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- Conventional Hydro
Development of a Numerical Tool to Predict Hydrodynamics, Temperature and TDG in Hydropower Flows
Lead Companies
University of Iowa
Lead Researcher (s)
- Yushi Wang
Hydropower is the most important renewable energy source on the planet. Though it provides abundant benefits to society, it also has environmental and ecological consequences. Dam construction significantly alters natural flow conditions. Fish numbers decline and other aquatic life may be adversely affected, especially during migration and reproduction cycles, due to degradation of their natural habitat. High summer water temperatures in hydropower reservoirs and elevated total dissolved gas (TDG) concentrations in downstream tailrace regions can increase mortality rates of fish passing through the dam. This study proposes to develop a numerical model to improve the prediction of hydrodynamics and water-quality parameters in hydropower flows. The main focus is to simulate temperature dynamics and TDG distribution in the McNary Dam forebay and tailrace. Existing numerical temperature and TDG models, developed by Politano et al. (2008, 2009c), were improved and implemented into the open-source CFD code OpenFOAM. These newly developed models can be used to evaluate the efficiency of operational changes or structural modifications to reduce the negative environmental impacts of hydropower facilities. The forebay temperature model was based on the incompressible ReynoldsAveraged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the Boussinesq approximation. Turbulence was modeled with an improved realizable k model taking into account wind turbulence generation at the free surface. A thermal model incorporating solar radiation and convective heat transfer at the free surface was employed. The model was validated against field data collected on August 18th, 2004 at McNary Dam. Observed vertical and lateral temperature distributions and dynamics in the forebay were captured by the model. The incorporation of the atmospheric heat flux, solar radiation, and windinduced turbulence improved the temperature predictions near the free surface. The multi-phase TDG model utilized the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method combined with a Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) approach to calculate hydrodynamics. A one-way coupling approach was used to incorporate a TDG model, which includes the transport and dissolution of bubbles entrained in the spillway and takes into account bubble size change caused by dissolution and compression. The capability of the present model to predict spillway flow regimes was evaluated against observations in a reduced scale laboratory model. Simulation results demonstrated that flow regimes downstream of a spillway can be adequately reproduced by the numerical model. The capability of the model to quantify dissolved gas exchanges and TDG distribution was evaluated using a tailrace sectional model. The model captured TDG production and observed longitudinal TDG reduction under different flow regimes. Disparities between predicted and measured average TDG values fell within 4%. The model developed in this study is an effective predictive numerical tool to identify flow regimes and quantify TDG production under various flow conditions in near dam regions when lateral flows are not important.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
complete
Completion Date
2013
- Conventional Hydro
Development of field sampling protocol standards for environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring of dreissenid mussels
Lead Companies
Bureau of Reclamation
Lead Researcher (s)
- Sherri Pucherelli
The goal of this research is to evaluate field-based protocol standards and guidelines for dreissenid mussel eDNA surveillance that generate repeatable and reproducible results in a range of challenge conditions. Federal, state and tribal managers in the West are hesitant to use environmental DNA (eDNA) surveillance of dreissenid mussels to inform decision making until there are standardized protocols for eDNA field collection and lab analysis that generate repeatable and reproducible results. Given the need to prevent dreissenid mussel spread to the Columbia River Basin, the Western Regional Panel, the Western Governors' Association's Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative, and the DOI Safeguarding the West Initiative have all identified development and evaluation of eDNA dreissenid mussel field and lab protocols as an urgent need. In FY18, Reclamation assisted with a USGS led study that evaluated eDNA lab protocols. For FY19-20, we propose to evaluate field sampling approaches that best match with anticipated field conditions (e.g., water turbidity) and with the lab analytical approaches identified in our FY18 research effort.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2021
- Conventional Hydro
Development of Hydro Plant Bushings and Seals Best Practices
Lead Companies
CEATI International
Lead Researcher (s)
- 03/107
The report will present an in-depth analysis of the current best practices and case studies of non-lubricated bushings and seals in use by the hydro industry.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
Expected 2022
- Conventional Hydro
Development of short-range forecasts of weather-driven channel losses and gains to support Reclamation water management
Lead Companies
Bureau of Reclamation
Lead Researcher (s)
- Hong Nguyen-DeCorse
How does short term weather variability influence losses and gains on the lower Colorado River? Can statistical post-processing and blending of different weather forecast models improve the 1-5 day precipitation forecast, especially for high impact events, such as convective situations during summer months? Does improved weather forecast skill at the grid cell level translate into improvement of loss/gain forecasting skill on the 1-5 day time scale for the Lower Colorado?
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Water Resources
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
Development of Standardized Inundation Maps Produced using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Lead Companies
CEATI International
Lead Researcher (s)
- #0233
This study addresses the key components of this process that relate to both the application of GIS to visualization, and the application of the inundation mapping for risk assessments and emergency planning.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Dam or Weir
Research Sub-Category
Dam Safety
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
Digital Twin
Lead Companies
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Hong Wang (wangh6@ornl.gov)
With an average machine age of 64 years, the U.S. hydropower fleet requires smart modernization to reduce costs and enhance the overall reliability and value of the nation's longest-serving renewable energy technology. Hydropower operations are becoming more complex and demanding as hydropower strives to provide grid reliability and resiliency in the face of variable renewable energy production as solar and wind installations continue to expand. As the electric power grid prioritizes reliability, resiliency, and value amidst an evolving mix of variable renewable and baseload assets, hydropower technology will require the integration and full benefit of the best available and future advancements in sensors, data and control systems, analytics, simulation, optimization, and computing capabilities to remain competitive. We refer to this need as the Hydropower Digitalization Challenge. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) propose to launch a Digital Twin for Hydropower Systems (DTHS) open platform framework (OPF) as a key initiating research activity and outcome to address the hydropower digitalization challenge.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Economic evaluation of activities associated with invasive mussel management
Lead Companies
Bureau of Reclamation
Lead Researcher (s)
- Jolene Trujillo
What is the cost effectiveness of prevention and control mussel management strategies? In the case of invasive mussels, prevention efforts to contain their spread rely on watercraft inspections and decontamination (WID). This effort is costly and is subject to concerns regarding efficacy. Once an infestation occurs, control of mussels to mitigate infrastructure impacts rely on reactive techniques to reduce interior mussel biofouling at hydropower or water delivery facilities. These efforts are also costly with regard to the O&M of the facility and the water and power users of that facility. This project aims to understand the cost effectiveness of these two types of management activities (prevention and control) in order to better utilize limited funds for quagga mussels management.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
- Conventional Hydro
Effect of Electric Fish Barriers on Corrosion and Cathodic Protection
Lead Companies
Bureau of Reclamation
Lead Researcher (s)
- Daryl Little
The goal of this study is to examine the interaction between an electric fish barrier and cathodic protection system. Also, although pulsed cathodic protection is not normally utilized on submerged structures this study will examine whether a pulsed DC electric fish barrier can also be used to protect structures near the fish barrier.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
Effect of Substrate Roughness, Slope, and Body Size on Climbing Behavior and Performance of Juvenile American Eels (Anguilla rastrata)
Lead Companies
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Lead Researcher (s)
- Zahra Anwar
The effect of ramp slope and substrate grain size on the passage of juvenile American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) over indoor ramps was tested from May – August 2016. Two size classes of fish (300 glass eels 50 – 70 mm and 300 elvers 90-114 mm), five substrates varying in coarseness (Substrate 1: 0.18-0.25 mm grain size, Substrate 2: 0.25-0.60 mm grain size, Substrate 3; 0.60-1.00 mm grain size, Substrate 4: 1.00 – 2.00 mm grain size, Substrate 5: 2.00-4.00 mm grain size), and three ramp slopes (25, 35 and 45 degrees) were explored. Individual fish were placed at the bottom of a ramp and given 30 minutes to ascend 0.5 m. Movements over the substrate were recorded with video footage and digitized. Fish length, fish weight, water temperature, and days the fish were held in captivity before being tested were also recorded and analyzed. Results indicated that substrate had a highly significant effect on glass and elver climbing performance, and slope had an effect on elver performance but not glass eel performance. The roughest substrate yielded the highest proportion of eels ascending the entire length of the ramp and the highest climbing speed in each parameter category. Further testing with more grain sizes and longer ramp lengths are required, and mass manufacturing processes for this substrate need to be explored.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Status
complete
Completion Date
2017
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Have questions about WaRP?
Contact Marla Barnes at: marla@hydro.org