Manasa Gollapalli
Research Mentor(s): Binh Truong
Mentor Department: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Authors: Manasa Gollapalli, Binh Truong
Session: Session 2 (10:00am – 10:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 78
Abstract
As the global energy system shifts toward renewable sources, hydropower, especially Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES), plays a critical role, accounting for a majority of global storage power capacity. However, developing new hydropower projects faces challenges, including environmental constraints, site-specific design needs, and optimizing turbine performance. Our preliminary turbine design is based on a Kaplan turbine, known for its efficiency in low-head environments and adaptability to varying water flow conditions. To optimize power generation, we are focusing on improvements to the electrical system in conjunction with this mechanical design. An integrated electronic interface circuit will include a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method, a full bridge active rectifier, and a battery for energy storage. The active rectifier, using MOSFETs, will control energy flow, while the MPPT algorithm ensures maximum power extraction under varying conditions. Then, the electrical system’s performance is evaluated using LTSpice and hardware testing, which helps predict real-world performance. We found that the system has minimal fluctuations due to the nature of a spinning turbine, and the simulation shows that the optimization of fixed parameters yields stable performance. Through this integration of mechanical and electrical dynamics, we seek to maximize the turbine’s output power and improve overall energy efficiency. This work contributes to optimizing hydropower systems and supporting the global transition to renewable energy.
