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- Conventional Hydro
Using Remote Sensing and Ground Measurements to Improve Evaporation Estimation and Reservoir Management
Lead Companies
Bureau of Reclamation
Lead Researcher (s)
- Dagmar Llewellyn
Evaporative losses from reservoirs are not well understood due to climatic conditions, size and shape of the reservoir, and reservoir operations. However, these losses have the potential to be managed through science based decision making tools. The current method(s) used to estimate and account for evaporative losses rely upon technology from a century ago (i.e. Class A Evaporation Pan) and area-capacity tables for individual reservoirs. Technological advances using remote sensing (e.g. LandSat-8) and highly sensitive instrumentation (i.e. 3-D Sonic Anemometer with hygrometer, infrared sensor, etc.) have shown the potential to be used in estimating evaporation losses on spatial and temporal scale with more accuracy. Preliminary studies (BoR Technical Report RO5AC40438 2013) have been conducted at Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs by US Bureau of Reclamation and New Mexico State University.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Hydraulic Forecasting
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2021
- Conventional Hydro
Utilizing Acoustic Sensors to Detect Streambed Mobilization
Lead Companies
Bureau of Reclamation
Lead Researcher (s)
- Rebecca Braz
This proposal seeks to assess the viability of utilizing acoustic sensors to detect when streambed mobilization begins. The test location for this technique will be the Wild and Scenic stretch of the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande in northwestern New Mexico. This stretch of the Chama is located below El Vado Dam and is a high-sediment system with a significant amount of mud. This mud restricts oxygen transport in the streambed, impacting the food source and habitat of the brown trout, a key species in the designation of the Wild and Scenic Reach.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Water Resources
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
Value Drivers [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
ANL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Todd Levin, tlevin@anl.gov
The US power system has undergone a number of changes over the past decade driven in part by increasing penetrations of variable renewable energy, distributed energy resources and grid-scale battery storage, as well as increasing consumer participation and shifting load profiles to name a few. These changes are anticipated to continue in the coming decade and beyond, likely accompanied by others—technological, socio-political, and market-oriented—that may substantially change the operational requirements of the power grid. The varying degrees to which these changes manifest will drive changes in the value that hydropower resources can provide to power systems. Many hydropower resources have technical capabilities to provide a range of grid services that have traditionally been largely untapped due to either low system requirements for these services, or a lack of clear price signals for the value that they provide to the grid. We will establish a framework for quantifying the system value generated by conventional hydropower and PSH through the provision of grid services, as well the system factors that may augment these value streams in the future as power systems continue to evolve. The outcomes of this work will help stakeholders make prudent decisions regarding changes in operating practices and directing capital investments to improve resources' abilities to provide various grid services. Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Markets
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Value of flow forecasts to power system analytics
Lead Companies
PNNL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Nathalie Voisin
This project will use inflow forecast, reservoir and power system model simulations, and case studies to practically demonstrate where forecast improvements would create the most value for hydropower services. This research will benefit utilities and other hydropower operators who utilize flow forecasting to support water management and electricity production; it will also support DOE in targeting future investments related to forecasting that will benefit these groups.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Markets
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Value of flow forecasts to power system analytics [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
PNNL, INL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Nathalie Voisin, Nathalie.voisin@pnnl.gov
Hydropower operators use weekly water inflow forecasts to optimize reservoir releases and unit commitment and to meet power grid needs. The accuracy of inflow forecasts, combined with related scheduling adjustments, contracts, and market opportunities, are reflected in a utilities’ revenue. One of the goals of the HydroWIRES Initiative is to quantify the flexibility of hydropower operations and understand its adaptability to changes in water supply, regulation, markets, and power grid needs. In partnership with North Carolina State University and the National Corporation of Atmospheric Research, researchers from PNNL and INL will use inflow forecasts, reservoir and power system models, and case studies to demonstrate the contribution of flow forecast to provide hydropower services to the grid. Flow forecast accuracy metrics, combined with regional power system analytics (including regional economics and generation portfolios), will help detangle the value of incremental improvement in flow forecasts. This research supports DOE in developing strategic partnerships with other institutions to invest in information products and decision-support practices for meeting power grid needs. Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Hydraulic Forecasting
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Vibration and Alarm Settings for Hydro Machines with Hydrodynamic Guide Bearings
Lead Companies
CEATI International
Lead Researcher (s)
- #0389
The results in this report propose that a dynamic vibration monitoring system could be installed in order to protect and monitor machines against unwanted high loads.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
Water Risk for the Bulk Power System: Asset to Grid Impacts
Lead Companies
Sandia National Laboratories
Lead Researcher (s)
- Vince Tidwell
The majority of electricity generation in the United States (U.S.) is based on thermal and hydro power assets (90%, combined). The economic operations of hydropower assets, and the power grid, are affected by water availability, ambient temperatures, climate extremes (flood and drought), and water regulations, all of which have region-specific characteristics. A lack of water and/or warm temperatures can lower the available capacity at thermal and hydro assets and pose risks to the reliable operation of regional power systems. Future conditions are expected to significantly change and “accelerate” the hydrologic cycle, affecting both the timing of water availability and the temperature, exacerbating various risks to the power sector. Yet, there is no standardized, consistent mechanism for utilities and other stakeholders to understand how evolving predictive climate and hydrologic science can be translated to evaluate various potential water-related risks of their current grid assets (thermal, hydro) and future investment decisions.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Asset Management
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Water Start Up Time Model Validation Test
Lead Companies
Oregon Institute of Technology
Lead Researcher (s)
- Daniel Lee
This report is an Oregon Institute of Technology thesis project completed in partial fulfillment for the Masters of Science in Renewable Energy Engineering degree. The testing and research done for this report, investigate the phenomena of water start up time in the spiral case of hydro units. Water start up time is defined as the time it takes for water to accelerate from zero to rated velocity. From analysis of the literature there shows no published article of water start up time being measured and compared to theoretically calculated values. However a multiplier is used to create a buffer in the estimations of water start up time to use in the engineering and selection of governors for hydro units. The multiplier has also been widely used in computer model simulations which causes a dependence of this multiplier. In 2013 an article was published which challenges the hypothesis that water start up time has been over hypothesized and that the multiplier would be of a smaller value than what was hypothesized which would mean that the governing ability is more than what was expected. This proposal of a higher governing ability would mean that the hydro facilities that are currently standing has a higher stability rating than what was initially thought. The higher stability would allow for increased penetration of renewables onto the electrical grid. The lack of actual water start up time measurements as well as the infeasibility of testing on an actual hydro unit meant that a model would need to be designed, built, and tested. The model had two testing parameters that were examined. One of the parameters was flow rate that was controlled by the number of wicket gates that was installed into the system and the other was the reference height from the forebay to tail water. There were one hundred results from the test trials. The data from the trials showed a trend for the multiplier which was not constant as previously hypothesized and instead illustrated a parabolic trend that tapers into a linear digression. This result means that the range of testing was insufficient and the height range in which the trials were taking placed was subjected to higher variability. The results showed that the multiplier used in water start up time is not a constant and is variable based on the water level. The previous hypothesis stating that the water start up time is faster is false. In accordance with the results the trend showed that the actual water start up time is slower than what is hypothesized. This means at lower water levels the hypothesized governing ability is actually less than what is calculated to be using the current method of water start up time calculation for spiral cases. The theoretical analysis showed that with increased water level and flow rate showed that the multiplier has less effect on water start up time. The value of the water start up time tapering off from the experimental data shows that the trend for water start up time for both theoretical and experimental share similarities. An increased testing range of the water level in the trials will hypothetically lower the variability of the multiplier and in turn conform to a linear equation. The linear equation is shown to approach zero with increased head in which a static value can be achieved for a specified range.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
complete
Completion Date
2015
- Conventional Hydro
Web-Based Decision Support System for the Upper Colorado River Basins
Lead Companies
Bureau of Reclamation
Lead Researcher (s)
- Claudia Leon Salazar
In an effort to improve the coordination and transparency of water management operations within the Upper Colorado River basin, Eastern Colorado Area Office (ECAO) is proposing to develop a Web-Based Decision Support System (DSS). The DSS would enable real-time sharing of a visual representation of the Upper Colorado River as it responds to actual and anticipated reservoir releases, diversions and return flows. The proposed DSS would provide a tool for immediately assessing and visually displaying the aggregate effects of operational changes at key locations within the basin.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Hydraulic Forecasting
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2021
- Conventional Hydro
White Paper Series on the Role of Hydropower in Changing Electricity Markets
Lead Companies
ANL, PNNL, NREL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Audun Botterud, abotterud@anl.gov
The main objective for this project is to develop a series of forward-looking and technically rigorous white papers intended to motivate discussion of hydropower capabilities across the broader power system community. The project team will develop three white papers, focusing on topics such as evolving trends within electricity markets, contractual arrangements for hydropower, future grid requirements for a changing resource mix and how hydropower can contribute to meet these needs. Each white paper will contribute to the HydroWIRES goal of increased awareness and buy-in from the energy community for hydropower and pumped storage hydro to be part of the conversation about flexible, renewable electricity resources and a cleaner power grid. Overall, the project will lead to an increased understanding of hydropower’s role in evolving power systems and electricity markets. Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Renewable Integration
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
Don’t see your waterpower research?
Have questions about WaRP?
Contact Marla Barnes at: marla@hydro.org