College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 4
College of Engineering
Department - Author 4
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 4
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Date
6-2025
Primary Advisor
Lauren Rueda, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
The Cal Poly SLO HCC team presents a feasibility study and engineering design review package for retrofitting the non-powered Ritschard Dam in Colorado into a hydroelectric facility as part of the 2025 Hydropower Collegiate Competition. Through a rigorous and multi-staged assessment of plausible dam sites in the western US, the team has chosen the Ritschard Dam in Colorado to implement an electromechanical component designed to accommodate a large range of flowrates stemming from a large variance in upper reservoir capacity due to geographical and climate effects. The team evaluated non-powered dams based on technical feasibility, electric grid proximity, power generation potential, environmental considerations, economic potential, and regional energy goals. Following this initial screening, a weighted design matrix approach was used to score prospective dams against one another using the criteria along with risk and safety considerations and societal effects. Among the final candidates, the Ritschard dam stood out for its high-power generation potential (5.7 MW), sub 1 mile proximity to the electrical grid, and alignment with the ambitious Colorado state climate plan aiming to eliminate carbon emissions by employing 100% renewable energy sources by 2040. The dam primarily serves to supply downstream communities and agricultural entities with a stable water supply but contains infrastructure to incorporate power generation equipment, representing a fantastic opportunity to bolster Colorado’s renewable energy supply. During the summer months the Ritschard dam has an excess of 68,000 acre-feet of active water storage supplied by snowmelt from the Wolford Mountain. A hydraulic height of 122 feet allows for a maximum generation potential of 5.7 MW. In the winter months, that level of active water storage dips to 53,000 acre-feet, representing a huge potential loss in energy generation potential. This change in reservoir storage necessitates an adaptive hydroelectric facility that can preserve the agricultural water supply and make use of all excess water for energy generation. Wicket gates, or guide vanes, add directionality, control flow, and allow for hydropower turbines to operate at their most efficient point. This component addresses the key climate driven challenges at the Ritschard Dam. To justify the implementation of a wicket gate assembly to the Ritschard dam, the team utilized a MATLAB Simulink simulation, modeling a PID controlled wicket gate system that dynamically adjusts flow rates and synchronized power output. Virtual testing such as finite element analysis was conducted on the wicket blades, as well as kinematic studies of the assembly linkage to validate the design’s structural integrity and ensures the component is fit to operate under steady state conditions. A scaled prototype was created and tested, demonstrating autonomous control in response to user inputted flow rates simulating the various input flow as seen on a monthly basis at the Ritschard Dam. Risk assessments were conducted to address operational, structural, and environmental concerns with the design and suggest mitigation strategies like increased monitoring, mechanical redundancy and electrical bypass systems. By leveraging existing infrastructure and incorporating autonomous control systems, the team has proposed an economically viable, low impact solution that would expand Colorado’s renewable energy supply.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mesp/838
Included in
Acoustics, Dynamics, and Controls Commons, Controls and Control Theory Commons, Electro-Mechanical Systems Commons, Energy Systems Commons, Power and Energy Commons