Energy Conservation, Performance and availability of Pumping Stations and Hydro Power Plants are significantly enhanced thanks to electrical solutions

Electrical solutions based on variable speed equipments are used in several areas in order to enhance energy conservation:In Variable Speed Pumped Storage Power Plant (PSPP), Electrical Drives are used to set up unit output power and power factor, to provide speed variation so that pumping as well as turbining are achieved at variable power, but still at the highest efficiency, reducing the consumptions consequently. Finally, they are used to start-up the unit in pump mode.In small hydro power plants, Variable Speed Drives (VSD) are used to extend the operation of the plant when the water net head varies, to solve mechanical issues such as cavitations and vibrations, to simplify the arrangement suppressing the gearbox between turbine and generator. Such equipment optimize plant installations by offering larger capabilities. Static Frequency Converters (SFC) are used in PSPP to smoothly start up units in pump mode and launch them in sequence to the grid.All these Electrical solutions increase operational flexibility, are easy to install and operate, reduce wear and maintenance cost and time, and contribute all to save energy