Tailrace surge shaft optimization procedure for minimum downsurge

Abstract

Tailrace surge shafts are required in hydropower projects where the spent water is conveyed through a long tailrace tunnel under pressure to the recipient. Startup and shutdown of the turbine can cause sudden changes in water velocity and can develop dangerously high and low pressures. Surge shafts are provided in water conductor systems to significantly reduce these pressure surges. Based on numerous transient analyses carried out, it was observed that the cross-sectional area of the tailrace surge shaft can be optimized based on the relationship between the differences in the tailwater level and the minimum downsurge level at the tailrace surge shaft obtained with respect to the different lengths of the tailrace tunnel and different cross-sectional areas of the tailrace surge shaft. In this study, a procedure was proposed by which the tailrace surge shafts can be optimized and, hence, the cost of the hydropower projects with tailrace surge shafts can be minimized.