Experimental Investigations on Particle Behavior in Stormwater Tanks for Numerical Simulation

Abstract

Pumped storage power plants have become increasingly important in recent years due to the progression of the energy transition and the expansion of renewable energy production. A key advantage of pumped storage power plants is the ability to store electrical energy with a high degree of efficiency. However, increasing sedimentation can be observed in reservoirs worldwide, including the upper basins of pumped storage power plants, which can have a negative impact on various aspects of these power plants, including efficiency and stability. This study is part of a larger project addressing the issue of sedimentation in the upper basin of pumped storage power plants with the aim of better understanding the mechanisms and formulating solutions. In this study, the flow patterns in a model basin representing an upper basin of a pumped storage power plant are investigated. The main objective is to gain basic knowledge and data about the structure of this flow in order to be able to create numerical simulations based on it. The main aim of the project is to prevent the sedimentation in the upper basins of pumped storage power plants. In this context, the basics of pumped storage power plants and the problem of sedimentation were explained, the recording of flow patterns using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was discussed and the design and implementation of model tests were explained. Subsequently, several possible model basins were designed, of which the prototypes do not exist in reality, but are based on the dimensions of real upper basins of pumped storage power plants. The test setup with the constructed model basin was then optimized in order to make the best possible use of the recordings for a PIV evaluation. In the next step, the recorded videos were evaluated using the Fudaa-LSPIV software and the generated flow patterns were presented and discussed. Finally, possible solutions to prevent the sedimentation in upper basins of pumped storage plants power were suggested.