Criticism to Power Storage Hydro Plants and
Improvement Methods
WATER RESOURCE ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING | DTU
VIPRANJAL BIROK 2K18/CE/132
YASH CHAUDHARY 2K18/CE/133
Introduction
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity allows energy from
intermittent sources (such as solar, wind) and other
renewables, or excess electricity from continuous base-
load sources (such as coal or nuclear) to be saved for
periods of higher demand. The reservoirs used with
pumped storage are quite small when compared to
conventional hydroelectric dams of similar power
capacity, and generating periods are often less than
half a day. During periods of high electrical demand, the
stored water is released through turbines to produce
electric power. Although the losses of the pumping
process make the plant a net consumer of energy
overall, the system increases revenue by selling more
electricity during periods of peak demand, when
electricity prices are higher.
Elements of pumped storage systems
There are reservoirs which are upper reservoir and lower reservoir.
The first one located at a place where the water which is going to hit the turbine going to be stored (at high
elevation). It can be a constructed dam or lake. And the later one is placed at water exiting after the power house.
The second element of the system; water conductor systems are connecting lines which joins the reservoirs to
the power plant. It includes penstocks and tunnels. For the case of pumped storage systems deceleration,
acceleration and content of water matters the design.
The third element power plant holds pumping/generating turbines can be one or more in number, and supporting
auxiliary equipments which are going to be used for control, protection and operation. Due to researches and
developments made with time pumped storage plants of these days use reversible pump-turbine with vertical
shafts to connect to the generator-motors
CONCEPT : DEMAND & PRODUCTION ADJUSTMENT
Production of Energy in PSH Plants
E [J] = 9.81ƿwaterVreshheadƞ
ƿwater = 1000 kg / m³
Where:
Vres = 1000 m³
ƿwater is the density of water, usually about 1000 kg/m 3.
hhead = 100m
Vres is the volume of the reservoir in cubic meters.
η factor = 0.9
hhead is the head height in meters. Discharge period = 12 Hrs(say)
Volume flow rate = 0.0231 m³ /s
ƞ is the efficiency of the energy conversion
You can convert from flow rate in meters cubed per Power (at 90% efficiency) = P [KW] = 9.81 ƿwater hhead ƞ F/ 1000
second to power in kW using the following equation:
= 1000*9.81*100*0.0231*0.9/1000
P [KW] = 9.81 ƿwater hhead ƞ F / 1000
= 20.4375 KW
For 12 hrs discharge = 20.4375 Kw * 12 hrs = 245.25 KWh
Continued..
Assuming that the power remains the same, the flow Conclusion : A Pumped Hydro System builds
rate of the pump at 90% efficiency can be calculated. potential energy by storing water in a reservoir
Flow rate (in reverse pumping) = 20.4375 Kw * at a certain height when there is excess energy.
0.9/(9.81*100) = 0.01875 m³/s It converts the potential energy to electricity by
releasing the potential energy to turn the turbine
Time to fill reservoir = 1000m³ /s / flow rate *3600 =
generator when there is a demand and same
14.8 Hrs
process is reversed in non peak hour time.
Unit charge per @ peak hour = ₹ 4.5/per KWh Hence this electricity generation system can be
Total Cost = 4.5*245.25 = ₹ 1103.62
called as a huge battery.
Unit charge per @ Non peak Hour = ₹ 2.5/per KWh
20.4375*14.8*2.5 = ₹ 756.18
Revenue generated to state = ₹ 1103.62 – ₹ 756.18 =
₹ 347.44
Potential Technologies
Seawater
Pumped storage plants can operate with seawater, although there are additional challenges compared to using
fresh water. Inaugurated in 1966, the 240 MW Rance tidal power station in France can partially work as a
pumped- storage station. When high tides occur at off-peak hours, the turbines can be used to pump more
seawater into the reservoir than the high tide would have naturally brought in. It is the only large-scale power
plant of its kind.
Underground reservoirs
The use of underground reservoirs has been investigated. Recent examples include the proposed Summit project
in Norton, [Link] new underground pumped storage projects have been proposed. Cost-per-kilowatt
estimates for these projects can be lower than for surface projects if they use existing underground mine space.
There are limited opportunities involving suitable underground space, but the number of underground pumped
storage opportunities may increase if abandoned coal mines prove suitable
Underwater Reservoir
In this configuration a hollow sphere submerged and anchored at great depth acts as the lower reservoir, while
the upper reservoir is the enclosing body of water. Electricity is created when water is let in via a reversible
turbine integrated into the sphere. During off-peak hours the turbine changes direction and pumps the water out
again, using "surplus" electricity from the grid. The quantity of power created when water is let in grows
proportionally to the height of the column of water above the sphere, in other words: the deeper the sphere is
located, the more densely it can store energy. As such the energy storage capacity of the submerged reservoir is
not governed by the gravitational energy in the traditional sense, but rather by the vertical pressure variation.
Decentralised Systems
Small (or micro) applications for pumped-storage could be built on streams and within infrastructures, such as
drinking water networks and artificial snow making infrastructures. In this regard, a storm-water basin has been
concretely implemented as a cost-effective solution for a water reservoir in a micro pumped hydro energy
storage.
Criticism
Energy Density
Energy density is the amount of energy stored in a given
system or region of space per unit volume. It may also
be used for energy per unit mass, though the accurate
term for this is specific energy (or gravimetric energy
density).For simplicity, let us consider this graph
Because of such a low energy density, pumped storages
are needed to be made at much higher altitude
differences ( minimum 300m ) with very large reservoirs,
which brings us to our next criticism.
Site Specific
Disadvantages of pumped hydro power generation
include high initial capital cost and potential site-specific
negative environmental and ecological impacts and the
fact that the electrical power used for pumping the water
back up the mountain could possibly come from other
energy sources, such as nuclear, coal fired power
stations, whose power output cannot be adjusted to
follow load fluctuations.
Surplus energy sources location
It would be possible to pump the water into the upper basin with the help of a surplus of electric power
generated from wind energy and other such renewable energy systems although the wind turbines and the
pumped hydro storage system may not necessarily be installed at the same location. With the use of pipework
and the countrysides geological features, the upper and lower reservoirs of a pumped hydro storage system
can be many miles apart.
Turbine Runner Wear Problem
Turbines includes Francis turbines, the turbine runner is responsible for capturing energy from the flowing water.
Water is directed tangentially through the runner, which in turn causes it to [Link] the turbine runner is used
in reverse as a pump during the storage phase as well, all these pieces of equipment are subjected to twice
the amount of erosion compared to a standard hydropower turbine
Improvements Method
Sea water Storage Method
This project involves building a seawater dam around an existing natural inlet,
and placing turbines at the mouth of the inlet. Using low-head, high-flow
seawater storage near the coast, greatly reduces the danger of contamination of inland freshwater supplies, thus
reducing the environmental impact of pumped seawater energy storage.
Use of Hydrogen cells as fuel
Hydrogen energy storage is another form of chemical energy storage in which electrical power is converted into
hydrogen. This energy can then be released again by using the gas as fuel in a combustion engine or a fuel cell.
Hydrogen can be produced from electricity by the electrolysis of water, a simple process that can be carried out
with relatively high efficiency provided cheap power is available. As in freshwater sources
Water electrolysis can be done to produce hydrogen gas as an alternative fuel.
Hybrid Solutions
Hybrid solutions – such pumped storage power plants combined with wind and/or solar farms – are becoming
increasingly important for the generation and storage of clean, renewable energy, as well as in the production of
drinking water. With the innovative concept of combining wind power and hydropower together, the upper basin is
integrated into the foundation of the wind turbine towers. Planning and infrastructure costs, as well as
environmental impact, can be reduced as the two technologies use the same grid connection and switchgear.
Future Prospects
Two barriers are preventing more pumped-storage power plants from being set up – first, the significant financial
investment required, and second, the impacts on the environment and the landscape.
Pumped-storage power plants are generally built in the mountains, but coastal power plants using seawater are
now emerging as a new model. These can be useful for recovering electricity from large offshore wind farms, or
for ensuring that islands are energy independent. For the system to work, the upper basin, located on the top of a
cliff or behind a dam, must be at least 100 meters higher than the sea, which acts as the lower basin.
Conclusion
While hydro-electricity is fraught with social issues in
India and many other non temperate, monsoonal
climates and areas of high population densities, PHS
has a much smaller footprint. PHS can play an
immensely important role in facilitating India’s
improved energy security and transition to a lower
cost, low carbon electricity market that will require
flexible, dispatchable, as well as peak power
capacity, especially until battery storage becomes
cost competitive