Special Issue "Small-Scale Hydropower and Energy Recovery Interventions: Management, Optimization Processes and Hydraulic Machines Applications"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mosè Rossi
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60123 Ancona, Italy
Interests: cogeneration systems; hydraulic machines; mini- and micro-hydropower; oil refinery processes; renewable energy
Prof. Dr. Massimiliano Renzi
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen/Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
Interests: hydropower; pump-as-turbines; thermal management in automotive powertrains; electrification of vehicles; biofuels and hydrogen-enriched fuels use; cogeneration; internal combustion engines; micro gas turbines; optimization of energy systems and energy storage; energy transition
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Dr. David Štefan
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Viktor Kaplan Department of Fluid Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Technická 2896/2, Brno 616 69, Czech Republic
Interests: design and operation of hydraulic machines; fluid mechanics; renewable energy
Dr. Sebastian Muntean
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Fundamental and Advanced Technical Research, Romanian Academy - Timisoara Branch, Bv. Mihai Viteazul, no. 24, Ro-300223 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: computational fluid dynamics; experimental investigations; hydrodynamics and cavitation in hydraulic machinery; swirling flow control
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The exploitation of renewable sources is fundamental for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to cut other harmful emissions for both the Earth environment and human beings. In recent decades, several “green” technologies have been deployed; thanks to this effort, more than 26% of the global electricity production comes from renewables. Among them, hydropower is one of the most known and established worldwide, but almost all of the large-scale reservoirs have been in use for decades. However, not all the countries present morphological conditions suitable for this kind of technology; moreover, there is significant room for development in the exploitation of residual flows and smaller sources. Therefore, several studies have been conducted in recent years on small-scale hydropower plants (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity), as well as on energy recovery applications in irrigation networks, water supply systems (WSSs), water distribution networks (WDNs) and industrial plants. In this regard, the present Special Issue has the aim to collect the most recent contributions and developments on the exploitation of water energy recovery potential in small-scale hydropower applications (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity), irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants. In particular, optimization analyses or the installation of hydraulic machines that act as pressure reducers, rather than as energy recovery systems, are the current key points for achieving environmental goals. The topics included in this Special Issue are the following:

  • Current state-of-the art of small-scale hydraulic machines, with particular attention to small-scale hydropower plants (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity) and energy recovery in irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants;
  • Future prospective of these research fields in upcoming years;
  • Models and technologies that lead to an efficiency improvement of small-scale hydropower plants (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity), irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants (e.g. models for forecasting novel hydraulic machines performance, management and optimization processes of irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants where the installation of hydraulic machines is possible);
  • Development of new methods for energy performance forecasting and enhancing small-scale hydropower plants (e.g. run-of-the river hydroelectricity), irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants where hydraulic machines can be installed or they are already operating;
  • Case studies where the energy recovery in irrigation networks, WSSs, WDNs and industrial plants is applied by means of hydraulic machines.

The listed topics are indicative suggestions, but other emerging ones in these research fields are warmly welcomed.

In accordance with the above proposal, we would like to invite you to submit original research and/or review papers.

Dr. Mosè Rossi
Dr. Massimiliano Renzi
Dr. David Štefan
Dr. Sebastian Muntean
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energy efficiency
  • energy recovery
  • hydraulic machines
  • hydropower
  • irrigation networks
  • industrial plants
  • optimal management
  • optimization processes
  • renewable energy
  • run-of-the-river hydroelectricity
  • small-scale hydropower
  • water distribution network
  • water supply system

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

Article
Hydrostatic Pressure Wheel for Regulation of Open Channel Networks and for the Energy Supply of Isolated Sites
Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9532; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179532 - 24 Aug 2021
Viewed by 265
Abstract
The Hydrostatic Pressure Wheel is an innovative solution to regulate flow discharges and waters heights in open channel networks. Indeed, they can maintain a water depth while producing energy for supplying sensors and a regulation system. To prove the feasibility of this solution, [...] Read more.
The Hydrostatic Pressure Wheel is an innovative solution to regulate flow discharges and waters heights in open channel networks. Indeed, they can maintain a water depth while producing energy for supplying sensors and a regulation system. To prove the feasibility of this solution, a complete model of water depth–discharge–rotational speed relationship has been elaborated. The latter takes into account the different energy losses present in the turbine. Experimental measurements achieved in IMFT laboratory allowed to calibrate the coefficients of head losses relevant for a large range of operating conditions. Once the model had been validated, an extrapolation to a real case showed the possibility of maintaining upstream water level but also of being able to produce sufficient energy for supplying in energy isolated sites. The solution thus makes it possible to satisfy primary energy needs while respecting the principles of frugal innovation: simplicity, robustness, reduced environmental impact. Full article
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Article
A Numerical Investigation into the PAT Hydrodynamic Response to Impeller Rotational Speed Variation
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7998; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147998 - 17 Jul 2021
Viewed by 443
Abstract
The utilization of pump as turbines (PATs) within water distribution systems for energy regulation and hydroelectricity generation purposes has increasingly attracted the energy field players’ attention. However, its power production efficiency still faces difficulties due to PAT’s lack of flow control ability in [...] Read more.
The utilization of pump as turbines (PATs) within water distribution systems for energy regulation and hydroelectricity generation purposes has increasingly attracted the energy field players’ attention. However, its power production efficiency still faces difficulties due to PAT’s lack of flow control ability in such dynamic systems. This has eventually led to the introduction of the so-called “variable operating strategy” or VOS, where the impeller rotational speed may be controlled to satisfy the system-required flow conditions. Taking from these grounds, this study numerically investigates PAT eventual flow structures formation mechanism, especially when subjected to varying impeller rotational speed. CFD-backed numerical simulations were conducted on PAT flow under four operating conditions (1.00 QBEP, 0.82 QBEP, 0.74 QBEP, and 0.55 QBEP), considering five impeller rotational speeds (110 rpm, 130 rpm, 150 rpm, 170 rpm, and 190 rpm). Study results have shown that both PAT’s flow and pressure fields deteriorate with the machine influx decrease, where the impeller rotational speed increase is found to alleviate PAT pressure pulsation levels under high-flow operating conditions, while it worsens them under part-load conditions. This study’s results add value to a thorough understanding of PAT flow dynamics, which, in a long run, contributes to the solution of the so-far existent technical issues. Full article
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Article
Inner Damping of Water in Conduit of Hydraulic Power Plant
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7125; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137125 - 25 Jun 2021
Viewed by 391
Abstract
The operation of any hydraulic power plant is accompanied by pressure pulsations that are caused by vortex rope under the runner, rotor–stator interaction and various transitions during changes in operating conditions or start-ups and shut-downs. Water in the conduit undergoes volumetric changes due [...] Read more.
The operation of any hydraulic power plant is accompanied by pressure pulsations that are caused by vortex rope under the runner, rotor–stator interaction and various transitions during changes in operating conditions or start-ups and shut-downs. Water in the conduit undergoes volumetric changes due to these pulsations. Compression and expansion of the water are among the mechanisms by which energy is dissipated in the system, and this corresponds to the second viscosity of water. The better our knowledge of energy dissipation, the greater the possibility of a safer and more economic operation of the hydraulic power plant. This paper focuses on the determination of the second viscosity of water in a conduit. The mathematical apparatus, which is described in the article, is applied to data obtained during commissioning tests in a water storage power plant. The second viscosity is determined using measurements of pressure pulsations in the conduit induced with a ball valve. The result shows a dependency of second viscosity on the frequency of pulsations. Full article
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