Hard mineral particles transported in suspension in river water may cause considerable erosion damages on turbines of high-head hydropower plants (HPPs). As basis for optimized design and operation of such HPPs, a research project is conducted in the HPP Fieschertal in Valais, Switzerland. In other parts of the project, the sediment load (Fig. 1) was measured and evaluated. In parallel, the effects of the sediment on the hard-coated runners of Pelton turbines was monitored (Fig. 2). Over several years, the coating thickness inside the buckets and geometrical properties such as the splitter width were measured repeatedly.
This project deals mainly with the evaluation of these measuring data since 2017 (Figs. 3 and 4). It is planned that the candidate will participate in the turbine inspections and measurements in spring 2020. Finally, the relation of erosion depths and sediment loads will be investigated. This project offers the possibility to get insight in a topic of increasing impor¬tance based on a real case and to contribute to the efficient use of the hydropower potential.
Hard mineral particles transported in suspension in river water may cause considerable erosion damages on turbines of high-head hydropower plants (HPPs). As basis for optimized design and operation of such HPPs, a research project is conducted in the HPP Fieschertal in Valais, Switzerland. In other parts of the project, the sediment load (Fig. 1) was measured and evaluated. In parallel, the effects of the sediment on the hard-coated runners of Pelton turbines was monitored (Fig. 2). Over several years, the coating thickness inside the buckets and geometrical properties such as the splitter width were measured repeatedly. This project deals mainly with the evaluation of these measuring data since 2017 (Figs. 3 and 4). It is planned that the candidate will participate in the turbine inspections and measurements in spring 2020. Finally, the relation of erosion depths and sediment loads will be investigated. This project offers the possibility to get insight in a topic of increasing impor¬tance based on a real case and to contribute to the efficient use of the hydropower potential.
see description
see description
Dr. David FELIX,
HIA C51,
Hönggerbergring 26,
CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland,
felix@vaw.baug.ethz.ch
www.vaw.ethz.ch
Dr. David FELIX, HIA C51, Hönggerbergring 26, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland, felix@vaw.baug.ethz.ch www.vaw.ethz.ch