Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 101009 |
| Journal | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
| Volume | 26 |
| Early online date | 9 Apr 2025 |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2025 |
Abstract
Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHS) provides over 90% of the global long-duration energy storage capacity, yet many regions lack the steep terrain required for conventional high-head PHS. Low-head pumped hydro energy storage (LH PHS) systems address this gap in flat topographic regions but requires efficient pump-turbine technology for operation at variable low heads. This study investigates the use of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine (CR RPT) for LH PHS applications, presenting experimental results from a model-scale test rig stablished at Technische Universität Braunschweig. This test rig uses two open water surface tanks to provide head, unlike conventional hydraulic test rigs that use pumps. The CR RPT achieved hydraulic efficiencies over 80% for a wide range of operating conditions, peaking at 86.1% and 88.4% for pump and turbine modes, respectively. Additionally, dimensionless analysis revealed that the CR-RPT occupies a unique place in the market and that it achieves the largest power density among comparable hydraulic machines, facilitating greater power output and thus streamlining mechanical and civil engineering requirements for LH PHS.
Keywords
- Contra-rotating, Energy storage, Hydraulic machine characterization, Laboratory tests, Pump-turbine, Pumped hydro storage
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Energy(all)
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Energy(all)
- Nuclear Energy and Engineering
- Energy(all)
- Fuel Technology
- Energy(all)
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Energy Conversion and Management: X, Vol. 26, 101009, 04.2025.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Performance evaluation of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine for low-head pumped hydro energy storage
T2 - An experimental study
AU - Ansorena Ruiz, Ruben
AU - Schürenkamp, David
AU - Truijen, Daan P.K.
AU - Hoffstaedt, Justus P.
AU - Jarquin Laguna, Antonio
AU - Fahlbeck, Jonathan
AU - Nilsson, Håkan
AU - Joseph, Melvin
AU - Zangeneh, Mehrdad
AU - De Kooning, Jeroen D.M.
AU - Oldeweme, Jonas
AU - Schwarz, Heiko
AU - Goseberg, Nils
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/4
Y1 - 2025/4
N2 - Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHS) provides over 90% of the global long-duration energy storage capacity, yet many regions lack the steep terrain required for conventional high-head PHS. Low-head pumped hydro energy storage (LH PHS) systems address this gap in flat topographic regions but requires efficient pump-turbine technology for operation at variable low heads. This study investigates the use of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine (CR RPT) for LH PHS applications, presenting experimental results from a model-scale test rig stablished at Technische Universität Braunschweig. This test rig uses two open water surface tanks to provide head, unlike conventional hydraulic test rigs that use pumps. The CR RPT achieved hydraulic efficiencies over 80% for a wide range of operating conditions, peaking at 86.1% and 88.4% for pump and turbine modes, respectively. Additionally, dimensionless analysis revealed that the CR-RPT occupies a unique place in the market and that it achieves the largest power density among comparable hydraulic machines, facilitating greater power output and thus streamlining mechanical and civil engineering requirements for LH PHS.
AB - Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHS) provides over 90% of the global long-duration energy storage capacity, yet many regions lack the steep terrain required for conventional high-head PHS. Low-head pumped hydro energy storage (LH PHS) systems address this gap in flat topographic regions but requires efficient pump-turbine technology for operation at variable low heads. This study investigates the use of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine (CR RPT) for LH PHS applications, presenting experimental results from a model-scale test rig stablished at Technische Universität Braunschweig. This test rig uses two open water surface tanks to provide head, unlike conventional hydraulic test rigs that use pumps. The CR RPT achieved hydraulic efficiencies over 80% for a wide range of operating conditions, peaking at 86.1% and 88.4% for pump and turbine modes, respectively. Additionally, dimensionless analysis revealed that the CR-RPT occupies a unique place in the market and that it achieves the largest power density among comparable hydraulic machines, facilitating greater power output and thus streamlining mechanical and civil engineering requirements for LH PHS.
KW - Contra-rotating
KW - Energy storage
KW - Hydraulic machine characterization
KW - Laboratory tests
KW - Pump-turbine
KW - Pumped hydro storage
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105002741997&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.101009
DO - 10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.101009
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105002741997
VL - 26
JO - Energy Conversion and Management: X
JF - Energy Conversion and Management: X
SN - 2590-1745
M1 - 101009
ER -