Digital platform approach for hydraulic characterization and detection of hydrodynamic phenomena in reversible turbomachines

Abstract

Hydropower is one of the most developed and utilized renewable energy sources in terms of installed capacity and reliability; therefore, it is one of the electricity production methods with the highest contribution worldwide and with an essential level of technological maturity. In recent years, the hydropower sector has shifted from large to small plants, due to water resource constraints and the effects of climate change. In addition, although less used, reversible hydro turbomachines are postulated as alternatives to offset the demand for intermittent and difficult to forecast renewable energy technologies. This paper presents the development and implementation of a digital platform based on real-time measurements for monitoring, recording, and analysis in the time and frequency domains of hydromechanical, dynamic, and electrical magnitudes. The resulting data are suitable for the characterization of hydraulic machines, and their technical diagnosis, allowing the detection of complex phenomena that may occur during their operation. To illustrate some of the capabilities of the platform, experimental tests were performed on a specific low-speed centrifugal pump, through its four-quadrant characteristic curve. The focus was on the measurement of pressure fluctuation and acceleration (vibrations) during operation at its best efficiency point (BEP) and at an off-design operating point where hydrodynamic instabilities were detected. Finally, the analysis and results are exposed, and the characteristics are presented.