Research of water-power parameters of small hydropower plants in conditions of mountain territories

The most important direction in development of electric power industry is the use of renewable energy sources. In mountain areas with their high mountain rivers, construction of high-efficient small hydropower plants (SHP) is certainly effective. Based on the example of the Fasnalskaya SHP, the paper provides the scientific and technical basis for calculation of operation and management of small HPPs, including methods of calculation of water and energy parameters, as well as control structure of the SHP. The developed techniques include generation of input data base consisting of cartograms of SHP coordinates on the local map, rivers for the SHP, estimated level of pressure, estimated length of the overhead power transmission line (PTL) of SHP-load unit, point of common coupling, SHP and energy system, point of common coupling of SHP and substation, hydrograph of a river, SHP single line diagram, basic water and energy options. In the course of comprehensive studies of water and energy parameters, we have defined conditions for an optimal schedule of SHP based on consumption of water and power generators, and control of the water and energy parameters in accordance with the schedule defined with the power grid load. Practical significance of the work is development of engineering programs and algorithms that help to resolve issues related to the design, calculation of technical parameters, operation and management of small HPPs. The obtained results may be used in other mountain areas of the world.