The penetration of intermittent energy sources seriously impacts the energy balance as well as the stability of the electrical grid. Therefore, it is required to guarantee a smooth integration of this share into the existing power grids. Hydraulic power plants are one of the key components to stabilize the electric grid. As a result, the extended operations and flexibility of hydraulic turbines increase, and hydraulic turbines are subject to unstable flow conditions and unfavorable load fluctuations at off-design operations.
Arash Soltani Dehkarqani thesis aims to develop methodologies to assess Kaplan turbines flow conditions and flow effects on the structure under different operational conditions. The main objective was to investigate the effect of the operation conditions on the pressure and stain fluctuations on the runner as well as the strain variations on the shaft. This would lead to propose a measurement methodology in which the blade loading can be predicted by strain measurements on the shaft.
The penetration of intermittent energy sources seriously impacts the energy balance as well as the stability of the electrical grid. Therefore, it is required to guarantee a smooth integration of this share into the existing power grids. Hydraulic power plants are one of the key components to stabilize the electric grid. As a result, the extended operations and flexibility of hydraulic turbines increase and thissubjects the turbines to an increase of unstable flow conditions and unfavorable load fluctuations.
Arash Soltani Dehkarqani thesis aims to develop methodologies to assess Kaplan turbines flow conditions and flow effects on the structure under different operational conditions. The main objective was to investigate the effect of the operation conditions on the pressure and strain fluctuations on the runner as well as the strain variations on the shaft. This would lead to propose a measurement methodology in which the blade loadi can be predicted by strain measurements on the shaft.
– Today we don’t exactly know how an increase in off design operation of the Kaplan turbine will affect the service life, says Emma Hagner, who is area manager for hydropower at Energiforsk. Therefore, new methodologies to assess the status and lifelength of the unit aremost welcome because they can indicate when a refurbishment will be needed and when there is a risk of malfunctioning units.
Thesis: An Experimental Investigation of a Prototype Kaplan Turbine and Numerical Analysis of Fluid Added Parameters on the Corresponding Model Turbine Runner
Opponent: Associate professor Xavier Escaler, Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain
Dissertation
When: 31 Jan. 2020, 13:00 - 15:30
Where: Luleå , E632
Chairman: Professor Michel Cervantes, Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Luleå University of Technology and chairman of The Swedish Hydro Power Center