METHODS FOR CONTROL OF TRANSIENTS

Rise in pressure

H=-aV/g

Thus to control pressure one has to reduce change in the velocity

METHODS
Air Chambers

Valves
Safety valves
Pressure relief valves
Pressure-regulating valves
Air-inlet valves
Check valves

Surge Tank
Pressure relief valves
 SURGE TANKS
An open stand pipe or a shaft connected to the conduits of a
hydroelectric power plant.

Not required in short penstocks

Generally associated with high head schemes

 Functions

Reduces the amplitude of pressure fluctuations by reflecting

the incoming pressure waves

Improves the regulating characteristics of a hydraulic turbine

Stores and provide water

Provides a free reservoir surface close to turbine

 Types

1. Simple surge tank

2. Restricted orifice type
3. Differential surge tank
4. One-way surge tank
5. Closed surge tank
6. Tank with galleries
7. D/s surge tank
8. Multiple surge tank
9. Special type surge tank
Restricted orifice type

As the orifice restricts the flow into or out of

the tank, the amplitude of the oscillations
of the liquid in the tank is less than that of
an equivalent simple tank.

If orifice area is more, the tank behaves

like simple tank, however if the orifice area
is less then tank behaves as if there were
no surge tank.

Due to restrictive effects of the orifice, the

water hammer waves are not completely
reflected back at the tank and partly
transmitted into the tunnel.
Differential Surge Tank

Is a compromise between a simple tank and

an orifice tank. The riser acts like simple tank
while the main tank acts like an orifice tank.

The accelerating or decelerating head on the

tunnel develops slower than in an orifice tank
but faster in a simple tank.

When turbines gates are opened, the water is

initially provided by the riser. Rapid drop of
water level in the riser due to less cross-
sectional area creates an accelerating head
on the tunnel for the short time.

When turbines gates are closed, the water is

initially stored in the riser. Rapid rise of water
level in the riser due to less cross-sectional
area creates an decelerating head on the
tunnel for the short time.
 Design Consideration

Maximum Upsurge level

Full load rejection at the highest reservoir level

Friction and other lossess are minimum
Specified load acceptance followed by full load rejection at the
instant of maximum velocity in the HRT.

Worst Downsurge

Full load rejection at the minimum reservoir level followed by specified

load acceptance at the instant of maximum negative velocity in HRT
Friction and other lossess are minimum
Specified load acceptance at load or speed-no-load condition at the
minimum reservoir level.
 Simple Surge Tank

Derivation of Governing Equation

1. The conduit walls are rigid, and the fluid is incompressible

2. The inertia of the liquid in the surge tank is small compared

to that of the liquid in the tunnel and can be neglected.
Simple Surge Tank
Continuity Equation

Q t Q s Q tur

dz
Qs A s
dt

dz
V At As Q tur
dt

dz 1
( VA t Q tur ) (1)
dt A s
 Dynamic Equation

Rate of change of momentum is equal to the resultant force

dV dQ t
F1 F2 F3 A tL A t
dt dt

dV
A t z h v h i h f A t L
dt

L dV
z losses 0 (2)
g dt
 For Frictionless System

L dV dQ t gA t
z z
g dt dt L
Assume that initial flow Q0 is instantaneously reduced to zero at t = 0,
thus at t < 0 Qtur = Q0 and

t0 Qtur = 0

dz
For t 0, Eq. (1) gives VA t A S
dt
dz
As Qt
dt

d 2z gA
As 2 t z
dt L
d 2 z gA t
2 z0 (3)
dt LA s
General Solution of Eq. (3)

gA t gA t
z C1 cos t C2 sin t
LA s LA s

Initial Condition

t = 0 z = 0 C1 = 0 {For frictionless system

total losses is zero and at
initial state, water level in
surge tank (i.e. z=0) is at
dZ Qs Q0
t 0 the level of reservoir}
dt t 0 As As

L
C2 Q0
gA s A t
 L gA t
z Q0 sin t
gA s A t LA s

LA s
T 2
gA t

gA t
T 2
LA s

L LA t
zmax Q0 V0
gA s A t gA s

In actual installations frictional effects are not negligible. Maximum

upsurge for sudden closure may be obtained by (Prasil, 1998)

z
2p 0 1 exp 2p 0 z / z max p 0 0
z max
Jaegers Equation

When expanded into series, the above equation yields:

z 2 1
1 P0 P02
z max 3 9

Where
z = max. upsurge with friction taken into account.
zmax = max. upsurge with negligible friction

hi h v hf
p0
z max
Calarne & Gadens Equation

For first down surge following upsurge due to sudden closure, z

z
1 2P0
z max

For down surge due to sudden opening

z p0
1
z max 8

Total height of the surge tank should be such that both the up-
surge a down-surge should be contained within the tank height.
Stability Criteria

Thoma (1910)
V2 L At
A s min . . hL hi hv hf
2g hL H hL

H = gross head
In practice As = F As min ; F = 2 for simple tank and 1.6 for restricted and
differential tanks

Jaeger ( to take care of large oscillation)

z max
A s A t 1 0.482
H