El rediseño de redes hidráulicas en centrales hidroeléctricas requiere garantizar eficiencia y seguridad operativa.

Mediante simulación CFD, optimizamos la geometría de una bifurcación y analizamos el chorro de descarga. Evaluamos las presiones, las pérdidas de carga y las fuerzas de impacto.

Esto no permitió validar el diseño y reducir riesgos en condiciones reales de operación.

PROJECTS

Hydroelectric Plant Pipeline Redesign and Discharge Jet Analysis Challenge

The client needed to redesign part of the piping network of a hydroelectric facility to incorporate a new discharge pipeline.

The primary challenge was designing the branch connection to the existing penstock while determining:

The optimal connection location

The most efficient connection geometry

The objective was to minimize pressure losses and local overpressures while ensuring that the new line could transport the required flow rate without generating critical pressure conditions.

Additionally, the discharge jet produced by a hollow-jet valve had to be analyzed, as it would impact a nearby wall. The impact force needed to be quantified to validate the receiving structure.

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PROJECT SCOPE

The project was carried out in two main phases:

Branch Connection Optimization

Several geometric alternatives were evaluated, considering:
- Maximum and minimum pressures
- Local pressure losses
- Pressure fluctuations
Simulations were conducted under different plant operating scenarios.

Full System Modeling and Jet Analysis

After selecting the optimal branch geometry:

The complete piping system was modeled
The hollow-jet valve was included under real operating conditions
Jet velocity and impact forces on the wall were quantified
Velocity fields between the discharge point and impact wall were evaluated

RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS

The branch optimization phase demonstrated that:

Pressure peaks remained within acceptable limits
The selected geometry successfully transported the required discharge flow
The final design exhibited the lowest pressure losses among all alternatives
Pressure fluctuations were significantly reduced

The discharge jet analysis provided:

Maximum impact velocity on the wall
Detailed velocity distribution along the jet trajectory

Due to the high discharge velocities involved, additional improvements were proposed to reduce jet energy before impact, lowering transmitted loads and improving operational safety.

The final design delivered a hydraulically efficient, structurally safe solution tailored to real operating conditions.