Experimental Characterisation of a Positive Displacement Pump-Turbine for Low-Head Pumped Hydro Storage
A. Jarquin-Laguna (TU Delft - Offshore and Dredging Engineering)
J. P. Hoffstaedt (TU Delft - Ship and Offshore Structures)
R. Ansorena Ruiz (Technical University of Braunschweig)
D. Schürenkamp (Technical University of Braunschweig)
N. Goseberg (Technical University of Braunschweig)
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Abstract
Pumped hydropower provides the largest form of grid-scale energy storage. It plays a key role in the integration of variable renewables like wind and solar energy, and contributes to enhancing grid reliability. A great interest exists towards the exploitation of low head differences, particularly in shallow seas and environments with flat topography. This work presents an experimental analysis of the efficiency and operational performance of a 7 kW positive displacement reversible pump-turbine (PD-RPT) designed for low-head hydro applications under steady-state conditions. The PD-RPT features two rotors with three lobes and cycloidal surfaces. The characterisation tests were carried out in the hydraulic laboratory of TU Braunschweig for turbine and pump modes under variable speed conditions. The results highlight experimental peak efficiencies of 74.7% in turbine mode and 74.0% in pump mode for the operational range tested. In addition to challenges in efficiency and operational flexibility, the PD-RPT experiments also showed the need for effective debris management strategies to avoid performance degradation.
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