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- Asset Management
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- Hydraulic Optimization
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- Conventional Hydro
Methodology to Reduce the Strain on Hydro Turbines Using Advanced Life Extending Control of Multiple Energy Storage Systems
Lead Companies
Oregon State University
Lead Researcher (s)
- Sean Brosig
Over the last 20 years, there has been rapid growth in the amount of installed wind power in the Pacific Northwest, specifically in the Columbia River Gorge. The variable and non-dispatchable nature of this resource requires that it be balanced in some form by other sources on the grid. In the Northwest specifically, the most relied upon generation sources have been hydropower units. However, it is thought that heavy reliance upon hydropower units to rapidly change their output to provide balancing increases the wear and tear on different components of these machines. This research aims to quantify damage incurred on these units in real time through a Real-time Damage Incurrence (RDI) model and minimize this damage and its associated cost through integration of Energy Storage using Advanced Life Extending Control (LEC). First, the relationship between wind power and hydroelectric power generation is investigated. The RDI model for hydropower units as well as multiple Energy Storage System (ESS) technologies is then developed, and LEC is implemented and simulated, resulting in significant reduction of damage incurrence and total cost of damage incurrence up to 10% in some cases.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Asset Management
Status
complete
Completion Date
2013
- Marine Energy
MHK Data Products and User Community Development (PRIMRE-MHK DATA AND USER COMMUNITY)
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Andrea Copping, PNNL
- Cesar Castillo, SNL
- Jon Weers (NREL)
This project’s primary objective is the outreach, engagement, and development of MHK data and information communities, in alignment with WPTO goals. Reducing Barriers to Testing‒ Work with agencies and other groups to ensure that existing data is well-utilized and identify potential improvements to regulatory processes and requirements, Data Sharing and Analysis ‒ Aggregate and analyze data on MHK performance and technology advances, and maintain information sharing platforms to enable dissemination‒ Leverage expertise, technology, data, methods, and lessons from the international MHK community and other offshore scientific and industrial sectors (e.g., offshore wind, oil and gas).
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability, Technology
Research Sub-Category
Fish and Aquatic Resources, Hydrokinetic, Renewable Integration, Tidal, Wave
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
Expected 2023
- Conventional Hydro
Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) for the Hydropower Industry
Lead Companies
EPRI
Lead Researcher (s)
- Francisco Kuljevan
The recent focus on growing the amount of energy provided by renewable sources such as wind and solar power have placed increased demands on existing hydropower infrastructure to be able to maintain consistent energy availability. The majority of existing hydropower infrastructure, however, was not designed to compensate for the variability and uncertainty of other renewable energy sources. In the past 20 years, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have become an enabling sensing technology in several industries, including the automotive, medical, and consumer electronics markets. This work provides a broad overview of available MEMS sensing technologies and capabilities which could prove beneficial to the hydropower industry, either through adaptation or direct implementation. Multiple different sensor technologies were identified as potentially useful to the hydropower industry, including MEMS strain gauges, accelerometers, microphones, and pressure and temperature sensors.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Marine Energy
Model Validation and Site Characterization for Early Deployment MHK Sites and Establishment of Wave Classification Scheme
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sandia National Laboratory (SNL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Zhaoqing Yang, PNNL
- Vince Neary, SNL
The project is designed to quantify and classify the physical conditions of wave and tidal resources, to provide classification schemes that reduce design costs and generation uncertainty, and to provide the data necessary for informed siting decisions. These outcomes also relate to the program’s other goals. First, detailed resource data helps to focus the locations where environmental research and risk mitigation is most needed. Second, improved resource models provide test-sites with better predictions, and classification schemes are a critical input to efficient test-site test protocols that evaluate both device performance and device reliability. Finally, high-fidelity resource models can be used as input to device simulation tools, to produce device simulations output that is based on realistic time-histories of resource conditions.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Water Resources
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Modeling and Analysis of a Small Hydropower Plant and Battery Energy Storage System Connected as a Microgrid
Lead Companies
University of Washington
Lead Researcher (s)
- Kelly Kozdras
This project developed a model in PowerWorld for a small microgrid being considered to improve reliability in a Washington mountain town. The microgrid utilizes both an existing small hydro generation site and a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The transient stability of this microgrid was analyzed based on the system model, and potential system modifications considered. The software used in the analysis allows for many types of transient contingencies to be analyzed, which will aid in the future modeling and analysis of potential control strategies.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
complete
Completion Date
2015
- Pumped Storage
Modeling and Optimizing Pumped Storage in a Multi-stage Large Scale Electricity Market under Portfolio Evolution [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Lead Researcher (s)
- Rui Bo, rbo@mst.edu
PSH plants have been traditionally designed and used for large scale, daily energy arbitrage, but technological developments and changes to grid needs are making flexible operation more prevalent. Market participation models for PSH have not kept up with these changes, which means that the range of energy and ancillary services that PSH plants can provide are not being optimally allocated. The proposed work aims to develop a prototype enhanced PSH model for incorporation into MISO’s multi-stage market clearing process with proper consideration of the unique characteristics of PSH. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Markets
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Modeling Conventional Hydropower Plants to Duplicate Pumped Storage Hydro Operation
Lead Companies
EPRI
Lead Researcher (s)
- Francisco Kuljevan
As interest rises in pumped storage’s role for integrating variable renewable energy (VRE) resources into the grid, a key resource may be overlooked. Conventional hydropower can, and sometimes does, provide ancillary services that mimic pumped storage’s capabilities. This report describes (1) the development and demonstration of an innovative, water-based methodology for analyzing and evaluating alternative energy and ancillary services operations under different market conditions, (2) the results from analyses using the methodology, and (3) recommendations based on results from the analyses. Results are provided from detailed analyses of a hypothetical three-unit hydropower plant operating (a) under cold weather (February) and hot weather (July) conditions; (b) with low, medium low, medium high, and high water budgets; and (c) in three market regions (CAISO, MISO, and NYISO). Across markets, seasons, and water budgets, the daily revenues from co-optimized energy, regulation, and spinning reserves significantly exceed the daily revenues from energy-only operation.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Hydraulic Optimization
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
Modeling fish habitat and disease impacts from hydroelectric flow management
Lead Companies
U.S. Geological Survey
Lead Researcher (s)
- Russ Perry
The production of Klamath River fall Chinook salmon is thought to be limited by poor survival during freshwater juvenile life stages, in part a result of Ceratonova shasta—a highly infectious disease that can lead to fish mortality. Higher flushing river flows are thought to affect the concentration of C. shasta spores, and in turn, juvenile salmon infection and mortality. The Stream Salmonid Simulator (S3) model was built to simulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of the growth, movement, and survival of juvenile salmon from spawning through migration in response to river flow, habitat availability, water temperature, and C. shasta spore concentrations. The S3 model has been calibrated to juvenile fall Chinook salmon abundances at a trap site within the Klamath River, and was designed to provide objective predictions of juvenile salmon abundance and survival in relation to proposed flow management alternatives and resulting fish infection and mortality by C. shasta.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
Don’t see your waterpower research?
Have questions about WaRP?
Contact Marla Barnes at: marla@hydro.org