The interest for new large hydropower pumped storage plants in Norway is increasing. Such large plants have massive hydraulic transients, and the surge chamber design have crucial impact. The air cushion surge chamber design is the preferred design for large hydropower plants in Norway since the 1970’s, and new research is now initiated in order to further investigate the physical properties and optimum design of these constructions. A new physical model of a hydropower waterway with an air cushion surge chamber is currently under construction at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The model design is difficult due to huge impact of atmospheric air pressure. This paper will present the model design, dimensional analysis and a comparison of numerical simulations of the model and field measurements from the prototype in order to test the model design. The model design is found to be feasible, and the construction works are initiated.
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