Energetic & Economic Indicators of the Hydropower Plant Senj Retrofitting

Hydropower plant Senj has been in operation for over 30 years now. Such a long period of useinevitably poses a demand for retrofitting with the objective of the plant lifetime continuation with an acceptable reliability. A comparatively high head and an annual production of about 970 GM secure the plant an important position in the power system of the Republic of Croatia. An analysis of several variants of turbine wheels retrofitting is given in the present article, some of which require modification of generators. The analysis provides a comparison of the three variants to the present situation, thus showing the effects of each retrofitting variant. Once the potential production of each retrofitting variant had been calculated, benefits in the production and power of the plant were determined for each variant by means of comparison with the present situation. The retrofitted plant was thereafter included into the electrical system, with its benefits within the system determined for each variant. Cost-effectiveness of a retrofitting variant is decided upon comparing the required marginal capital cost investment with the costs of retrofitting.

Keywords:

hydropower plant , retrofitting , power balance