Feasibility of the sizes of water-conveyance system in run-of-river power plants

Samara State Technical University, Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering, 194, Molodogvardeyskaya St., 443001, Samara, Russia

^* Corresponding author: balzannikov@samgasu.ru

Abstract

The paper deals with run-of-river power stations. The author notes the importance of the implementation of the technical-economic calculations in large-sized elements of the water-conveyance system in run-of-river power plant: turbine pits and intake pipes. The article shows that the volume of construction and the total cost of power plants construction depend on the size of water-conveyance system elements. The task of the research is the economic feasibility analysis of intake pipes sizes in run-of-river power plants, built in the European part of Russia. The author presents the methodology of economic analysis for justification of the length of the intake pipe, based on the method of the total cumulative effect. The methodology is used for calculations of low-pressure run-of-river power plants. The paper gives the results of feasibility of the optimal sizes of intake pipe. The article analyses the influence of operating conditions of power plants on the choice the optimal length of an intake pipe. The analysis showed that it is economically feasible to use intake pipes with a greater length. The length of the intake pipe will increase the efficiency of power plants at the expense of pressure losses of the output stream. The results are important for a correct choice of the main geometrical dimensions of the designed power plants.