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Small or Non Conventional HydroAlternative Value Streams for Hydropower
Lead Companies
PNNL
Lead Researcher (s)
- TJ Heibel
This project focuses on identifying alternative value streams for small hydropower in the U.S.
Technology Application
Small or Non Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Research Sub-Category
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
Marine EnergyAMEC Support-SNL (FOA 2234 Support UNH)
Lead Companies
Sandia National Laboratories
Lead Researcher (s)
- Vince Neary
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) will collaborate with the Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC) university consortium under FOA-2234, primarily in an advisory capacity, on the major objectives of Topic Area 2: establishing the AMEC, operating modern test facilities, and conducting marine energy research. The project will be focused on providing support to help establish and operate AMEC as a university-led consortium to address the ongoing needs for research and development (R&D) and testing to advance marine renewable energy (MRE) technologies towards commercialization, and to develop Powering the Blue Economy (PBE).
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Hydrokinetic
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
Conventional HydroAn Advanced Study of Wind Power Variability on the Federal Columbia River Power System
Lead Companies
Oregon State University
Lead Researcher (s)
- Kelcy Lajoie
Renewable energy, particularly wind power, has increased dramatically over the past two decades. In the Pacific Northwest, the power system has accommodated a large amount of new wind power. The variability of wind power has introduced many challenges, requiring additional reserve generation to be available to maintain system stability. The primary source for reserves is the Federal Columbia River Power System, and the aging dams of this system are believed to be near their limit for providing this service. This paper will explore the dynamics of the power system as a whole, and investigate the relationships that wind power has to the rest of the power system. Several types of studies have been used to examine these relationships including Maximal Information Coefficient analysis, Correlation analysis, and Regression analysis. The results of these analyses demonstrate that the dynamics of the power system changed as wind power was added to the system. The results will also show that the power system is increasingly reliant on resources other than hydropower, including thermal power and interties to California and Canada, to provide balancing reserves for wind power.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Renewable Integration
Status
complete
Completion Date
2014
- Conventional Hydro
An Analysis of Partial-Depth, Floating, Impermeable Guidance Structures for Downstream Fish Passage at Hydroelectric Facilities
Lead Companies
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Lead Researcher (s)
- Kevin Mulligan
A floating impermeable guidance structure (FIGS) for downstream fish passage is constructed as a series of partial-depth panels anchored across a river channel, reservoir, or power channel. If guidance is successful, the fish will avoid entrance to a dangerous intake structure (i.e. turbine intakes) while passing from the upstream to downstream end of a dam through a safer passage route (i.e. the bypass). To evaluate the flow field immediately upstream of a FIGS, a parameterized CFD model of an idealized power channel was constructed in ANSYS Fluent v. 14.5. The design parameters investigated were the angle and depth of the FIGS and the average approach velocity in the power channel. Key findings indicate that a FIGS set at a small angle and deep enough such that the Effective Guidance Depth of the FIGS is greater than the expected vertical distribution of fish approaching the structure will perform the best.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Status
complete
Completion Date
2014
- Conventional Hydro
Analysis of environmental DNA from sediments for detection of invasive dreissenid mussels
Lead Companies
Bureau of Reclamation
Lead Researcher (s)
- Yale Passamaneck
The proposed work will test the utility of DNA analysis on sediments for detection of low abundance populations of invasive dreissenid mussels. Many reservoirs considered to be at low risk for establishment of invasive dreissenid mussels are sampled infrequently due to allocation of limited resources. Such infrequent sampling decreases the probability of detecting an introduction of mussels should it occur. Because DNA is expected to have a longer persistence in sediments that in open water, sampling and analysis of sediments should provide an additional means for detection of invasive dreissenid introductions in infrequently samples waters.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2022
Pumped StorageAnalysis of the Effects of Pre-whirl on the Efficiency and Operating Range of Hydro Pumps used in Pumped Storage Facilities
Lead Companies
The Pennsylvania State University
Lead Researcher (s)
- Keith Martin
This paper discusses the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to a case study of a hydraulic pump turbine operating in pumping mode. Emphasis is on the effects of induced pre-whirl on flow patterns through the impeller and on pump performance. ANSYS R Fluent, Academic Research, Release 14.0, software is used to model three-dimensional (3D) Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with a k − ω SST turbulence model. Full-wheel fixed rotor simulations are used to identify operating parameters that are used in more computationally intensive full-wheel moving mesh simulations.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Powerhouse Pump
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
complete
Completion Date
2015
- Conventional Hydro
Annex IX
Lead Companies
PNNL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Abhishek Somani
This project aims to explore the unique role of hydropower in producing significant amounts of firm renewable energy and storage to support VRE’s, and providing flexible energy services to support electricity systems – collectively termed ‘hydro balancing’. Specifically, Phase 2 will develop an understanding of two key strategic themes: (1) How hydropower may be valued in future electricity market scenarios, and (2) How hydropower may be valued in providing climate change adaptation services (e.g. flood control).Phase 2 will capture the contribution of hydropower by documenting the capabilities, challenges, opportunities, and market structures for compensating hydropower services in TCP member countries as well as additional countries recruited to the effort.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Renewable Integration
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Applied Statistical Analysis Techniques for Hydro Generation and Runoff
Lead Companies
CEATI International
Lead Researcher (s)
- #0426
The focus of this report is to review the current practices for data analysis techniques, with specific emphasis on contemporary approaches relevant to hydropower systems.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Hydraulic Optimization
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Marine Energy
AquaHarmonics Support FOA 1663
Lead Companies
Sandia National Laboratories
Lead Researcher (s)
- Budi Gunawan
As a result of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) 1663, Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Development and Advancement, a team led by AquaHarmonics, Inc. (AH), that includes Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) was selected as one of the FOA award recipients. The main objective of the proposed project is to advance the technology readiness of the AquaHarmonics’ device, by developing a 1:7th scale prototype and conducting an open water testing for an extended period (~12 months) at the Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site (WETS). During the open water testing, it is expected that the device will maintain an Average Climate Capture Width per Characteristic Capital Expenditure (ACE) target of at least 3m/M$, as has been demonstrated previously on a smaller scale device during the Wave Energy Prize competition. SNL will leverage its capability and experience in WEC design and testing to assist AquaHarmonics in WEC dry and open water testing, device design and PTO-control model development.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Wave
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
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