Nowadays, when we all see and feel the colossal crisis looming on the horizon, the question of energy security is among the first things on the table in each country's management. It's now essential more than ever for each country to use all its energy resources wisely. This is where we come to one of my favorite topics (for a reason) - Hydroelectricity.
Hydropower plants (HPPs) are the critical elements in every power system. This technical article discusses the essential electrical engineering for hydropower, from run-of-river to pumped storage plants (PSPs).
Hydroelectricity is the oldest yet in many terms the most efficient renewable energy source. Prime mover uses a combination of potential power of water column or head [m] and discharge flow [m3/h] to develop mechanical power that will keep generator rotor running and producing electricity at stator leads thanks to electromagnetic induction.
This contributes to a relative reduction of generator polarity and allows a gearless solution that is however far different from the direct coupling of where the rotating speed is usually 3000/3600rpm.
While prime mover speed is in fact directly linked with turbine geometry, water head and flow, generators above a certain rating shall operate at synchronous speed with electrical grid, being either 50Hz or 60Hz. , especially low head recovery solutions below 500kVA will use induction generators or permanent magnet generators (PMG) that are exceptions to this rule.
Pelton units have indeed a dedicated mechanical component (diverter plate) to prevent this risk that can lead to catastrophic consequences since although absolute speed is definitely lower than turbogenerators, considering rotor inertia and the fact that contrary to gas turbines (and partly to steam turbines) you cannot simply cut-off turbine fuel and damper the speed overshoot only.
Nowadays, when we all see and feel the colossal crisis looming on the horizon, the question of energy security is among the first things on the table in each country's management. It's now essential more than ever for each country to use all its energy resources wisely. This is where we come to one of my favorite topics (for a reason) - Hydroelectricity.
Hydropower plants (HPPs) are the critical elements in every power system. This technical article discusses the essential electrical engineering for hydropower, from run-of-river to pumped storage plants (PSPs).
Hydroelectricity is the oldest yet in many terms the most efficient renewable energy source. Prime mover uses a combination of potential power of water column or head [m] and discharge flow [m3/h] to develop mechanical power that will keep generator rotor running and producing electricity at stator leads thanks to electromagnetic induction.
This contributes to a relative reduction of generator polarity and allows a gearless solution that is however far different from the direct coupling of where the rotating speed is usually 3000/3600rpm.
While prime mover speed is in fact directly linked with turbine geometry, water head and flow, generators above a certain rating shall operate at synchronous speed with electrical grid, being either 50Hz or 60Hz. , especially low head recovery solutions below 500kVA will use induction generators or permanent magnet generators (PMG) that are exceptions to this rule.
Pelton units have indeed a dedicated mechanical component (diverter plate) to prevent this risk that can lead to catastrophic consequences since although absolute speed is definitely lower than turbogenerators, considering rotor inertia and the fact that contrary to gas turbines (and partly to steam turbines) you cannot simply cut-off turbine fuel and damper the speed overshoot only.
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