Estudo da viabilidade de um aproveitamento hidrelétrico de bombas funcionando como turbina na barragem do balneário de Rancharia/SP

Abstract

With the growing need for diversification and decentralization of energy generation in Brazil, bringing more energy security, reducing transmission and distribution costs and reducing environmental impacts, it is proposed in this work to determine the hydroelectric potential of Ribeirão do Capivari. For this, the river flow was measured using the float method and compared with data from the fluviometric post located about 30 km downstream of the dam. Currently, the bottom discharge system of the dam is inoperative, causing the dam to be considered as “High Risk Category” by the National Water Agency (ANA). Therefore, considering the current conjuncture added to the challenge of capturing water found for the installation of a Micro Hydroelectric Power Plant (μCH), it was proposed the integration of an aerial siphon operating together with a μCH. The latter is designed to use pumps that work inversely as if they were turbines (BFTs). The collection of water from the dam is done by a siphon and directed to a loading chamber downstream, from where the flow is directed to the BFTs or to the drainage pipe in the event of an eventual emptying of the dam. Through the Viana method, it was possible to select a pump model for the use and, with this, to estimate the amount of energy that can be generated in periods of drought and flood. With this, it was concluded that there is technical and economic feasibility for the installation of the system. However, a pump model with a higher flow rate should be selected to reduce the number of BFTs, and thus the cost of each pump generated kilowatthour.