Hydropower plants tailwater energy production and optimization

Water is the first renewable source used to generate electricity. After converting water´s power to electricity in hydro power stations water falls down back to the river. Water leaving water turbines is called tailwater. Tailwater still has energy to be converted. In this study to produce electric energy from the tail water of the plant has been investigated. The use of low head Kaplan turbines which are placed in hydromatrix form, are feasible for this type of applications. For an existing water head and flow rate, the number and geometrical properties of hydromatrix turbines are investigated. In the case study Sanibey water dam´s tail water data has been used to determine optimum size and number of hydromatrix turbines to be installed to maximize electrical energy production.