Hydro power producers are faced with the task of releasing water from the reservoirs in the right time. To do this there are tools using stochastic optimization that aims at maximizing the income of that producer. The existing methods have a high computing time and grow exponentially with the size of the problem. A new approach that uses linear decision rules is investigated in this thesis to see if it is possible to maintain the same quality of the solutions and in the same time decrease run times. With this method the hydro power producer receives policies as an affine function of the realization of the uncertainty variables in inflow and price. This thesis presents a deterministic model and then converts it into an linear decision rules, LDR, model. It also presents a way to model the uncertainty in both inflow to the reservoir and the spot price. The result is that the LDR approach generates reasonable policies with low run times but loses a lot of optimality compared to solutions that are used today. Therefore it is concluded that this approach needs further development before commercial use. The work described in this thesis has been done in cooperation with three master students at NTNU. The approach of using linear decision rules are the same in the two projects but the differences are the models evaluated.

Sri Lanka has a number of small waterfalls and channels. Related to this there is a significant potential to develop small hydropower plants, thus to generate much needed electricity for country’s development efforts. Small hydro power plants cause less environmental effects compared to large scale hydro power generation and power generation using fossil fuel. Therefore, it is a timely requirement to explore the possibilities of utilizing small water streams to generate electricity as much as possible as well as to optimize the energy generation with the available    water in those water streams.   The importance of small hydro power is highlighted in the   Sri Lanka’s energy generation plan, and  the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) annual report states that in year 2011 total installed capacity of small hydro plant was around 200MW and it is expected to expand energy generation to around 800GWh. This study focuses on finding out optimum operating parameters to maximize the energy generation of existing small hydro power plant in the country. By selecting a few small hydro power plants, preliminary studies were performed to identify optimum values of water flow rate to maximize the efficiency of the power generation. The study revealed that the selected plants had not operated at the maximum efficiency; hence they did not optimally utilize the available water.

In 2013, cracks were found in the radius of the dovetail slots of the rotor rim sheets in generator 1 of Juktan hydro power plant in Västerbotten, Sweden. The cracks were estimated to be too deep to be able to repair and Alstom conducted an investigation on the cause of fracture. The investigation came to the conclusion that the radius was too small and that the new rotor rim sheets should have a six times greater fillet radius. However, it has not been investigated whether the material structure or the manufacturing process may have an impact on the crack initiation and following propagation that is the focus of this report.Parts of the dovetail slots were cut out and characterized with XRF, SEM and LOM. Further mechanical characterizations were done according to Vickers.From the SEM and LOM micrographs a high amount of large (10μm) and cubic particles were found in the microstructure. The micrographs also showed a deformation of the microstructure and the hardness test showed a deformation hardening near the edge where the sheet had been punched. The edge surface of the sheet also had notches.The large and hard particles in the microstructure impair the mechanical properties of the steel. Furthermore, the hardening effect combined with the notches will make a good crack initiation point. Therefore, there is a higher possibility that a crack will initiate in the radius of the dovetail slots where large stresses occur.

The aim of this thesis is to optimize hydro power plants with data generated from observations and field tests at the plants. The output is optimal production tables and curves in order to operate and plan hydro power plants in an optimized way concerning power output, efficiency and distribution of water. The thesis is performed in collaboration with Vattenfall AB, which currently use an internal optimization program called SEVAP. Two alternative methods have been selected, employed and compared with the current optimization program, these are Interior-Point Method and Sequential Quadratic Programming. Three start-point strategies are created to increase the probability of finding a global optima. A heuristic rule is used for selection of strategy in order to prevent rapid changes in load distribution for small variations in dispatched water. The optimization is performed at three plants in Sweden with different size and setup. The results of this evaluation showed marginally better results for the employed methods in comparison to the currently used optimization. Further, the developed program is more flexible and compatible to integrate with future digitalization projects. / Syftet med detta examensarbete är att optimera vattenkraftverk med data som genererats från indextester vid kraftverken. Resultatet är optimala produktionstabeller och kurvor för drift och planering av vattenkraftverk. Dessa är baserade på att optimalt fördela vattnet mellan aggregaten för att maximera uteffekt och verkningsgrad. Detta arbete har utförts i samarbete med Vattenfall AB, som för närvarande använder ett internt optimeringsprogram som heter SEVAP. Två optimeringsmetoder har valts, implementerats och jämförts med det nuvarande optimeringsprogrammet. Dessa metoder är inrepunktsmetoden (IPM) och sekventiell kvadratiskt programmering (SQP). Tre startpunktsstrategier har används för att öka sannolikheten att hitta ett globalt optima. För att förhindra hastiga förändringar i lastfördelning för små variationer av avsänt vatten har en heuristisk regel används. Optimeringen har utförts på tre stationer med olika uppsättning och storlek. Resultatet av detta examensarbete visar marginellt bättre resultat för de använda metoderna i jämförelse med den nuvarande optimeringen. Det utvecklade programmet är flexibelt och kompatibelt att integrera med framtida digitaliseringsprojekt.

Vid produktion av el med hjälp av vattenkraft regleras vattenflödet i vattendraget för att producera den mängd el som marknaden efterfrågar för stunden. Detta gör att vattenflödet blir annorlunda i en reglerad älv jämfört med en oreglerad älv. Därför analyseras och jämförs skillnaderna i vattenföringen mellan en reglerad och en oreglerad älv i den här rapporten. Det gjordes med hjälp av flödesdata från två mätstationer i finska älvar, en med reglerat flöde och en med oreglerat. Utifrån flödesdatat beräknades tre olika parametrar i olika tidsskalor, månad, dag och timme, för att undersöka olikaregleringsmönster i älvarna. När flödesskillnaderna analyserats i de olika tidsskalorna konstaterades att skillnaderna i regleringsmönster blev större desto kortare tidshorisont som analyserades. I månadsperspektivet varregleringsmönster nästan lika medan i dags- och timperspektivet var det stora skillnader. I dagsperspektivet som analyserades med parametern HP1 var värdena i genomsnitt ungefär 20 gångerhögre för den reglerade älven än den oreglerade och i timperspektivet som analyserades med parameter HP2 var värdena ungefär 40–50 gånger högre i genomsnitt i den reglerade älven jämförtmed den oreglerade. Att värdena i den reglerade älven är så mycket högre beror på att flödet regleras till att optimera elproduktionen vilket gör att flödesskillnaderna under en dag och mellan två timmar blir betydligt större jämfört med flödesskillnaderna i den naturliga vattenföringen som finns i den oreglerade älven. När vårfloden kommer händer något intressant med regleringsmönstret. Mönstret i de två älvarna närmar sig varandra och blir mer lika. Värdena på parametrarna i den oreglerade älven ökar medan de minskar kraftigt i den reglerade älven. Att värdena i den reglerade älven minskar beror sannolikt på den ökade risken för dammbrott och översvämningar på grund av de högre vattenflödena, vilketberor på begränsningar i lagringskapaciteten. Regleringsmönstret skiljer sig från år till år vilket beror på nederbördsmängden och hur fyllda magasinen är vid årets början. Vid jämförelse av resultatet med en annan rapport som analyserat samma parametrar på en älv i Schweiz, kan samma trender i mönstret ses men vissa skillnader finns också vilket indikerar på de lokala förhållandenas påverkan på regleringsmönstret. / Hydro Power is one of the most important producer of electricity and to optimize the production hydropeaking is used. Hydropeaking means regulation of the discharge to produce the amount of electricity the market demands at the time. In this study the regulation pattern has been analyzed and compared in one observation station in a regulated river and one observation station in an unregulated river, in Finland. Flow data has been analyzed with regards to three different statistic parameters. One parameter that analyzes the regulation per month, one that analyzes the regulation per day and one that analyzes per hour. The result shows that the smaller the time interval is the bigger are the differences in the regulation pattern. In the month perspective the value of the parameter is almost the same, in the day perspective the values for the regulated river is approximative 10-20 times bigger than the unregulated. And in the hour perspective it is even bigger differences where the value in the regulated river is around 40-50 times bigger than for the unregulated. The reason to the higher values on the parameters in the regulated river comes from that the discharge here is regulated to optimize the production of electricity which makes the differences in the discharger higher within the day and between two hours.When the spring flood comes something interesting happens with the regulation pattern. The regulation pattern in the two rivers becomes more similar. In the unregulated river the value of the parameters increases meanwhile the values in the regulated river decreases. The reason the short time regulation decreases in the regulated river is probably because of the higher risk of flooding, due to limitations of the capacity to store water, which comes with higher discharges. The regulation pattern got some differences between the years which depends on the amount of rain and the levels in the storing magazines by the start of the year. When the results in this thesis are compared with the results of another report which analyzes the same parameters in Switzerland, the same pattern can be seen in general but also some differences which indicates on the local conditions impact on the pattern.

I och med klimatförändringar, är möjligheten att integrera stora andelar förnybar energi i elsystemet av yttersta vikt. Detta kandidatexamensarbete undersöker vattenkraftens regleringsmöjlighet när man integrerar vindkraft i ett slutet elsystem. Projektet inkluderar en fallstudie baserad på fem vattenkraftverk i en del av Skellefteälven i norra Sverige. Målet med projektet är att optimera vattenkraftensdrift med maximal andel vindkraft installerad i systemet. Detta utförs genom att maximera vattenkraftens vinster. Genom att i programvaran GAMS lösa ett linjärprogrammeringsproblem med timvis upplösning bestående av 168 timmar. När vindkraft implementeras upptäcks att den maximala installerade effekten vindkraft är 100 MW. Placeringen av vindkraften hade en påverkan på vinsterna i systemet, samt den maximala mängden. Fallstudien visar att det är elnätet som begränsar den maximala installerade effekten vindkraft och inte vattenkraftens reglerförmåga. Fallstudien visar dessutom att det är mindre lönsamt att bygga all vindkraft i en nod utan istället sprida ut vindkraften i elsystemet. / In the face of climate changes, integrating larger quantities renewable energy resources into the electrical grid is vital. This bachelor thesis project examines the regulatory ability in hydro power  when implenting wind power into a closed power system. The project includes a case study based on a part of River Skellefte älv in northern Sweden, including five hydro power plants. The goal of the project is to optimize the hydro power production with maximum amount of implimented wind power. This is done by maximizing the revenue from the hydro power plants electrical production. Through a linear programming problem consisting of 168 time steps of one hour each, an optimal scheduling for the hydro power plants is found, using the opitimization software GAMS. When implenting wind power to the system, the maximum installed wind power is found to be 100 MW. The placement of the wind power in the system affects the revenue of the power system, as well as the maximum installed wind power possible. The case study shows that it is the electrical grid that restricts the amount of wind power that can be implented, rather than the regulatory ability in the installed hydro power. The case study also indicates that it is less profitable to apply all wind power in the same node of the power system.

Energy is central to economic development. It has been established that there is a clear correlation between energy consumption and living standards. Nigeria is a country of very industrious and enterprising people. However, due to non availability of adequate energy in the country, especially in the remote, off grid locations, the entrepreneurial inclination of the average Nigerian living in these locations has been largely stunted. Over the years, successive governments in the country, in realisation of the pivotal role of energy in national development, have explored various options to improve energy supply and availability, but the situation has not experienced any remarkable improvement. This has forced many businesses and households to resort to self provision through generators, often at exorbitant costs. This research work addresses the challenge of energy in remote, off grid locations by appraising the techno economic potential of renewable energy, using Obudu Ranch as a case study. This ranch is the foremost tourism resort in Nigeria, and has played host to a number of international events over the years. Presently, electricity is being generated through the use of diesel powered generating sets. The adjoining communities are currently without electricity, although a few of the residents have acquired generators for self provision, mostly for their domestic use. Aside the high cost associated with this, the discharge of noxious contaminants into the atmosphere is undesirable. The research entailed a working collaboration with some notable Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that have done extensive ground work in the area for access to some secondary data, as well as a number of corporate and governmental agencies that are relevant to the study. Further, the ranch was visited to establish hands-on, the existing renewable energy sources. A trade-off of these sources was carried out with reference to a number of relevant evaluation parameters to identify the most suited option for addressing the energy challenge. A comparative analysis of this selected source was then made to establish its techno economic potential against the existing source of power generation- diesel powered generating sets, which currently costs R1.5 million annually in running expenses. The findings from this research have established that a Renewable Energy source (mini hydro) is a more cost effective option than the diesel powered gen set, providing a 43% reduction in cost of energy generation, and a 42% reduction in the life cycle cost over the five year of analysis, compared to the status quo. In addition, it is also more environmentally friendly. Conclusively, the findings and recommendations of this research effort, if well implemented, will be beneficial to the ranch, the adjoining communities and other relevant stakeholders. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Energy is central to economic development. It has been established that there is a clear correlation between energy consumption and living standards. Nigeria is a country of very industrious and enterprising people. However, due to non availability of adequate energy in the country, especially in the remote, off grid locations, the entrepreneurial inclination of the average Nigerian living in these locations has been largely stunted. Over the years, successive governments in the country, in realisation of the pivotal role of energy in national development, have explored various options to improve energy supply and availability, but the situation has not experienced any remarkable improvement. This has forced many businesses and households to resort to self provision through generators, often at exorbitant costs. This research work addresses the challenge of energy in remote, off grid locations by appraising the techno economic potential of renewable energy, using Obudu Ranch as a case study. This ranch is the foremost tourism resort in Nigeria, and has played host to a number of international events over the years. Presently, electricity is being generated through the use of diesel powered generating sets. The adjoining communities are currently without electricity, although a few of the residents have acquired generators for self provision, mostly for their domestic use. Aside the high cost associated with this, the discharge of noxious contaminants into the atmosphere is undesirable. The research entailed a working collaboration with some notable Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that have done extensive ground work in the area for access to some secondary data, as well as a number of corporate and governmental agencies that are relevant to the study. Further, the ranch was visited to establish hands-on, the existing renewable energy sources. A trade-off of these sources was carried out with reference to a number of relevant evaluation parameters to identify the most suited option for addressing the energy challenge. A comparative analysis of this selected source was then made to establish its techno economic potential against the existing source of power generation- diesel powered generating sets, which currently costs R1.5 million annually in running expenses. The findings from this research have established that a Renewable Energy source (mini hydro) is a more cost effective option than the diesel powered gen set, providing a 43% reduction in cost of energy generation, and a 42% reduction in the life cycle cost over the five year of analysis, compared to the status quo. In addition, it is also more environmentally friendly. Conclusively, the findings and recommendations of this research effort, if well implemented, will be beneficial to the ranch, the adjoining communities and other relevant stakeholders. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

A receita operacional de uma empresa de geração predominantemente hidrelétrica é composta de duas parcelas: a comercialização de seus contratos de energia e a liquidação na Câmara de Comercialização de Energia (CCEE). A parcela de receita de contratos é previsível, mas a receita proveniente da liquidação da CCEE é de difícil mensuração porque depende das alocações do Mecanismo de Realocação de Energia (MRE) e do Preço de Liquidação das Diferenças (PLD). O trabalho apresenta os conceitos gerais dos componentes que influenciam a receita do mercado de curto prazo e um modelo para sazonalização da energia assegurada que é um dos fatores determinantes para a alocação de MRE e para a liquidação das diferenças. O modelo foi detalhado e implementado em uma ferramenta computacional utilizando Algorítmos Genéticos para a minimização da perda esperada e do risco com a sazonalização. / The operating revenue of power generation companies has two different components: revenues arising from power purchase agreements and from spot market, managed by the Câmara de Comercialização de Energia - CCEE The income of contracts is predictable, but there are a lot of difficulties to do prognosis with the spot market revenue component, because it depends on both the Energy Reallocation Mechanism (MRE) and the spot price (PLD). This text presents the influences of some components in spot market incomes and a model to alocate the assured energy along the year since this is the main factor influencing the MRE and the spot market revenues. The model was formulated and implemented in a computational tool using Genetic Algorithms (AG) to minimize the expected losses and the sazonal risk.

A receita operacional de uma empresa de geração predominantemente hidrelétrica é composta de duas parcelas: a comercialização de seus contratos de energia e a liquidação na Câmara de Comercialização de Energia (CCEE). A parcela de receita de contratos é previsível, mas a receita proveniente da liquidação da CCEE é de difícil mensuração porque depende das alocações do Mecanismo de Realocação de Energia (MRE) e do Preço de Liquidação das Diferenças (PLD). O trabalho apresenta os conceitos gerais dos componentes que influenciam a receita do mercado de curto prazo e um modelo para sazonalização da energia assegurada que é um dos fatores determinantes para a alocação de MRE e para a liquidação das diferenças. O modelo foi detalhado e implementado em uma ferramenta computacional utilizando Algorítmos Genéticos para a minimização da perda esperada e do risco com a sazonalização. / The operating revenue of power generation companies has two different components: revenues arising from power purchase agreements and from spot market, managed by the Câmara de Comercialização de Energia - CCEE The income of contracts is predictable, but there are a lot of difficulties to do prognosis with the spot market revenue component, because it depends on both the Energy Reallocation Mechanism (MRE) and the spot price (PLD). This text presents the influences of some components in spot market incomes and a model to alocate the assured energy along the year since this is the main factor influencing the MRE and the spot market revenues. The model was formulated and implemented in a computational tool using Genetic Algorithms (AG) to minimize the expected losses and the sazonal risk.