Sedimentation |
Innovations in sediment management
As global hydropower capacity continues to expand, innovative sediment management
technologies are crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and sustainability. Discover new solutions from desander basins to autonomous sediment measurement vessels, aiding the industry’s approach to sedimentation challenges
HYDROPOWER IS THE WORLD’S largest source of renewable energy, accounting for roughly 16% of the global power supply, with capacity expected to grow. One major challenge facing hydropower developers is reservoir sedimentation, which reduces storage volume, energy output, and discharge capacity, while increasing wear and tear on equipment and stress on the dam.
Several sedimentation management methods
exist, including desander basins, which minimize turbine wear by reducing water velocity and allowing sediment particles to settle. However, discharging the accumulated sediment below the dam can lead to power losses due to high water consumption for flushing. Additionally, dam operators often struggle to fully control sediment discharge during flushing, posing environmental challenges. The SediCon Desander Dredge is a gravity-powered
hydrosuction system designed to remove sediment from desanders or other small structures. Highly effective, it can significantly extend the life cycle of hydropower plants. The SediCon Desander Dredge uses the water head
Below: The LISST-SL2 from Sequoia Scientific can measure various parameters including depth, velovity, temperature, sediment concentration and size distribution
difference between the desander and the discharge pipe outlet to remove water and sediment. Its patented suction head ensures high removal capacity with low water consumption. The dredge can be fully automated with a winch system or traveling crane. Utilizing an efficient jetting and unrestricted flow
system, the SediCon Desander Dredge handles a wide range of sediments, from cohesive clay and organic material to sand and stones.
The SediCon Desander Dredge is easy to
operate with low investment and operating costs. Maintenance costs are minimal due to the few moving parts. Powered by gravity, the hydrosuction system is virtually emission-free. Users have complete control over when and where sediments are discharged, maintaining a natural sediment balance in the downstream river. The SediCon Desander Dredge can be quickly
adapted for new or existing desanders and can be installed and operated without disrupting normal desander operations. Power production can continue while the dredge operates, as the water level and quality remain unaffected.
Autonomous vessel Neoenergia fosters innovation, bringing benefits to
the energy sector. The company has developed an autonomous vessel designed to measure suspended solid discharges in hydroelectric power plant reservoirs. The necessity for this data is growing due to erosion and sediment transport issues in rivers. This innovation has been developed to enhance the accuracy and reliability of sediment sample collection, which is currently performed manually worldwide. This initiative is part of the Research and Development (R&D) Program, regulated by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel). The vessel complements studies using data from another autonomous vehicle dedicated to measuring liquid discharge. These surveys are conducted by the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) in collaboration with the Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC) and the University of Porto in Portugal. Existing measurement methods depend on each river’s characteristics – current speed, sediment concentration, and course size. The new equipment is adaptable to different rivers and was developed to collect integrated or occasional sediment samples across the section. It can collect equal volumes of water vertically, ensuring more accurate samples. “Our project is leading to the development of state- of-the-art technologies, benefiting the entire segment of hydropower generation with the possibility of more accurate analyses. This vessel is revolutionizing the way solid and liquid discharges are measured, which is essential to determine reservoir conditions,” said Neoenergia’s Hydraulic Engineering and Operations Superintendent, José Paulo Werberich.
34 | July 2024 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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