Monitoring and 3D thermal modeling of the spiral casing of Batalha Hydroeletric power plant since its early ages

Abstract

This article presents the results of a 3D finite element analysis of the temperature field of the spiral casing of the Batalha hydroelectric power plant, located in São Marcos River, on the border of Goiás and Minas Gerais, Brazil. This work is a sequel of the 2D analysis conducted by FURNAS’s researchers, carried out as an international technical cooperation with researchers from the Federal University of Ceará and the Universities of Minho and Porto (Portugal). The results of computer simulations have been compared with the experimental results obtained from thermometers, highlighting the adequacy of a 3D thermal analysis dully backed by adequate experimental characterization