17 Exploitation of Rivers in Poland for Electricity …
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– medium head with a difference of water levels in the range of 30–100 m (HP
˙
Zydowo – 82 m),
– low head power plants with a water level difference in the 1–30 m range (HP
Włocławek – 8.8 m, HP Wały ´
Sl˛ askie – 4.7 m).
Due to the method of water accumulation hydropower plants in Poland can be
divided into:
– storage reservoir with an embankment dam (HP Por˛ abka, HP Koronowo),
– storage reservoir with a heavy (gravity), concrete or stone dam (HP Solina, HP
Pilchowice).
Due to the location of the power plant, they can be divided into:
– dam-toe powerhouse (HP Solina) it is located just adjacent to the dam,
– with a pressure derivative pipeline (penstock) (HP ˙
Zarnowiec, HP Por˛ abka- ˙
Zar)
and a power plant located at the level of the lower (tail) reservoir,
– with an atmospheric derivative channel (HP Dychów),
– run-of-river with turbines located inside weir (HP Włocławek, HP D˛ ebe, HP Wały
´
Sl˛ askie).
Some hydroelectric plants may show the combined features of several technical
solutions, e.g. HP Koronowo is a power plant with an embankment dam made on
the Brda River, water is directed in a new way, by several lakes. To create a water
channel, the ditches are made between lakes. Ultimately water flows out of the Białe
Lake thru an atmospheric derivation channel to the water gate from where it just
flows down by the penstock to the power house, several kilometers from the dam.
Due to the turbines used to power generating sets, hydropower plants can be
divided into:
– hydroelectric power plants with Kaplan turbines (HP Włocławek),
– hydroelectric plants with Francis turbines (HP Solina),
– hydroelectric power plants with Deriaz turbines (HP Niedzica),
– hydroelectric plants with Pelton turbines (HP Bielkowo),
– hydropower plants with Archimedes turbines (SHP).
It is also possible to use other turbines, e.g. Banki-Michell (crossflow) or VLH
(Very Low Head turbine), but their use in Poland is quite rare.
The Kaplan turbine is by far the most commonly used turbine in Polish hydropower
plants. Decisive in this respect is their optimal range of use for medium and low head
in the 1–80 m range, as well as medium and large flows. The Kaplan turbine is
a propeller-type turbine with variable blades geometry. The turbine blades can be
adjusted during operation. The turbine is placed inside a scroll-shaped case whose
task is to swirl the water entering the turbine. At the turbine inlet, there is a wicked
gate, the blades of which are adjustable as well.
In the largest hydropower plants in Poland – pumped storage power plants, Francis
turbines are usually used. It is due to a large difference in the levels of head and tail
water as well as the possibility of their transfer from turbine work to pump operation
333
– medium head with a difference of water levels in the range of 30–100 m (HP
˙
Zydowo – 82 m),
– low head power plants with a water level difference in the 1–30 m range (HP
Włocławek – 8.8 m, HP Wały ´
Sl˛ askie – 4.7 m).
Due to the method of water accumulation hydropower plants in Poland can be
divided into:
– storage reservoir with an embankment dam (HP Por˛ abka, HP Koronowo),
– storage reservoir with a heavy (gravity), concrete or stone dam (HP Solina, HP
Pilchowice).
Due to the location of the power plant, they can be divided into:
– dam-toe powerhouse (HP Solina) it is located just adjacent to the dam,
– with a pressure derivative pipeline (penstock) (HP ˙
Zarnowiec, HP Por˛ abka- ˙
Zar)
and a power plant located at the level of the lower (tail) reservoir,
– with an atmospheric derivative channel (HP Dychów),
– run-of-river with turbines located inside weir (HP Włocławek, HP D˛ ebe, HP Wały
´
Sl˛ askie).
Some hydroelectric plants may show the combined features of several technical
solutions, e.g. HP Koronowo is a power plant with an embankment dam made on
the Brda River, water is directed in a new way, by several lakes. To create a water
channel, the ditches are made between lakes. Ultimately water flows out of the Białe
Lake thru an atmospheric derivation channel to the water gate from where it just
flows down by the penstock to the power house, several kilometers from the dam.
Due to the turbines used to power generating sets, hydropower plants can be
divided into:
– hydroelectric power plants with Kaplan turbines (HP Włocławek),
– hydroelectric plants with Francis turbines (HP Solina),
– hydroelectric power plants with Deriaz turbines (HP Niedzica),
– hydroelectric plants with Pelton turbines (HP Bielkowo),
– hydropower plants with Archimedes turbines (SHP).
It is also possible to use other turbines, e.g. Banki-Michell (crossflow) or VLH
(Very Low Head turbine), but their use in Poland is quite rare.
The Kaplan turbine is by far the most commonly used turbine in Polish hydropower
plants. Decisive in this respect is their optimal range of use for medium and low head
in the 1–80 m range, as well as medium and large flows. The Kaplan turbine is
a propeller-type turbine with variable blades geometry. The turbine blades can be
adjusted during operation. The turbine is placed inside a scroll-shaped case whose
task is to swirl the water entering the turbine. At the turbine inlet, there is a wicked
gate, the blades of which are adjustable as well.
In the largest hydropower plants in Poland – pumped storage power plants, Francis
turbines are usually used. It is due to a large difference in the levels of head and tail
water as well as the possibility of their transfer from turbine work to pump operation