Reference: www.rockmass.

net March 2008

AIR CUSHION SURGE CHAMBER a cost-effective solution in hydropower design

by Arild Palmstrom, Ph.D, RockMass as

The purpose of the air cushion surge chamber is to damp surges in the headrace pressure tunnel of the underground hydropower plant. It replaces the conventional, open surge shaft, see Figure 1. The surge chamber is hydraulically connected to the headrace tunnel via a short connection tunnel (Figure 3). Six of the chambers have pressure above 4 MPa, one as high as 7.7 MPa. The volume varies from 2,000 to 110,000m3. The air cushion itself occupies from 25% to 85% of the cavern volume with typically 2 to 5m depth of the cavern water bed, see Figure 2. An important provision in a successful design and construction of air cushion surge chambers is the layout and relevant measures regarding the rock stresses acting and the permeability of the surrounding rock masses. The application of a special designed water curtain has proven an effective means of reducing possible air losses during plant operation, as is shown in Figures 2 and 3.

RESERVOIR

HWL

SURGE SHAFT
HEADRACE TUNNEL
PE N

LAKE TAP

ST OC K

POWER STATION

OLD SOLUTION WITH PENSTOCK

RESERVOIR

HWL

SURGE SHAFT
HEADRACE TUNNEL

LAKE TAP

PR E

SS U RE

POWER STATION
SH AF T

ACCESS TUNNEL

TAILRACE TUNNEL

SOLUTION WITH PRESSURE SHAFT

RESERVOIR

HWL

AIR CUSHION SURGE CHAMBER

PRE SSUR E TU NNEL

LAKE TAP

POWER STATION ACCESS TUNNEL

TAILRACE TUNNEL

SOLUTION WITH PRESSURE TUNNEL AND AIR CUSHION SURGE CHAMBER

FIGURE 1. DEVELOPMENT IN DESIGN OF UNLINED PRESSURE CONDUITS INTO PRESSURE TUNNEL WITH AIR
CUSHION SURGE CHAMBER

Reference: www.rockmass.net March 2008

A
tu nn el

A
Co nn ec t io n

FIGURE 2. LAYOUT OF THE AIR CUSHION SURGE CHAMBER AT TORPA HYDROPOWER PLANT, DESIGNED BY NORCONSULT
Normalized Air Loss [Nm 3 / (h x m2x MPa)]

FIGURE 3. AIR LOSS IN NORWEGIAN AIR CUSHION SURGE CHAMBERS. AS SEEN, WATER SEALING BY GROUTING AND ESPECIALLY INSTALLATION OF A WATER CURTAIN HAS REDUCED THE AIR LEAKAGE.

ad He e rac

Connection tunnel

Hea d

0.01

0.001

0.0 001 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2 .5 3.0

nel tun
r ac e tunn el
1 0.1

Water curtain holes

Chamber

PLAN

50m

Water curtain gallery

Water curtain boreho le Plug

Water bed

Air pressure 4.44 MPa

SECTION A - A

In addition to the layout of the chamber, the calculation of air loss and the design of mechanical equipment as well as the surge calculations are vital features in the air cushion surge chambers.
no grouting or water curtain with initial water curtain initial after grouting initial after installation of water curtain

A total number of 10 air cushion surge chambers have been constructed in Norway, the first one has been in operation since 1973. All together they provide more than 200 years of experience.

Mean Operating Pressure Ratio