Course content

The course covers the basics of open channel flow hydraulics and hydraulic design of energy dissipation structures, spillways and outlets, surge tanks, hydraulic steel works, valves, gates, pipe hydraulics and sediment transport.

Learning outcome

The course is offered in English to the first years students of the Hydropower Development MSc programme and the fourth year students of the siv.ing. studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering. The course provides the basic knowledge of equations for calculations of water flow in rivers and hydraulic structures, including sediment management. The students will be able to plan and design hydraulic structures and waterways of a hydropower plant, based on the content of the course. Knowledge:

Expected knowledge from the student:

- Distinction of different flow types

- Association of energy balance and hydraulic jump

- Energy balance: Understanding of the critical flow and the specific energy concept

- Different influences on the flow and the according flow pattern changes

- Flow downstream a spillway and through an opening

- Development of various water lines in the river

- Pipeline design for given hydraulic conditions

- Basic understanding of sediment movement

Skills through the course:

- Calculation of the capacity of a river under normal conditions and high water levels

- Calculation of energy dissipation in a hydraulic jump

- Calculation of the capacity of an overflow or outflow

- Calculation of the water lines in different flow conditions

- Dimension of pipelines

- Turbine design

- Basic sediment transport theory

- Basics of physical hydraulic modeling, model laws, scale effects and laboratory requirements

- The framework for use of water resources in sediment loaded rivers

- Sediment data analysis for planning and design of hydropower projects

- Planning and design of headwork for Run-of-River hydropower projects

- Sediment management methods in reservoirs, their application and limitations

General knowledge provided by the course:

- Understanding of the relationship between the derivation of basic equations and solutions of practical flow problems around hydro power plants

- Understand the issues that can be solved with simplistic methods, and which ones require more expertise

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and exercises are to a large extent integrated. All lectures and exercises are given in English. Exercises are supplemented with examples in the hydraulic laboratory. For the written exam the exercise will only be given in English. Students can answer the exercise in English or Norwegian.

Compulsory assignments

• Project assignment
• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

The student should have knowledge in fluid mechanics.

Course materials

Books from the series "Hydropower Development", "open channel hydraulics" by Hubert Chanson, "Open-channel Hydraulics", V.T. Chow, and supplementary lecture notes (English).