ASU BMM Team to Develop Innovative Prototype for Mountain Micro-Hydroelectric Power Station

Students from the Institute of Exact Sciences and Digital Technologies at Adyghe State University— Lilia Bukreeva, Daniil Grigoriev, Polina Ivanchenko, Polina Podoinitsyna, Alina Savelyeva , and Valery Shevtsov— under the supervision of mentor Stefan Onishchenko , are designing a microhydroelectric power station for mountainous and foothill areas during the Big Mathematical Workshop commissioned by the ASU Renewable Energy Laboratory.

In mountainous and foothill areas, autonomous and small-scale power sources capable of operating on the energy of small rivers and streams, without the need for large hydraulic structures and with minimal impact on aquatic ecosystems, are of particular interest. Low-pressure hydroelectric generators, which extract energy either at low pressure or directly from natural water flow, are promising for such areas.

The project's goal is to develop design solutions for a microhydroelectric power plant for the mountainous and foothill regions of the Republic of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai.

The project plans to create several 3D models of blades for various types of microhydroelectric power plants. To do this, the students will need to analyze existing types of power plants, determine the most optimal design solutions for use in mountainous areas, and develop a design for operation on small rivers and streams.

The project will also include the creation of 3D models of several blade designs for submersible and diversion hydroelectric power plants. This will result in a comparative evaluation of the developed designs based on efficiency, operational stability, resistance to flow changes, manufacturability, manufacturing cost, and environmental friendliness. The practical significance of the project lies in the creation of rapidly reproducible prototypes that can be quickly refined following bench and full-scale testing.