Simulation of wave effects in pumped-storage power plants using the spectral element method

摘要

The design of new control strategies for the optimal dynamic operation of pumped-storage power plants requires a realtime-capable mathematical model which describes the pressure and volume flow fluctuations in the pipelines. Classical approaches, like the method of characteristics, result in high-dimensional systems of finite difference equations. This paper describes the application of the spectral element method to the discretization of the underlying partial differential equations. Special attention is put on the implementation of the boundary conditions, using a numerically stable upwind discretization. It is shown by numerical simulation studies that the system dimension can be reduced by at least one order of magnitude by the application of the spectral element method in comparison to the classical method of characteristics.