Hydropower tunnels are generally subject to a degree of rock falls. Studies explaining this are scarce and the current industrial standards offer little insight. To simulate tunnel conditions, high Reynolds number flow inside a channel with a rectangular cross-section is investigated using Particle Image Velocimetry and pressure measurements. For validation, the flow is modelled using LES and a RANS approach with _{k - ε} turbulence model. One wall of the channel has been replaced with a rough surface captured using laser scanning. The results indicate flow-roughness effects deviating from the standard non-asymmetric channel flow and hence, can not be properly predicted using spatially averaged relations. These effects manifest as localized bursts of velocity connected to individual roughness elements. The bursts are large enough to affect both temporally and spatially averaged quantities. Both turbulence models show satisfactory agreement for the overall flow behaviour, where LES also provided information for in-depth analysis.

This study describes a multi-camera photogrammetric approach to measure the 3D velocityof free surface flow. The properties of the camera system and particle tracking velocimetry (PTV)algorithm were first investigated in a measurement of a laboratory open channel flow to prepare forfield measurements. The in situ camera calibration methods corresponding to the two measurementsituations were applied to mitigate the instability of the camera mechanism and camera geometry.There are two photogrammetry-based PTV algorithms presented in this study regarding differenttypes of surface particles employed on the water flow. While the first algorithm uses the particletracking method applied for individual particles, the second algorithm is based on correlation-basedparticle clustering tracking applied for clusters of small size particles. In the laboratory, referencedata are provided by particle image velocimetry (PIV) and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV). Thedifferences in velocities measured by photogrammetry and PIV, photogrammetry and LDV are 0.1%and 3.6%, respectively. At a natural river, the change of discharges between two measurement timesis found to be 15%, and the corresponding value reported regarding mass flow through a nearbyhydropower plant is 20%. The outcomes reveal that the method can provide a reliable estimation of3D surface velocity with sufficient accuracy.

A numerical investigation of a hydropower tunnel has been implemented in this project. The tunnel geometry data were taken from a laser scanning of a tunnel positioned in Gävunda, Sweden. While the average cross-section of the tunnel is even, in accordance with the pre-excavation schematics, the instantaneous deviations are significant. ANSYS-CFX was applied for the simulations using a RANS approach with k-ε model for turbulence closure. To evaluate the results, the pressure was area averaged in 30 planes evenly spaced perpendicular to the flow direction inside the tunnel. Additionally, the pressure was sampled along a line running from the inlet to the outlet of the tunnel. Results show that the area averaged pressure is similar to the pressure modelled along the center line. This means that the roughness has a dominating effect on the bulk flow inside of the tunnel. Hence, cross-sectional based methods of evaluation (e.g. Gauckler-Manning) could potentially be used to evaluate the localized pressure inside the tunnel. Further evaluation show that the Gauckler-Manning and Haaland equation both can be used as an estimate of the modelled pressure inside of the tunnel. Both equations are highly dependent on the hydraulic radius and cross-sectional area. These results have many implications, continuous pressure measurements can potentially be used to monitor the structural integrity of tunnels. Similarly, tunnel data could be used to estimate pressure effects within the tunnel, which would enable easier and reliable risk assessment studies.

Mathematical modelling of single spillways is well documented in literature. For parallel spillways however, there is a lack of documented, verified, and validated cases. Here, in this article, ANSYS-CFX is used to simulate the flow over three parallel ogee-crested spillways. For mesh size verification, a grid convergence study is performed by Richardson extrapolation. The turbulence model chosen for this simulation is the k-ε model and the volume of fluid method is used to simulate the water-air interface. This article details the models ability to accurately predict flow distribution at the spillways, and the water levels. The mesh is kept relatively coarse at the channel inlet with increased mesh density at the spillways. The results are validated against experimental data from Vattenfall AB, R&Ds laboratories. The geometry and boundary conditions of the experiment are tailored for CFD. The flow rate of each spillway is measured separately with high accuracy, and for several different inlet volumetric flows. The simulation results lie within the error estimates of the measuring tools used in the experiments, within ±1%. The volume flow rate differences between the three outlets is very small, within ±1%.

The fluid dynamics within a water tunnel is investigated numerically using a RANS approach with the k-ε turbulence model. The computational model is based on a laser scan of a hydropower tunnel located in Gävunda, Sweden. The tunnel has a typical height of 6.9 m and a width of 7.2 m. While the average cross-sectional shape of the tunnel is smooth the local deviations are significant, where some roughness elements may be in the size of 5 m implying a large variation of the hydraulic radius. The results indicate that the Manning equation can successfully be used to study the localised pressure variations by taking into account the varying hydraulic radius and cross-sectional area of the tunnel. This indicates a dominant effect of the tunnel roughness in connection with the flow, which has the potential to be used in the future evaluation of tunnel durability. ANSYS-CFX was used for the simulations along with ICEM-CFD for building the mesh. 

Most of the hydropower dams in Sweden were built before 1980. The present dam-safety guidelines have resulted in higher design floods than their spillway discharge capacity and the need for structural upgrades. This has led to renewed laboratory model tests. For some dams, even computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed. This provides the possibility to compare the spillway discharge data between the model tests performed a few decades apart. The paper presents the hydropower development, the needs for the ongoing dam rehabilitations and the history of physical hydraulic modeling in Sweden. More than 20 spillways, both surface and bottom types, are analyzed to evaluate their discharge modeling accuracy. The past and present model tests are compared with each other and with the CFD results if available. Discrepancies do exist in the discharges between the model tests made a few decades apart. The differences fall within the range −8.3%–+11.2%. The reasons for the discrepancies are sought from several aspects. The primary source of the errors is seemingly the model construction quality and flow measurement method. The machine milling technique and 3D printing reduce the source of construction errors and improve the model quality. Results of the CFD simulations differ, at the maximum, by 3.8% from the physical tests. They are conducted without knowledge of the physical model results in advance. Following the best practice guidelines, CFD should generate results of decent accuracy for discharge prediction.

High Reynolds number flow inside a channel of rectangular cross section is examined using Particle Image Velocimetry. One wall of the channel has been replaced with a surface of a roughness representative to that of real hydropower tunnels, i.e. a random terrain with roughness dimensions typically in the range of ≈10% - 20% of the channels hydraulic radius. The rest of the channel walls can be considered smooth. The rough surface was captured from an existing blasted rock tunnel using high resolution laser scanning and scaled to 1:10. For quantification of the size of the largest flow structures, integral length scales are derived from the auto-correlation functions of the temporally averaged velocity. Additionally, Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) and higher-order statistics are applied to the instantaneous snapshots of the velocity fluctuations. The results show a high spatial heterogeneity of the velocity and other flow characteristics in vicinity of the rough surface, putting outer similarity treatment into jeopardy. Roughness effects are not confined to the vicinity of the rough surface but can be seen in the outer flow throughout the channel, indicating a different behavior than postulated by Townsend’s similarity hypothesis. The effects on the flow structures vary depending on the shape and size of the roughness elements leading to a high spatial dependence of the flow above the rough surface. Hence, any spatial averaging, e.g. assuming a characteristic sand grain roughness factor, for determining local flow parameters becomes less applicable in this case.

When considering free surface flow in channels, it is essential to have in-depth knowledge about the inlet flow conditions and the effect of surface roughness on the overall flow field. Hence, we hereby investigate flow inside an 18m long channel by using Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) and Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV). The roughness of the channel walls is generated using a diamond-square fractal algorithm and is designed to resemble the actual geometry of hydropower tunnels. Four different water levels ranging from 20 to 50cm are investigated. For each depth, the inlet is blocked by 25 and 50% at three positions each, at the centre, to the right and to the left in the flow-direction. The flow is altered for each depth to keep the flow velocity even throughout the measurements. PTV is applied to measure the velocity of the free water surface; four cameras are placed above the setup to capture the entirety of the channel. The results show a clear correlation between roughness-height and velocity distribution at depths 20-30 cm. The surface roughness proved effective in dispersing the subsequent perturbations following the inlet blockage. At 50cm, perturbations from the 50% blockage could be observed throughout the channel. However, at 20cm, most perturbations had subsided by a third of the channel length. The ADV was used to capture the velocity in a total of 375 points throughout the channel, at a depth of 50 cm with no inlet perturbations.

The upgrade of Akkats power station in Sweden included a new, separate waterway for the addition of a 75 MW generating unit. The vertical intake of its headrace was formed by means of lake tapping. A physical model was used to help understand the blasting process involving fragmented rock, water, air, and gas. Upon commissioning of the unit, swirling flows occurred unexpectedly at the intake, which gave rise to negative consequences including limitations in power output. Echo-sounding showed that the blasted piercing resulted in an irregular intake. A hydraulic model, as part of the design process, was built to examine potential countermeasures for vortex suppression. The final solution was a segmented barrier between the intake and the dam. It effectively suppressed the intake flow circulations; only minor intermittent vortices were left. The fabricated steel segments were anchored into the bedrock, stretching to 1.0 m below the lowest legal reservoir level. The local intake headloss was also reduced. The implemented solution was tested under full turbine loading and the result was satisfactory. Even during winter seasons with ice cover above the wall, the power station ran normally. The case study is expected to provide guidance for solving similar problems with vortex formation.