• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.5-11
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• 2014

Small hydro power, among other renewable energy resources, has been evaluated to have enough development value because it is a clean, renewable and abundant energy resource. In addition, small hydro power has the advantage of low cost development by using existing facilities like sewage treatment plants, water works and similar resources. But in the case of small hydro power systems, there are problems with degraded operation efficiency of turbine due to changes in flow rates. In order to overcome this, variable speed control can be achieved by using the power rectifier and permanent magnetic synchronous generator(PMSG) as a possible method to respond to the changes in flow rates. In this study, a commercial ANSYS CFD code was used to analyze the performance of 10kW class propeller hydro turbine and to also investigate flow characteristics at variable flow rates and runner vane.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.105-110
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• 2006

Among many other alternative energy resources, small scale hydro power has been brought into attention as a reliable source of energy today, which had been relatively neglected since 1960s. Especially, Kaplan micro-turbine can be applied to various kind of small hydro power plants, such as reservoirs for agriculture purpose, sewage treatment plants and water purification plants. However present low head of Kaplan micro-turbines and small scale hydro turbines, have limitations in the minimum required head and flow rate for efficient operation. This research is to develop modeling analysis for the Kaplan micro-turbine, which can improve economical features of small hydro power plants. The contents and scope of this research are the efficiency improvement of Kaplan micro-turbine.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.63 no.8
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• pp.1134-1139
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• 2014

Recently the need for renewable energy development is expanding due to the global climate change, the environmental issues and the limited fossil energy resources. Dependence of energy on overseas is high in Korea. To resolve the environmental problems and to improve the energy independence rate, the development of renewable energy is more required. The small hydro power, one of the renewable energy resources, has been developing and operating from a long time ago. If we are new developing a small hydro power with the use existing dams and reservoirs, we will design the length of inlet pipe and the diameter suitable for it. However, in case of using the existing water supply pipe which had been designed suitable for water service, the designer has to review and check that the pipe is suitable for operating a generator. In this paper, the design of small hydro power using the existing long pipe of water supply, we suggest the optimum way to reduce the water hammer in pipe which causes the unsteady flow during the load-shutdown of generator, the generator operation plan for the stable supply of water and the design factor of determining the generator capacity through the analysis between discharge and head-loss.

• Water Engineering Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2001

A performance prediction model for Small Hydro Power(SHP) sites has been studied and developed. Twelve SHP sites were selected and the performance characteristics were analyzed by using the developed model. Also, primary design specifications such as design flowrate, plant capacity, operational rate were suggested and feasibility for small hydro power sites were estimated. It was found that the design flowrate is most important parameter to exploit SHP plant and the methodology developed in this study can be a useful tool to analyze the performance of SHP sites.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1992-1996
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• 2007

The Kaplan turbine model has been tested and analized. The blade angle and the guide vane opening of the turbine model were designed to be varied according to the best combination of guide vane and runner blade opening. When the changes in head and output were comparatively large, the efficincy drop were small, so the efficiency characteristics and stability of the entire operating condition were maintained in good condition. These results showed that the developed model in this study will be suitable for small hydro power stations with large changes in head and load.

• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.157-173
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• 1995

Hydro-electric power generation from multi-purpose dams has been playing important roles in the electric power supply network in Korea. Although the total share of hydro power in national electricity supply now becomes very small, the peak-shaving and frequency control capability of hydro power helps the power company enormously in maintaining the quality of power. But since the company that builds and operates the multi-purpose dams in Korea has to sell all the electricity produced to the monopolistic utility, there have been various problems in justifying the investment, designing pricing mechanism, and controlling operations of the power plants. In addition, economic evaluation of the hydro power has been distorted by a variety of reasons and hence it has been very difficult to encourage effective development and utilization of national water resources. To make the problem worse, both parties are public companies with X-inefficiency problems. Thus, changing environment requires to reengineer the system that governs hydro power generation. We address the problems of Korean hydro-electric power generation system in four areas: the investment justification process, the operations decison right of the hydro power plants, the pricing of the purchased-power, and the negotiation of contract revision. Then we propose improvement directions of new hydro-electric power system in view of static and dynamic efficiency, X-inefficiency and equity.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.689-693
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• 2015

Recently, many advanced countries are devoted to the development of eco-friendly new-renewable energy to prepare for the depletion of resources. Korea belongs to the absolute lack of energy to import from abroad 97% of energy use. So, development and supply of eco-friendly energy such as small hydro power has been required even more. Our country has a large number of small-sized reservoirs and dams. So, hydro generator has been installed at the small reservoirs and dams with the economy. Since the discharge flow of agricultural reservoir is not constant, the guide vane of wicket gate is used for adjusting the output of the generator.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.157-157
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• 1987

Hydro-electric power generation from multi-purpose dams has been playing important roles in the electric power supply network in Korea. Although the total share of hydro power in national electricity supply now becomes very small, the peak-shaving and frequency control capability of hydro power helps the power company enormously in maintaining the quality of power. But since the company that builds and operates the multi-purpose dams in Korea has to sell all the electricity produced to the monopolistic utility, there have been various problems in justifying the investment, designing pricing mechanism, and controlling operations of the power plants. In addition, economic evaluation of the hydro power has been distorted by a variety of reasons and hence it has been very difficult to encourage effective development and utilization of national water resources. To make the problem worse, both parties are public companies with X-inefficiency problems. Thus, changing environment requires to reengineer the system that governs hydro power generation. We address the problems of Korean hydro-electric power generation system in four areas: the investment justification process, the operations decison right of the hydro power plants, the pricing of the purchased-power, and the negotiation of contract revision. Then we propose improvement directions of new hydro-electric power system in view of static and dynamic efficiency, X-inefficiency and equity.

• Water for future
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 1991

This study represents the methodology for feasibility analysis of small hydro power plants. Cumulative density function of Weibull distribution and Thi-essen method were adopted to beside flow duration curve at candidate sites. The performance prediction model and construction cost estimation model for tunnel-type small hydro power plants were developed. Eight candidate sites existing on Han river selected and surveyed for actual sites reconnaissance. The performance characteristics and economical feasibility for these sites were analyzed by using developed models. As a result, it was found that the optimum design flowrates with the lowest unit generation cost for tunnel-type small hydro power plants were the flowrate concerning with between 20 % and 30 % of time ratio on the flow duration curve. Additionally, primary design specifications such as design flowrate, effective head, capacity, annual average load factor, annual electricity production were estimated and discussed for surveyed sites.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2010

The hydrologic performance characteristics of small hydro power(SHP) sites located in four major river systems have been studied. The model, which can predict flow duration characteristic of stream, was developed to analyze the variation of inflow caused from rainfall condition. And another model to predict hydrologic performance for SHP plants is established. Monthly inflow data measured at Andong dam for 32 years were analyzed. The predicted results from the developed models in this study showed that the data were in good agreement with measured results of long term inflow at Andong dam. The results from hydrologic performance analysis for SHP sites located on five major river systems based on the models developed in this study show that the specific design flowrate and specific output of SHP site have large difference between the river systems.