Research on Economic Operation of Cascade Small Hydropower Stations Within Plants Based on Refined Efficiency Models

In order to enhance the overall power generation efficiency of cascade hydropower, it is essential to conduct modelling optimization of its in-plant operation. However, existing studies have devoted minimal attention to the detailed modelling of turbine operating performance curves within the in-pla...

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Main Authors: Daohong Wei, Chunpeng Feng, Dong Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/964
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author Daohong Wei
Chunpeng Feng
Dong Liu
author_facet Daohong Wei
Chunpeng Feng
Dong Liu
author_sort Daohong Wei
collection DOAJ
description In order to enhance the overall power generation efficiency of cascade hydropower, it is essential to conduct modelling optimization of its in-plant operation. However, existing studies have devoted minimal attention to the detailed modelling of turbine operating performance curves within the in-plant economic operation model. This represents a significant challenge to the practical application of the optimization results. This study presents a refined model of a hydraulic turbine operating performance curve, which was established by combining a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and a backpropagation (BP) neural network. The model was developed using a cascade small hydropower group as an illustrative example. On this basis, an in-plant economic operation model of a cascade small hydropower group was established, which is based on the principle of ’setting electricity by water’ and has the goal of maximizing power generation. The model was optimized using a genetic algorithm, which was employed to optimize the output of the units. In order to ascertain the efficacy of the methodology proposed in this study, typical daily operational scenarios of a cascade small hydropower group were selected for comparison. The results demonstrate that, in comparison with the actual operational strategy, the proposed model and method enhance the total output by 3.38%, 2.11%, and 3.56%, respectively, across the three typical scenarios. This method enhances the efficiency of power generation within the cascade small hydropower group and demonstrates substantial engineering application value.
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spelling doaj-art-912ba70edf6e4b9ea34e67cb8f2075fe2025-08-20T02:44:56ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-02-0118496410.3390/en18040964Research on Economic Operation of Cascade Small Hydropower Stations Within Plants Based on Refined Efficiency ModelsDaohong Wei0Chunpeng Feng1Dong Liu2College of Energy and Power Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, ChinaCollege of Energy and Power Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, ChinaCollege of Energy and Power Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, ChinaIn order to enhance the overall power generation efficiency of cascade hydropower, it is essential to conduct modelling optimization of its in-plant operation. However, existing studies have devoted minimal attention to the detailed modelling of turbine operating performance curves within the in-plant economic operation model. This represents a significant challenge to the practical application of the optimization results. This study presents a refined model of a hydraulic turbine operating performance curve, which was established by combining a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and a backpropagation (BP) neural network. The model was developed using a cascade small hydropower group as an illustrative example. On this basis, an in-plant economic operation model of a cascade small hydropower group was established, which is based on the principle of ’setting electricity by water’ and has the goal of maximizing power generation. The model was optimized using a genetic algorithm, which was employed to optimize the output of the units. In order to ascertain the efficacy of the methodology proposed in this study, typical daily operational scenarios of a cascade small hydropower group were selected for comparison. The results demonstrate that, in comparison with the actual operational strategy, the proposed model and method enhance the total output by 3.38%, 2.11%, and 3.56%, respectively, across the three typical scenarios. This method enhances the efficiency of power generation within the cascade small hydropower group and demonstrates substantial engineering application value.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/964hydraulic turbineoperating performance curvePSO-BP neural networkin-plant economic operationgenetic algorithm
spellingShingle Daohong Wei
Chunpeng Feng
Dong Liu
Research on Economic Operation of Cascade Small Hydropower Stations Within Plants Based on Refined Efficiency Models
Energies
hydraulic turbine
operating performance curve
PSO-BP neural network
in-plant economic operation
genetic algorithm
title Research on Economic Operation of Cascade Small Hydropower Stations Within Plants Based on Refined Efficiency Models
title_full Research on Economic Operation of Cascade Small Hydropower Stations Within Plants Based on Refined Efficiency Models
title_fullStr Research on Economic Operation of Cascade Small Hydropower Stations Within Plants Based on Refined Efficiency Models
title_full_unstemmed Research on Economic Operation of Cascade Small Hydropower Stations Within Plants Based on Refined Efficiency Models
title_short Research on Economic Operation of Cascade Small Hydropower Stations Within Plants Based on Refined Efficiency Models
title_sort research on economic operation of cascade small hydropower stations within plants based on refined efficiency models
topic hydraulic turbine
operating performance curve
PSO-BP neural network
in-plant economic operation
genetic algorithm
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/964
work_keys_str_mv AT daohongwei researchoneconomicoperationofcascadesmallhydropowerstationswithinplantsbasedonrefinedefficiencymodels
AT chunpengfeng researchoneconomicoperationofcascadesmallhydropowerstationswithinplantsbasedonrefinedefficiencymodels
AT dongliu researchoneconomicoperationofcascadesmallhydropowerstationswithinplantsbasedonrefinedefficiencymodels