Geomembrane Liners for Hydroelectric Power Plants

In a world where "going green" is the cool thing to do, harnessing water power in the form of hydroelectricity is the largest source of clean, renewable energy available today. Hydroelectric power is reported to account for 52% of renewable energy generation in the U.S. and 7% of total electricity generation, and failure to achieve reliable and consistent water flow could leave millions of people stranded. The various types of hydroelectric plants in use today each have their own unique geomembrane uses to assist in the protection and delivery of water within their systems, helping to more efficiently provide green energy to the public.

Impoundment

The most common form of hydropower generation is the impoundment behind a dam. The reservoir created by the dam is the key to this system. This harnessed water flows through a turbine and connects to a generator, which in turn generates electricity and connects to the consumer. Containing as much water as possible and directing it to flow only through the turbines, or out of the spillway structure if necessary, is important to achieving an efficient system as well as increasing the life and safety of the dam.

Water loss through infiltration from the reservoir into the ground is one area that can be improved by installing a geosynthetic lining system. The type of soil at the location of a current or planned reservoir can make a significant difference in the watertightness of that container. In the absence of thick clay soils, geosynthetic lining systems can be a cost-effective solution to water loss due to infiltration into the ground by providing a barrier between the contained water and the porous matrix.

Seepage does not only occur within the impoundment, but can also be seen in the dam itself. This can affect not only the efficiency of the dam, but also its longevity and the safety of the downstream area of the impoundment. As water enters through small cracks within the dam structure, its erosive nature increases the size of the holes and cracks, which can also be exacerbated in a four-season climate where freeze-thaw cracking is an accelerating problem. Installing a geomembrane lining system on the upstream face of a dam is an effective means of preventing or reducing water loss from seepage. Not only is it comparable to other coating methods, but in some cases it can have a service life of 40-50 years or more.

Diversion

In the case of a river hydroelectric plant diversion or operation; only a portion of the water from the river is diverted to rotate the turbine and there may be no need for a dam or impoundment at all. In this case, it is again important to utilize all of the diverted water that is directed to the power plant and turbine to achieve maximum efficiency. If an ideal substrate is not available as described above, geosynthetic lining systems can be used to line canals that convey water for power generation as well as plant outflows to reduce erosion and ensure that water is conveyed to its intended destination. The recommended liners we recommend and supply for such applications are high strength and puncture resistant.

Pumped Storage

Pumped storage hydroelectric systems use low energy periods to store and conserve energy for high usage demands. When demand for electricity is low, water is pumped from lower elevation reservoirs to higher elevation basins where it is stored until demand exceeds a threshold that guarantees the release of water to turbines that produce energy. As mentioned above, geosynthetic lining systems can be beneficial in ensuring that water within that system remains intact through the lined reservoir and is transferred to the correct location through any canals required within the lined system.

Luyuan has the experienced sales, design and installation staff to help make your hydroelectric system watertight and efficient!