Get to know the set of tasks within the project’s scope

*Credit: Voith Hydro, Frades NE

Define the technical requirements for hydropower equipment to extend its operating range up to values far below of the technical minimum established in the design phase, considering the impact on the life of the components or the need for O&M; and to improve the quality of the water to be turbined through air/oxygen.
Establish the scope of the work to be carried out to carry out tests/trials with the objective of reducing the minimum operating flow of several IBD hydroelectric plants.
Define environmental and social impact KPIs for validation.
Establish the minimum admissible flow rate that allows safe, reliable and long-lasting operation of the hydroelectric group and the measures to be implemented to achieve it.
Develop a generative design tool for turbine components based on CFD method coupled with AI driven design, aiming to generate high-accuracy shapes and textures, and new designs of components to convert existing turbines into new optimized turbines increasing their low-flow performance.
Develop AMmaterials and coating solutions as metallic patches to minimize cavitation at lower flows.
Develop solutions based on using a frequency converter to adapt rotating speed increasing the usable operation range of the unit.
Develop natural/ forced air admission systems at suitable locations inside the turbine to improve all aspects of performance at low flow.
Design and model test a replacement runner for Francis turbine capable of enhanced operation at lower flows.
Develop of a high-fidelity, three-dimensional multiphysics model capable of monitoring turbine behaviour in real time using a combination of numerical models and sensor data.
Develop of a tool to determine the accumulated fatigue damage and remaining life of the system.
Develop of a non-invasive instrumentation system capable of characterizing turbine runner vibrations.
Identify available technologies and technological approaches for water aeration at hydropower stations both at the runner and outside the runner.
Characterize each solution to understand its technoeconomic and environmental implications, and their application spaces.
Define optimal monitoring strategies to monitor the performance and effectiveness of the aeration strategies (for example telemetry).
Develop a 2D model to assess oxygen content evolution in the longitudinal and vertical axes of selected reservoirs.
Assess changes in benthic invertebrates and fish communities resulting from oxygen content amelioration (by means of standard methodologies and new available techniques, such as eDNA analyses.
Select the optimal testing scenario to demonstrate the technologies developed in the project
Define the test strategy detailing the types of and level of testing required to measure effectiveness and testing (positive and negative) to identify potential defects or abnormal scenarios.
Define the test data to be used.
Carry out all the necessary testing to demonstrate the improved performance of HPPs by means of mechanical solutions (AM-based patches, air injection in turbine and replacement runner) and electrical solutions (frequency variator to expand operation range), to confirm underlying components and modelling are aligned with the work package expected results and KPIs.
Demonstrate the performance and lifetime prediction methods in a real power plant context under an expanded operation range.
Assess the possible synergetic effects of combining different complementary solutions, in terms of improved performance and impact on components and plant’s residual life.
Identify relevant flora and fauna communities, functions and ecosystem services affected by refurbishment and flexible operation of hydropower facilities.
Stablish assessment and valuation methodologies to deliver a biodiversity Net Positive Impact database for case studies.
Show through a real case study that the biodiversity community and the provision of ecosystem services (and therefore societal benefits) can be enhanced by hydropower flexible operation and refurbishment and that engineering design can be integrated as part of ecosystem-based management decisions.
Perform a LCC assessment to evaluate the impact of the solutions on the LCOE.
Define, implement and coordinate a comprehensive dissemination, communication, and exploitation strategy ensuring broad stakeholder engagement as well as maximising the project visibility and impact.
Coordinate and organize the project at strategic level, ensuring: project followup (project progress control and planning); continuous update of the project status to the commission officers; decision making procedures and suitable project administration; and assure data management, protection and privacy during all the project duration.
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