The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) – BarcelonaTech plays a leading scientific and technical role in the STOR-HY project, contributing with advanced digital modelling, simulation, and smart monitoring solutions for pumped storage hydropower (PSP) plants.
UPC’s work forms the scientific backbone of the Cyber-Physical Platform for Advanced Decision Support (CADS), enabling the development of digital twins capable of supporting predictive maintenance, operational flexibility, and long-term reliability of hydropower assets.
Advanced computational modelling
UPC develops multi-scale computational models that replicate the real physical behaviour of pumped storage units under highly flexible operating conditions. These include:
- 1D system-level hydraulic models to simulate transient events such as start-ups, shutdowns, rapid load changes, and water hammer phenomena.
- 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyse pressure fluctuations, rotor-stator interactions, cavitation risk, and off-design operation.
- Finite Element Method (FEM) structural models to evaluate stresses, vibration modes, and fatigue life of critical components such as runners and shafts.
Smart monitoring and virtual sensors
A key innovation led by UPC is the development of virtual sensing methodologies, combining physical measurements, physics-based simulations, and artificial intelligence. This approach allows:
- Indirect estimation of dynamic stresses in rotating components;
- Fatigue damage prediction without intrusive instrumentation;
- Real-time health indicators integrated into the digital twin, and
- Data-driven decision support for predictive maintenance.
Validation in European demonstrators
UPC’s models and monitoring strategies are validated across several European PSP demonstrators, including:
- Le Cheylas (France): advanced monitoring and model validation.
- VSMC (France): experimental modal analysis and structural calibration.
- Vilarinho (Portugal): hydraulic short circuit (HSC) operation.
- Alqueva (Portugal): strain-based fatigue assessment.
- La Rance (France): variable speed conversion.
Enabling the digital transformation of hydropower
Through advanced simulations, integrated monitoring strategies, and digital twin development, UPC contributes to increased operational flexibility, reduced operational expenditure (OPEX), extended component lifetime, improved reliability and safety, and enhanced integration of renewable energy.