新しい再生可能エネルギーの統合に向けた水力タービン流れの不安定性に関する革新的研究
- Posted
- 2021年6月16日(水)
- 研究番号：21C10
- 研究分野：technology
- 研究種別：奨励研究
- 研究期間：2021年04月〜2022年03月
代表研究者
ファヴレル、アーチャ・トリスタン 理工総研が募集する次席研究員
FAVREL, Arthur Tristan Researcher
理工学術院総合研究所 宮川 和芳 研究室
Research Institute for Science and Engineering
研究概要
In the context of increasing electricity production by intermittent New and Renewable Energy (NRE) sources such as wind and solar, hydropower will play a crucial role in the power network by providing grid frequency control and balancing between electricity production and consumption. This, however, requires flexible operations of the hydropower units, notably the extension of their operating range to off-design conditions, where they are subject to dramatic flow instabilities putting at risk the system stability. Francis turbines, that represent 60% of the total hydro capacity installed worlwilde, may experience flow instabilities in their draft tube at off-design conditions putting at risk the electro-mechanical system:
•Self-oscillations of a cavitation vortex at full load, inducing severe pressure pulsations;
•Precession of a helical vortexrope at part load, inducing a pressure-excitation source for the whole hydraulic system and leading to potential resonances.
Based on the new understanding of the physical mechanisms of such flow instabilities obtained during the previous two financial years, this research plan proposes to implement new optimized flow control methods to mitigate draft tube flow instabilities.
An approach based on both fundamental and applied research is proposed. The fundamental physics of the turbine flow will be investigated on a simplified test-case and the new gathered methodologies for the optimization of turbine design and flow control will be finally applied to an actual Francis turbine model, and then to industrial projects in collaboration with Japanese hydro equipment manufacturers and hydropower utilities. This will represent an important milestone towards the safe operating range extension and flexible operation of hydropower units to fulfill with the new requirements of the electrical power network.