II, Smith, Andrade, Alatowi

The purpose of this project is to design the


wicket gate and outflow angles of the
turbine to meet the operational flow
requirements. Based on the available
equations, the flow rate (Q) dictates the
pressure (P). Therefore, the higher flow
rate, the greater the pressure. Furthermore,
the wicket gate angle and the outflow
angle determine optimal power as shown
.in Fig.3

Conclusion
In summary, the effects of the
shaft power from the wicket
gate angle and the outflow
angle can be determined by
using and manipulating the
equations provide; thus
revealing an approximate value
for each angle. Therefore,
finding the maximum efficiency
of the turbine power. This was
all done in the program Octave,
which allowed us to come to the
conclusion that the pressure is
dependent on the flow rate,
while the wicket gate angle and
the outflow angle determine
optimal power. The project as a
whole was challenging due to
the coding, but was helpful as
far understanding each
equation in detail, and how to
manipulate the information
provide. This project was a
.great learning experience

Analysis of Hydroelectric Dam System


Gilstrap II, Smith, Andrade, Alatowi

clear

Octave Code
Variables
global w=(120*2*pi)/60;

Shaft power

global L=20;

function [P] = shaftpower(Q,a1,a2)

global H=100;

global w;

global D=3;

global p;

global b1=3;

global b2;

global b2=1;

global b1;

global g=9.8;

P =(p*w*Q^2)/(2*pi*b2)*(tan(a2)(b2/b1)*tan(a1));

global p=1000;

End

global e=.0026;
global u=1.307*10^-3;

Pressure turbine
function [dP] = pressureturbine(Q,a1,a2)

Pressure pipes

n = 1.0;

function [ Ppipes ] = pressurepipes(Q)

dP = shaftpower(Q,a1,a2)/(n*Q);

global p;

end

global D;
global u;

Flow rate

global e;

function [Q]= Flowrate(a1,a2)

global L;

global p;

k=[.03,.3,.3,.3,.3];

global g;
global H;

V=(Q*4)/(pi*D^2);
Re=p*V*D/u;

f=@(Q) (p*g*H)- pressurepipes(Q)pressureturbine(Q,a1,a2);

f=(-1.8*log((6.9./Re)+((e/D)/3.7).^1.11)).^-2;
Ppipes =(f.*(L/D)+sum(k)).*((p*V.^2)/2);
end

Q=fsolve(f,100);
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Analysis of Hydroelectric Dam System


Gilstrap II, Smith, Andrade, Alatowi

end

legend('Pipes','Turbine','Comined','Available','loc
ation','north');
print('plot.png','-dpng')

System operational point


Turbine Performance vs

Variables;

1 and 2

N = 21;
al1=linspace(-10,10,N)*(pi/180);
Q=linspace(1,300);

al2=linspace(5,85,N)*(pi/180);
W = zeros([N,N]);

a1=0;

for i=1:N

a2=(33/180)*pi;

for j=1:N
al3=al1(i);

Ppipes=arrayfun(@pressurepipes,Q);

al4=al2(j);

dP=arrayfun(@(Q) pressureturbine(Q,a1,a2),Q);

Qa=Flowrate(al3,al4);

Pcomb=Ppipes+dP;

W(j,i)=shaftpower(Qa,al3,al4);

Pavai=p*g*H-Pcomb;

end
end
figure(1,'papersize',[4 ,3] ,'paperposition',[0 ,0 ,4
,3])

figure(1,'papersize',[4 ,3] ,'paperposition',[0 ,0 ,4


,3])

clf;

clf;

contourf(al1*(180/pi),al2*(180/pi),W/1E3, 10)

hold on;

colorbar()

plot(Q, Ppipes/1000,'b');

colormap(hot)

plot(Q, dP/1000,'r');

title('Shaft Power[MW]');

plot(Q, Pcomb/1000,'g');

xlabel('alpha 1 [deg]');

plot(Q, Pavai/1000,'y');

ylabel('alpha 2 [deg]');

xlabel('Flow Rate[m^3/s]');

print('contourplot.png','-dpng')

ylabel('Pressure [kPa]');
title('System Operational Point');
axis([0 300 0 1400]);
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Analysis of Hydroelectric Dam System


Gilstrap II, Smith, Andrade, Alatowi

af2= fminbnd(fW,5/180*pi,85/180*pi);
an2(n)=af2;
end
Optimal operational settings

%Plot for the minimization of the contour.

N=21

figure(1,'papersize',[4 ,3] ,'paperposition',[0 ,0 ,4


,3])

an1= linspace(-10,10, N)*(pi/180);

clf;

an2=zeros([N,1]);

plot(an1*(180/pi), an2*(180/pi));
xlabel('alpha 1 [deg]');

for n=1:N

ylabel('alpha 2 [deg]');

af1=an1(n);

title('Optimal Power: 99.4[MW]');

fW= @(af2)
-shaftpower(Flowrate(af1,af2),af1,af2);

print('angleline.png','-dpng')

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