Using Simcenter Flomaster to understand a hydro-pumped storage scheme

In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in power generation from wind and solar energy sources. These sources are the fastest-growing forms of renewable energy generation. For this kind of energy, hydro-pumped storage is a well-proven concept of energy storage.

The objective of every hydropower plant is to streamline safe, reliable and cost-efficient operations of large turbine generators. Design engineers need to model the dynamic behavior of pump-turbine configuration and waterways, which are essential elements of any pumped storage system. Early understanding of the dynamic hydraulic behavior of a hydro-pumped storage scheme will assist engineers in selecting and sizing critical plant components and result in lower lifecycle costs and more reliable system operation.

Hydraulic model development

The graphical functionality of Simcenter Flomaster software is used to design engineers to create a hydraulic model that closely resembles the hydraulic waterways of the scheme. This helps designers find their way around the model and identify critical system components and nodes. Read the white paper to learn how engineers at JS Pump and Fluid System Consultants used Simcenter Flomaster to gain an early understanding of critical hydraulic design parameters for the Burdekin Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme in Australia.