Reversible Hydroelectric Power Plant Blaca in the River Cetina

Abstract

The Blaca reversible hydroelectric power plant (RHE) aims to increase the utilization of the available hydropower potential of the Cetina River and create conditions for safer flood protection and better functioning of the future drainage and irrigation system in the Sinjsko polje. The energy contribution of the Blaca RHE is to increase the production of peak and regulation energy and optimize the operation of existing hydroelectric power plants in the basin, as well as to regulate the water wave, which ensures the conditions for the operation of the Orlovac HPP at maximum power during high waters. The concept of the project solution is based on the construction of: a lower basin on the left bank of the Sinjsko polje near the settlement of Otok, an upper basin at an altitude of about 600 m above Blaca, an underground power plant, a pressure pipeline, an upper tunnel with a water and sluice chamber and a lower tunnel with a water chamber. The lower basin would be used to receive high waters of the Cetina River and transfer them by pumping to the upper basin at a favorable time for pumping during night hours. The volume of the lower basin of 5 million m3 is sufficient for 10 hours of pumping operation, and can be filled through 8 hours of turbine operation. The installed flow of the Blaca HPP is 171 m3/s for turbine operation and 135 m3/s for pumping operation. The volume of the upper basin of 31 million m3 serves to accumulate additional quantities of water and produce high-value electricity in the underground power plant, while optimizing the flow for operation at downstream hydroelectric power plants or ensuring water for other needs during the dry season. The pumping operation of the Blaca HPP and the amendment to the operating regulations of the Peruca HPP, which allows for a decrease in the water level in the Peruca reservoir, enable additional and optimal production in the Peruca HPP and reduce the water surge without overflowing from the Peruca reservoir or the Prancevici basin, and with the continuous operation of the Orlovac HPP at its rated power during high waters.

Ivica Jurić-Grgić

Full Professor | Department of Theoretical Electrical Engineering and Modelling

Researcher and full professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Naval Architecture in Split. His research focuses on numerical modeling of electromagnetic transients in power systems, with particular emphasis on the development of advanced numerical methods for analyzing electromagnetic transients in multi-conductor transmission lines. His work includes the application of finite element techniques for transient stability analysis of power systems, as well as the enhancement of models for harmonic and transient analysis of grounding systems.