Realizations
Żarki SHP
Gwda river
Automation of the facility with the replacement of outdated technology with 2 Kaplan hydrosets
Automation of the facility with the replacement of outdated technology with 2 Kaplan hydrosets
Historical overview
The history of Żarki small hydropower plant, located within the charming woodland enclave of less than 3 hectares in size, dates back to 1904, when the water mill that had operated there was converted into a commercial power plant. The power plant survived two world wars. However, it was closed down in the 1950s. Left unattended, the facility fell into utter disrepair in the following decades. What remained despite the complete destruction of small-scale hydropower plant was the damming on Gwda river and a residential building adjacent to the ruins of the facility. In the early 1980s, these remains attracted the interest of the current owners, who used them to fulfil their dream of a small-scale hydroelectric power plant. In 1985 they obtained a permit under the Water Law Act for a small-scale hydropower plant then they secured a construction permit and ownership of the property. In November 1989, the facility was launched and started producing electricity. Żarki power plant was self-built, which involved a significant effort on the part of its owners. One cannot fail to mention support provided to its owners by engineer Marian Hoffman (called the father of the post-War hydropower), with whom they cooperated in the later years in the Polish Association for Small Hydropower Development.
Parameters
Technologies used
- Two high-efficiency Kaplan turbines in a vertical arrangement, with a total installed capacity of 320 kW
- 6 control cabinets
Despite a similar installed capacity, the new hydrosets are significantly more efficient than the technology used to date. This is not only due to the design of the device itself (whose shape is the result of advanced CFD simulations brought to reality through multidimensional CNC machining), but also to the turbine controller, based on a freely programmable logic controller (PLC). The controller adjusts, in a stepwise manner (in the function of the water level) the opening of the guide apparatus and the position of the rotor blades, maintaining the preset headwater level. In this way, it allows energy yields to be as high as possible, with no loss of flows and the highest possible head (NWL). The infrastructure installed at SHP Żarki meets the highest technological standards both in terms of the operation of the generating system itself and of the entire supporting infrastructure. In addition to meeting the obvious objectives in terms of power generation efficiency, IOZE hydro places a particular emphasis on process automation, operational safety, and diagnostics in its work. This translates directly to the increased comfort of operation of the facility by persons responsible for the constant supervision of the power plant. It is of high value to the owner of the facility that all elements of the technological system are supplied by the same Contractor, which allows us to obtain optimum compatibility of individual modules. This not only translates into daily operation but also reduces the downtime of the small-scale hydropower plant to the minimum in emergency situations, as, thanks to an extensive system of various types of sensors, the type of failure/ cause of the alarm, is diagnosed very efficiently.
Investment planning:
- Evaluation of available hydropower potential
Consulting and Design:
- Optimization of the renovation plan – construction measures, mechanical measures, electrical and automation measures
- Obtaining a guaranteed energy sales price for a period of 15 years
Execution of construction works as a general contractor:
- Dismantling work
- Full modernization of the plant and replacement of both turbine sets
- Repairs to the concrete structures of surge chambers to improve the operating conditions of the small-scale hydropower plant
