At high and medium head hydro-electric power plants (HPPs), particularly in glaciated catchment areas, hydro-abrasive erosion at turbines caused by hard mineral particles in the water may cause considerable maintenance cost as well as decreased revenues and production losses due to reduced turbine efficiency. For the economic optimization of such HPPs, quantitative relations between particle load, turbine wear and efficiency are required, which have not been available yet.
In the research project described in this report, the concentration and size distribution of particles in the water were continually measured at the Fieschertal HPP, located in the Swiss Alps in Canton of Valais, Switzerland, using various instruments, such as an in-situ laser diffractometer, turbidimeters and an acoustic method. In parallel, the evolution of the turbine buckets' geometry, the material loss and the efficiency reduction were periodically measured.
In the continuation of the project, these measured quantities will be related to the particle load to verify or adapt existing calculation models. This serves as a basis for economic optimization of the design, operation and maintenance of such HPPs and contributes to the efficient use of the hydropower potential.
Auftragnehmer/Contractant/Contraente/Contractor:
ETH Zürich, Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau, Hydrologie und Glaziologie (VAW)
Autorschaft/Auteurs/Autori/Authors:
Felix,David
Albayrak,Ismail
Boes,Robert
