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K. Kubiak-Wójcicka and L. Szcz˛ ech
17.4 Types of Hydroelectric Plants
Hydroelectric power plants in Poland can be divided according to several criteria:
– method of storage and use of water (characteristic of cooperation with the energy
system),
– water head (height between the upper and lower level of water),
– the way of water accumulation,
– the location of the power plant,
– level of power production,
– the type of turbines used.
The criterion for the use of water is divided between power plants:
– run-of-river (diversion), these are flow plants that do not have a storage reservoir,
working in continuous motion, electricity is generated depending on the amount
of water flowing (working time – over 4000 h/year) (HP Włocławek, HP Wały
´
Sl˛ askie),
– storage hydropower (impoundment) equipped with a storage reservoir where
water is accumulated (working time 2000–4000 h/year), also usually flows power
plants operating in the daily alignment mode,
– mixed pumped storage power plants (working time up to 2000 h/year) with periodic flow regulation; the power plant is equipped with storage reservoir, but a relatively small inflow forces periodic shutdown of the power plant with the purpose
of filling the reservoir; depending on reservoir capacity, breaks can range from
several hours to several days; the power plant is equipped with pumps which can
water back to upper reservoir (HP Niedzica, HP Dychów),
– pumped storage power plants, equipped with an upper and a bottom reservoirs
between which water flows; down by turbine operation and power generation;
up during pump operation; generators in this phase work in the motor mode and
consume electrical energy (HP ˙
Zarnowiec, HP Por˛ abka- ˙
Zar); the power plants in
this system do not produce energy, but allow it to be stored in the form of potential
energy; the energy balance of the pumped storage power plant without its supply
is always negative, the storage efficiency is quite high and reach to approx. 90%,
– cascade power plants, in which two or more power plants use the same water, it
mince that runoff of the one stage may be used as inflow of the next stage; this
is so-called shift work; if the level of the upper reservoir of the lower stage starts
at the same level as the lower reservoir of the higher level, it can be named as a
compact cascade; if the compact cascade covers the whole river, then it is possible
to use all its energy potential (e.g. Radunia cascade, which uses about 60% of its
energy potential, the San cascade).
Due to the height of the fall, hydroelectric power plants in Poland can be divided
into:
– high head with a difference of water levels reaching 100 m and more (HP Por˛ abka
˙
Zar – 440 m, HP ˙
Zarnowiec – 125 m),
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka and L. Szcz˛ ech
17.4 Types of Hydroelectric Plants
Hydroelectric power plants in Poland can be divided according to several criteria:
– method of storage and use of water (characteristic of cooperation with the energy
system),
– water head (height between the upper and lower level of water),
– the way of water accumulation,
– the location of the power plant,
– level of power production,
– the type of turbines used.
The criterion for the use of water is divided between power plants:
– run-of-river (diversion), these are flow plants that do not have a storage reservoir,
working in continuous motion, electricity is generated depending on the amount
of water flowing (working time – over 4000 h/year) (HP Włocławek, HP Wały
´
Sl˛ askie),
– storage hydropower (impoundment) equipped with a storage reservoir where
water is accumulated (working time 2000–4000 h/year), also usually flows power
plants operating in the daily alignment mode,
– mixed pumped storage power plants (working time up to 2000 h/year) with periodic flow regulation; the power plant is equipped with storage reservoir, but a relatively small inflow forces periodic shutdown of the power plant with the purpose
of filling the reservoir; depending on reservoir capacity, breaks can range from
several hours to several days; the power plant is equipped with pumps which can
water back to upper reservoir (HP Niedzica, HP Dychów),
– pumped storage power plants, equipped with an upper and a bottom reservoirs
between which water flows; down by turbine operation and power generation;
up during pump operation; generators in this phase work in the motor mode and
consume electrical energy (HP ˙
Zarnowiec, HP Por˛ abka- ˙
Zar); the power plants in
this system do not produce energy, but allow it to be stored in the form of potential
energy; the energy balance of the pumped storage power plant without its supply
is always negative, the storage efficiency is quite high and reach to approx. 90%,
– cascade power plants, in which two or more power plants use the same water, it
mince that runoff of the one stage may be used as inflow of the next stage; this
is so-called shift work; if the level of the upper reservoir of the lower stage starts
at the same level as the lower reservoir of the higher level, it can be named as a
compact cascade; if the compact cascade covers the whole river, then it is possible
to use all its energy potential (e.g. Radunia cascade, which uses about 60% of its
energy potential, the San cascade).
Due to the height of the fall, hydroelectric power plants in Poland can be divided
into:
– high head with a difference of water levels reaching 100 m and more (HP Por˛ abka
˙
Zar – 440 m, HP ˙
Zarnowiec – 125 m),