A NEW CONCEPT IN HYDROPOWER - HYDROMATRIX~(~R)- TECHNOLOGY: DRAG FORCES ON AN ADVANCED HYDROMATRIX~(~R)-MODULE

摘要

The HYDROMATRIX~(~R)-technology is a new concept of electric energy production which was developed by VA TECH HYDRO. By this technology so called "HYDROMATRIX~(~R)-Modules" are installed in existing hydraulic structures (e.g. weir structures, irrigation dams, ship lock sluices etc.) in place of bulkhead or gate slots to generate electrical energy. The HYDROMATRIX~(~R)-Module basically consists of a compact "grid" arrangement of propeller bulb turbines installed on a steel structure that contains draft tubes and casual rooms for the technical equipment and trash racks. In addition to its use for power generation, the module may also have to fulfill the functions of stoplogs, if needed, in emergency situations. For this purpose it must be shifted into the flooded bay. In order to determine the drag forces on a modified version of this module during flood conditions, hydraulic experiments were carried out on a sectional model in plexiglass to a scale of 1:12.5. Flow phenomena for different underflow conditions depending on the module position and the downstream level are described and evaluated in contrast to recent performed investigations [5], [6]. Different underflow conditions influence essentially the development of the hydrodynamic forces. The drag forces were depicted in diagrams depending on downstream level and different steady lowering positions of the module.