Analysis of the main methods used in determining the discharge at low head small hydro power plants

"Low head hydro power plants are generally plants equipped with Kaplan or bulb turbines.They can process a discharge of the order of tens of m3 /s (Fughiu HPP, Zăneşti HPP, Golesti HPP) or hundreds of m3/s (Ipoteşti HPP, Robeşti HPP) and have a gross head generally between 10 ... 30 m. In order to make a good determination of the efficiency of a hydro unit that equips a low head hydro power plants, it is necessary to perform performance tests periodically by measuring the actual operating parameters of the hydro unit in situ. Among the parameters of a hydro power or hydro-unit, the parameter whose measurement poses the most difficult problems is the turbine discharge. Determining the turbine discharge requires a complex measurement methodology. The present paper aims to present and analyze the main methods of determining the discharge that can be used in the case of low head small hydro power plants. "