Stability of mass oscillations in hydropower plants with brook intakes

The need for more energy storage in the transition to a renewable energy system leads to increasing interest in upgrading existing hydropower plants to pumped storage plants. Such upgrades result in stronger hydraulic transients in the tunnel system, including increased mass oscillation amplitudes. In this study, a generalized tunnel system with multiple brook intakes/surge tanks is analysed to assess the influence of the brook intakes on the mass oscillation stability. The variables that are assessed are the number of brook intakes, cross section area, the amount of inflow, and throttling of the brook intakes/surge tanks. The study is carried out using frequency-response analysis, where the excitation is the oscillation of the guide vane position, and the response is the product of the measured head and discharge (equivalent to the hydraulic power). The results show that brook intakes are generally beneficial for the stability of the mass oscillations. Existing hydropower plants with brook intakes may have sufficient stability margins to allow upgrade and reconstruction without the need for upgrading of the surge tank with regard to mass oscillation stability.