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- Conventional Hydro
Investigation of flow and sediment transport over RoR dams, and potential effects on upstream and downstream geomorphology, sedimentation, and aquatic habitat.
Lead Companies
Colorado State University
Lead Researcher (s)
- Robert Queen
Low-head or Run-of-River (RoR) dams exist on all types of rivers throughout the United States, yet the exact mechanisms of how sediment moves around the structures have not been well researched. Due to the increasing use of RoR dams in small hydroelectric projects, there is a need to better understand the controlling factors of how sediment passes over these dams. A one-dimensional morphodynamic model was developed to investigate the effects of RoR dams on channel morphology over long time scales. The model solves the gradually varied flow equations to compute the flow field in the vicinity of the dam, computes grain-size-specific sediment transport rates, and uses sediment mass conservation and vertical storage bookkeeping to calculate the evolution of bed elevation, the bed surface grain-size distribution, and the vertical pattern of stratigraphy. The model’s hydraulic calculations were calibrated using data collected from a series of flume experiments performed with a model RoR dam to better capture the non-hydrostatic flow over a dam. Numerical experiments designed to investigate how the grain-size distribution of the sediment supply rate, flow rate (steady and unsteady), and dam height act as controls on sediment passage over RoR dams were conducted using parameters reported in the literature for a RoR dam in northern Delaware. These one-dimensional simulations were complemented with a few simulations using, a two-dimensional morphodynamic model, Nays2DH. The 1D simulation results show that the stored sediment upstream of RoR dams does depend on the sediment supply, dam height, grain-size and flow discharge. Once sedimentation in the reservoir has reached equilibrium, high flow events will reduce or scour the sediment while lower flows will typically increase the amount of sediment behind the dam. Finally, a dam that stores more sediment will have greater downstream effects in terms of changes to grain-sizes and bed elevation due to the increased time it takes to pass sediment over the dam and reach an equilibrium condition on the upstream side of the dam.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Sediment Transport
Status
complete
Completion Date
2018
- Conventional Hydro
Investigation of the performance and cost benefits of using a magnetically geared generator (MGG) for a hydropower generation.
Lead Companies
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Lead Researcher (s)
- Kang Li
In this project, a MSMG with a gear ratio of 59:1 has been designed which can achieve a high torque and a high torque density. The magnetic gearbox also has the potential to achieve the MW size after conducting the scaling analysis. the overall performance is competitive with the conventional mechanical gearbox.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Generator
Status
complete
Completion Date
2018
- Conventional Hydro
- Conventional Hydro
Leveraging Aggregated Data Sets
Lead Companies
Hydropower Research Institute
Lead Researcher (s)
- HRI Technical Steering Committee
This project proposes to focus on developing a paper discussing methods used to allow data from differing units and hydropower plants to be normalized and comparted to support development of predictive analytics and benchmarking.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
Low-Head, Short-Intake Flow Measurement Research
Lead Companies
PNNL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Marshall Richmond
Completed projects with no scope descriptions
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Water Resources
Status
complete
Completion Date
2019
- Conventional Hydro
Machine Learning for Improving Sub-Seasonal Forecasting
Lead Companies
Bureau of Reclamation
Lead Researcher (s)
- Ken Nowak
Reclamation concluded the prize competition "Sub-Seasonal Climate Forecast Rodeo" in June 2019 with a symposium hosted at NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. Several winning teams that were able to outperform operational forecasts from NOAA used machine learning Machine Learning for Improving Sub-Seasonal Forecastingtechniques to produce their forecasts. This funding would allow Reclamation to partner with those teams or pursue refinement of their solutions by other means. In addition to improving sub-seasonal forecast skill, Reclamation will be able to build and enhance internal machine learning capacity.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Hydraulic Forecasting
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
2020
- Conventional Hydro
Managing Hydrologic Financial Risk in Hydropower Production with Index Insurance Contracts
Lead Companies
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Lead Researcher (s)
- Ben Foster
Hydropower generators rely on stream flows to serve as “fuel,” which can lead to volatility in revenues that is financially disruptive. This vulnerability to hydrologic uncertainty, and the possibility of increased hydrologic variability in the future, suggests that hydropower producers need new tools for managing these financial risks. This study uses an integrated hydro-economic model of the Roanoke River Basin to characterize the financial risk faced by hydropower generators as a result of changes in water supply. Several index-based financial instruments are developed and evaluated using 100-year simulations of Kerr, Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Dam operations. Index basis risk, pricing, and contract design are all explored. Contracts built on average daily inflow are shown to be capable of reducing water supply risk at a range of levels, with even significant levels of risk (i.e. inflows under 75% of average) mitigated at a relatively low cost (under 3% of average revenues).
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Hydraulic Forecasting
Status
complete
Completion Date
2013
- Conventional Hydro
Marmot Dam Removal
Lead Companies
U.S. Geological Survey
Lead Researcher (s)
- Jon Major, Cascades Volcano Observatory
Immediate sediment response to removal of Condit Dam on the White Salmon River.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Sediment Transport
Status
complete
Completion Date
2012
- Conventional Hydro
Maturation of Nontoxic, Durable, Economical Coatings for Control of Invasive Mussels at Hydropower Facilities
Lead Companies
PNNL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Shane Addleman
The objective of this project is to mature and demonstrate durable, economical, and nontoxic coatings that will prevent invasive mussels (zebra and quagga) and other organisms from growing on hydropower structures.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Water Systems
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
Don’t see your waterpower research?
Have questions about WaRP?
Contact Marla Barnes at: marla@hydro.org