HAMMER Training Part 16: Hydropower Applications

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the essential concepts and modeling techniques related to hydropower applications using the HAMMER software. Understanding hydropower terminology, turbine types, and their operational cases is crucial for effective modeling and analysis in water infrastructure projects.

Step 1: Understand Hydropower Terminology

Familiarize yourself with key terms and concepts used in hydropower projects to ensure clear communication and understanding.

• Hydropower Project Layout: Grasp the typical configuration, including the dam, reservoir, penstock, powerhouse, and turbine system.
• Turbines: Know the different types of turbines used in hydropower:
  • Reaction Turbines: Such as Francis and Kaplan turbines that rely on water pressure.
  • Impulse Turbines: Such as Pelton turbines that use kinetic energy.

Step 2: Learn Turbine Model Representation

Understand how various components of turbines are represented in modeling software.

• Spherical Valve: Controls the flow of water into the turbine.
• Wicket Gates: Adjust the flow direction and amount of water reaching the turbine.
• Governor: Regulates turbine speed and output.
• Specific Speed: A dimensionless parameter that indicates the turbine's performance characteristics.

Step 3: Model Different Types of Turbines

Learn how to accurately represent different turbine types within the HAMMER software.

1. For Reaction Turbines:

   • Input the parameters for either Francis or Kaplan turbines.
   • Adjust flow rates and head conditions based on project specifications.

2. For Impulse Turbines:

   • Set the appropriate parameters for Pelton turbines.
   • Ensure accurate representation of jet velocity and bucket geometry.

Step 4: Model Turbine Operating Cases

Explore how to model various operational scenarios for turbines.

• Load Rejection: Analyze the system response when there is a sudden loss of load.
• Load Acceptance: Study the effects of quickly increasing load demands.
• Load Variation: Understand how fluctuating load conditions impact turbine performance.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned about the fundamental concepts of hydropower, the representation of turbine models, and how to simulate different operational cases using HAMMER software. As you implement these techniques, consider exploring further resources or practical projects to enhance your skills in hydropower modeling. For next steps, you may want to practice modeling a specific turbine type with varying load scenarios to solidify your understanding.