Performance evaluation of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine for low-head pumped hydro energy storage: An experimental study
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 ef...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525001412 |
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| author | Ruben Ansorena Ruiz David Schürenkamp Daan P.K. Truijen Justus P. Hoffstaedt Antonio Jarquin Laguna Jonathan Fahlbeck Håkan Nilsson Melvin Joseph Mehrdad Zangeneh Jeroen D.M. De Kooning Jonas Oldeweme Heiko Schwarz Nils Goseberg |
| author_facet | Ruben Ansorena Ruiz David Schürenkamp Daan P.K. Truijen Justus P. Hoffstaedt Antonio Jarquin Laguna Jonathan Fahlbeck Håkan Nilsson Melvin Joseph Mehrdad Zangeneh Jeroen D.M. De Kooning Jonas Oldeweme Heiko Schwarz Nils Goseberg |
| author_sort | Ruben Ansorena Ruiz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ff932ce4743d46dd95cf5f3ebc91fb0e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2590-1745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
| spelling | doaj-art-ff932ce4743d46dd95cf5f3ebc91fb0e2025-08-20T02:31:56ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452025-04-012610100910.1016/j.ecmx.2025.101009Performance evaluation of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine for low-head pumped hydro energy storage: An experimental studyRuben Ansorena Ruiz0David Schürenkamp1Daan P.K. Truijen2Justus P. Hoffstaedt3Antonio Jarquin Laguna4Jonathan Fahlbeck5Håkan Nilsson6Melvin Joseph7Mehrdad Zangeneh8Jeroen D.M. De Kooning9Jonas Oldeweme10Heiko Schwarz11Nils Goseberg12Leichtweiß-Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Corresponding authors.Leichtweiß-Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, GermanyDepartment of Electromechanical, Systems & Metal Engineering, Ghent University, Sint-Martens-Latemlaan 2B, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium; FlandersMake@UGent – Corelab MIRO, BelgiumFaculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Department of Maritime and Transport Technology, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, the NetherlandsFaculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Department of Maritime and Transport Technology, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, the NetherlandsDepartment of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Division of Fluid Dynamics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, SwedenDepartment of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Division of Fluid Dynamics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, SwedenAdvanced Design Technology Ltd., London, United KingdomAdvanced Design Technology Ltd., London, United KingdomDepartment of Electromechanical, Systems & Metal Engineering, Ghent University, Sint-Martens-Latemlaan 2B, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium; FlandersMake@UGent – Corelab MIRO, BelgiumInstitute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery, TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, GermanyInstitute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery, TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, GermanyLeichtweiß-Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Coastal Research Center, Joint Research Facility of Leibniz University Hannover and Technische Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany; Corresponding authors.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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525001412Pumped hydro storageEnergy storageLaboratory testsHydraulic machine characterizationContra-rotatingPump-turbine |
| spellingShingle | Ruben Ansorena Ruiz David Schürenkamp Daan P.K. Truijen Justus P. Hoffstaedt Antonio Jarquin Laguna Jonathan Fahlbeck Håkan Nilsson Melvin Joseph Mehrdad Zangeneh Jeroen D.M. De Kooning Jonas Oldeweme Heiko Schwarz Nils Goseberg Performance evaluation of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine for low-head pumped hydro energy storage: An experimental study Energy Conversion and Management: X Pumped hydro storage Energy storage Laboratory tests Hydraulic machine characterization Contra-rotating Pump-turbine |
| title | Performance evaluation of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine for low-head pumped hydro energy storage: An experimental study |
| title_full | Performance evaluation of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine for low-head pumped hydro energy storage: An experimental study |
| title_fullStr | Performance evaluation of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine for low-head pumped hydro energy storage: An experimental study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance evaluation of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine for low-head pumped hydro energy storage: An experimental study |
| title_short | Performance evaluation of a variable-speed contra-rotating pump-turbine for low-head pumped hydro energy storage: An experimental study |
| title_sort | performance evaluation of a variable speed contra rotating pump turbine for low head pumped hydro energy storage an experimental study |
| topic | Pumped hydro storage Energy storage Laboratory tests Hydraulic machine characterization Contra-rotating Pump-turbine |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525001412 |
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