Flow measurements at two 1.4 MW units

Portland General Electric (PGE) retained ASL AQFlow to conduct relative flow measurements at units 10 and 11 of the T.W. Sullivan Hydroelectric plant, located in West Linn, Oregon, in early 2005. The plant s 13 units (1.4 MW each) underwent a complete overhaul in 1954. During the second half of 2004, Units 10 and 11 received a runner and wicket gate upgrade. At the same time, modifications to the forebay were made. The units do not have a conventional scroll case inlet to the propeller runner. Instead, a 6 ft long, 10 ft diameter penstock leads to a 27 ft diameter chamber. This configuration has been described as an open-flume intake. Consequently, scroll case piezometer taps were not an option at TW Sullivan. Instead, index flow measurements were conducted with AQFlow s acoustic scintillation flowmeter, to identify optimum wicket gate opening for maximum efficiency. Given the difficult hydraulic conditions, this objective has been achieved