Assessment and Performance Evaluation of Water Hammer in Hydroelectric Plants With Hydropneumatic Tank and Pressure Regulating Valve

Abstract

The simulation approach of pipeline systems, pressure regulating valve (PRV), and hydropneumatic tank (HPT) in hydropower plants (HPP) is performed. The article used suitable protection devices such as hydropneumatic tank and pressure regulating valves to protect the hydro-electric system against water hammer negative effects. The method of characteristics solves hydraulic transient in the HPP system. This article simulates transient phenomena in a hydro-electric power system using FORTRAN language. The aim was to find out and diminish the water hammer at the entrance of the spiral case as well as the pipeline system. The paper has four major philosophies: simulation with no protection, simulation with hydropneumatic tank, simulation with pressure regulating valve, and the combination of hydropneumatic tank with the pressure regulating valve. The results show that a combination of the pressure regulating valve and the hydropneumatic tank is adequate appliances to lessen the effect of water hammer/transient flow in a hydropower plant system. However, in the transient process of the water diversion system, the gas' kinetic characteristic in the hydropneumatic tank has certain complexity when there is high fluctuation in the surge chamber. The study proved that the wicket gate's stepwise could cut down the impact of the water hammer automatically than applying the linear closure law on the network. The automated pressure regulating valve with a high opening stepwise can decrease the negative impact of water hammer significantly. The results from this research paper show that pipeline diameter has crucial factors that influence hydraulic transient in hydropower plant systems.