Stress Analysis of a Pipeline as a Hydropower Plant Structural Element

Abstract

This paper describes pipeline stress analysis, primarilybranch junctions, as a structural element in hydro-power plants. Pipelines are exposed to internal pressure,which is present under working conditions. Analysis of stresses in the pipeline of the hydropower plant is based on analytical, numerical, and experimental methods. In this paper, we will define the critical elements of the pipeline. After that, we will determine critical areas in the branch junction, under experimental conditions, where strain gauges should be installed. The obtained resultsshow that a boiler formula can be efficiently applied in the stress analysis. Also, a correlation between the internal pressure and the maximum circumferential stresses in the elastic zone is given. In the final sections of the paper, the limit value of the internal pressure as a load for which stress in the zone of plasticity appears and the safety factor of the branch junction in the exploitation conditions are determined. The contribution of this work is the unification and deepening of the topic related to the problem of the testing ofhydro-power structural elements.

The Design and Analysis of a Novel Vertical Axis Small Water Turbine Generator for Installation in Drainage Lines

“…A study on fluid dynamic simulation has been conducted using the Autodesk Flow Simulation program to assess the hydroelectric feasibility of turbines in pipes for water line optimization based on the time series of water supply rates (Jiyun, et al, 2017). Other, studies have been conducted on optimizing the shape and geometric parameters of blocks for speeding up numerical simulation methods to improve the efficiency of water turbines using the ANSYS FLUENT 14.5 program (Culafic, et al, 2020). Besides, studies on the distribution of stress values occurring in water pipe structures have been conducted with the stress analysis module in the Autodesk Inventor Professional version 2016 (Autodesk Inventor, 2015).…”