Energy Lab

Systems lab

Hydroelectric power plant lab

Explore the dam. Operate each unit. Follow water and energy.

Simulation running

Time speedScenario

Generating

Loading 3D plant…

Drag to orbit · scroll to zoom · select a unit or component to inspect. Display rotation is slowed 1:20.

Total output21.66 MW

Turbine discharge46.06 m³/s

Net head54.66 m

Accumulated energy0.000 MWh

Choose a component to inspect

Turbine type changes runner geometry, operating envelope and the estimated efficiency curve.

Hiding and disassembly are for inspection; they do not remove parts from the calculation model.

Experiment controls

Selected unit

Turbine type / replace unitEstimated head envelope for this model: 10–250 mEnable unit

Guide-vane opening70.0 %

Flow control mode

Actual discharge15.35 m³/sActual water velocity1.91 m/s

Generator efficiency96.00 %

Peak turbine efficiency93.00 %

Actual efficiency varies with head, discharge and rotational speed.

Reservoir and head

Unit net-head target54.66 m

Changes the shared reservoir level and affects all units. Net head accounts for hydraulic losses.

Tailwater elevation10.00 m

Base river inflow48.0 m³/s

Reservoir surface area0.60 km²

Independent spillway gates

Spillway gate 10.0 %

Spillway gate 20.0 %

Spillway gate 30.0 %

Spillwater bypasses the turbines. It reduces storage and generates no electricity.

Grid and rotational speed

Connected to ideal grid

Grid frequency50.00 Hz

Selected generator pole count

Isolated test-bench speed375.0 RPM

On-grid: n = 120f/p. In isolated mode an ideal governor and test load hold the requested speed; generator frequency follows RPM.

Weather and hydrology

Weather scenario

Rainfall intensity0.00 mm/h

Air temperature20.0 °C

Catchment area50.0 km²

Runoff coefficient0.45 —

Catchment response time3.00 h

Estimated educational runoff and evaporation model. Inflow changes over time; rainfall does not directly become electrical output.

Penstock and hydraulic losses

Internal diameter3.20 m

Penstock length110.0 m

Darcy friction factor0.02 —

Minor-loss coefficient1.20 —

Live performance analysis

0 s

Chart measurement

Simulation time: 0.0 sT1: 7.22 MWT2: 7.22 MWT3: 7.22 MW

Hover or touch to inspect a sample. Last 180 seconds of simulated time.

Water and energy paths

Reservoir65.00 mIntakes and penstocks46.06 m³/sTurbines22.56 MWGenerators21.66 MW

Inflow 48.00 m³/sSpillway discharge 0.00 m³/sOverflow at maximum level 0.00 m³/sStorage change 1.93 m³/s

Penstock loss0.15 MWTurbine loss2.14 MWGenerator loss0.90 MW

Generating-unit comparison

Measurement
Status	Generating	Generating	Generating
Electrical power	7.22 MW	7.22 MW	7.22 MW
Discharge	15.35 m³/s	15.35 m³/s	15.35 m³/s
Water velocity	1.91 m/s	1.91 m/s	1.91 m/s
Net head	54.66 m	54.66 m	54.66 m
Head loss	0.34 m	0.34 m	0.34 m
Rotational speed	375.0 RPM	375.0 RPM	375.0 RPM
Generator frequency	50.0 Hz	50.0 Hz	50.0 Hz
Turbine efficiency	91.3 %	91.3 %	91.3 %
Generator efficiency	96.0 %	96.0 %	96.0 %
Net-head pressure equivalent	5.36 bar	5.36 bar	5.36 bar
Shaft torque	191.5 kN·m	191.5 kN·m	191.5 kN·m
Accumulated energy	0.000 MWh	0.000 MWh	0.000 MWh

Methodology, assumptions and model limits

A fictional educational plant, not data from a real dam. Efficiency curves and envelopes are generic estimates, not certified manufacturer curves.

P = ρgQHnetηtηg · v = Q/A · hloss = (fL/D + K)v²/(2g) · n = 120f/p · dV/dt = Qin − Qturbines − Qspill − Qevap − Qoverflow

Reservoir balance uses constant surface area and steps no longer than one second. Runoff has a first-order lag. The grid and test bench are idealized; water hammer, cavitation and structural stresses are not solved. Displayed pressure is a net-head equivalent, not a sensor-location measurement.

Scene proportions are illustrative. Display rotation is slowed 1:20; RPM and calculations use engineering speed. Editing head resets the experimental water level and does not add generated energy to the record.

All simulation results: Estimated — calculated under the stated assumptions.