Objective
1. To evaluate the performance of an integrated generator/turbine set with a Francis runner mounted on an overhung generator shaft. The generator design must be modified to take into account the axial thrust and increased radial thrust. The rotor shaft must be dismountable in case of shaft failure. The shaft must also be larger to take into account transients.
2. To evaluate the overall performance of five small Francis turbine/generator units operating in a run-of-river situation where flow variation is significant. The improved part load performance will be very important for the economic viability of the power station.
3. To use information on rainfall and weather forecast to optimise the abstraction of water from storage reservoir and maximise the energy output of the site.
4. To use GRP/sand composite pipe similar to CEC Project HY238/87
The proposal involves the construction of a medium head hydroelectric station incorporating a dam, reservoir, intake, pipeline and powerhouse.
The energy conversion to electrical energy will be achieved by using five, fixed gate, Francis turbines mounted as an integral part of generator shafts. The abstraction of water from the reservoir to the turbine will be on the basis of available river flow, antecedant rainfall and weather forecast. The river flow will be calculated from turbine flow and rate of reservoir level change; the rainfall will be measured using an automatic recorder located on the catchment.
The five Francis turbines will each be operated only with the design flow thus giving maximum efficiency. The design flow rate for each of the turbines will be one-fifth of the total design flow for the site. Variation in available flow rate will be accommodated by switching one or more of the turbines on or off. This type of arrangement of five small turbines will give a muchbetter part load performance than the conventional approach of one or two variable guide vane Francis turbines. The power station will be connected to the National Grid and all of the energy exported to the E.S.B. The gross head for the site is 43 m and the maximum flow 3.5 m3/s. Maximum power output is 1 Megawatt and the total annual energy production is: 3769 GWh.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesmeteorology
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsenergy conversion
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Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
CORK MONTENOTTE
Ireland