Design of Desanding Facilities for Hydropower Schemes Based on Trapping Efficiency

Turbine wear caused by hydro-abrasion due to suspended sediment in the turbine water has a negative impact on power production and revenue of hydropower schemes. Efficiency desanding facilities that reduce load ahead turbines is key limiting hydro-abrasion. Existing built according common design approaches often show lack performance, particular under non-ideal site-specific inlet outlet conditions. Consequently, new concept allows for optimized at schemes been developed based prototype field measurements CFD modeling. The effects facility layout components, such as tranquilizing racks, transition zone outflow weir related parameters flow involved particle settling have investigated comprehensive numerical model study. Hence, length adjustment terms were deduced from resulting changes trapping efficiency, which allow estimation required basin an layout. Compared considering linear trajectories particles, proposed procedure leads longer basins general thus increased efficiencies facilities. Furthermore, findings about effect specific components may optimisation existing economical way.