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Conventional HydroStator Winding Temperature model
Lead Companies
Hydropower Research Institute
Lead Researcher (s)
- HRI Technical Steering Committee
This project is in the planning stage. The focus is on adapting existing, patented algorithm that predicts stator winding temperature based on other operational parameters to predicting temperature impacts from changing operational scenarios. This is in support of a request to an HRI participant to establish a value for a market product requested by a regulated market.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2021
- Conventional Hydro
The Impacts of Flexible Operation on Hydropower Assets: Generator
Lead Companies
EPRI
Lead Researcher (s)
- Francisco Kuljevan
With the increased penetration of variable renewable energy sources (wind and solar) in the electric grid’s energy mix, a greater need for a more flexible power system is required to maintain grid reliability. Hydropower has been shown to outpace its synchronous and inverter-base generation sources in a relative basis when providing the flexibility needed by the electric grid. Unfortunately, this flexibility comes with a potential decrease in fatigue life caused by the increased cycle activity, which was not accounted for when the assets were originally designed. With the use of electrical calculations, finite element analysis, and fatigue analysis, the study that is the subject of this report calculated the amplification damage factor caused by the flexible operation. The report focuses on two key generator components that have seen accelerated degradation caused by the change of operation patterns, from a baseload to a more flexible strategy.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Generator
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
TIP 274: Development & Demonstration of Applications for BPA & FCRPS Compliance with Modeling Standards & Performance Monitoring
Lead Companies
BPA/US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Steve Yang, BPA
The project developed and integrated a comprehensive set of power plant model validation and performance monitoring tools for BPA and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). It also developed capabilities at USACE to perform baseline testing and model validation needed to meet the WECC and BPA requirements.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Controls
Status
complete
Completion Date
2016
- Conventional Hydro
TIP 313: Power-Frequency Control
Lead Companies
BPA/US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)/US Bureau of Reclamation (USBOR)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Dmitry Kosterev, BPA
The project researched technical approaches for the BPA to meet the NERC frequency response standards and reliability challenges. It built on the success of hydro-governor design and tuning work done under the existing TIP 50 research to develop plant control and Automatic Generation Control (AGC) strategies to meet diverse reliability objectives. By investigating relationships between frequency controls, angular stability, and voltage stability issues this project determined the benefits and feasibility of various technical strategies to address stability issues.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Controls
Status
complete
Completion Date
2017
- Conventional Hydro
TIP 346: Cold Spray Deposition for Improved Service Life of New and Repaired Hydroelectric Turbines
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratories /BPA
Lead Researcher (s)
- Dennis Mai, BPA
- Luke Chase, BPA
This project provides BPA and utilities with hydropower assets, a model that they can use to understand the value proposition of cold spray repair for their hydropower system. This tool calculates anticipated savings in terms of reduced downtime and increased efficiency. It generates data required for cold spray repair providers to quote the work. Using outputs from this model, utilities can perform costs analysis for a given turbine repair.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
complete
Completion Date
2019
- Conventional Hydro
TIP 350: Power Plant Dynamic Performance Monitoring Center
Lead Companies
BPA/USACE/US Bureau of Reclamation (USBOR)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Steve Yang, BPA
This project developed and demonstrated an integrated system for monitoring power plant dynamic performance and model validation. This system has the following capabilities: - Events are detected and classified, notifications are sent through the BPA e-mail, e-mail includes event report. Data is extracted automatically- Updates PPMV with State Estimator Models, upgraded to new API with GE PSLF that does not require use of external EPCLs- Automates model acceptance process similarly to PPMV process- Performs routine benchmarking of power plant performance against performance metrics such as Frequency Response Obligation and voltage control- Deploys small signal oscillation detection application, log events of sustained oscillations, and provides data extraction capabilities
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Controls
Status
complete
Completion Date
2018
- Conventional Hydro
TIP 384: In situ residual stress measurement for accurate fatigue lifetime assessment
Lead Companies
General Electric (GE)/Alstom Renewable USA, /BPA
Lead Researcher (s)
- Mourad Heniche, Eng, PhD
- Dennis Petross, BPA
The main goal of the project is to help the condition assessments of key hydropower components through the measurement of residual stresses. To reach that goal, two major objectives were realized: (1) development of an in situ residual stress measurement method for critical hydropower components and (2) development of a methodology for treatment and incorporations of measured residual stresses into residual life assessments.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
complete
Completion Date
2019
- Conventional Hydro
TIP 385: Enhancing Hydropower Reliability through Cavitation Monitoring and Noise Condition Assessment
Lead Companies
Alstom Renewable Energy, LLC/BPA
Lead Researcher (s)
- Luke Chase, BPA
- Francis Proulx, Alstom
This project aims to 1) develop a cavitation-erosion monitoring method that will be implemented in a monitoring system demonstrator and 2) thoroughly investigate the feasibility of using noise measurements for condition and monitoring assessments of hydro turbine-generator unit components.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
TIP 405: Kaplan Turbines Oil Leak Elimination
Lead Companies
CEATI
Lead Researcher (s)
- George Brown, BPA
This research will provide guidance on existing/in-situ oil-filled Kaplan turbins, and identify ways to detect oil leakage and reduce or eliminate it. The longer-term goal is to identify technology changes that can be undertaken to install new oil-less Kaplan technology.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
TIP 408: Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Generator Modeling, Monitoring and Governor, and Voltage Control Optimization
Lead Companies
BPA/US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)/US Bureau of Reclamation (USBOR)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Dmitry Kosterev, BPA
- Steve Yang, BPA
- Gordon Kawaly, BPA
The project is a continuation of a multi-year collaborative effort between BPA Transmission and US Army Corps of Engineers in the area of generator modeling, monitoring and control optimization. This project completes work started under TIP 274 and focuses on the optimization of generator primary controls (AVR, PSS, governors) to provide essential reliability services.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Controls
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2020
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Thank you for considering submittal of your research within the National Hydropower Association’s (NHA) Waterpower Research Portal (WaRP). Once submitted, research information provided to NHA will enter into a review process. This is typically a two-week process, within which, NHA may contact you with questions and/or a request for additional information. Submittal of research does not guarantee posting within WaRP.
