AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module aims to provide the student with the basic knowledge of the conceptual design of dams and infrastructures for the management of water resources. Particular attention will be paid to the design of works for the production of hydroelectric energy.
In detail, at the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Make a conceptual design of gravity dams and the necessary accessory works
• Know the problems relating to the use of different materials in the construction of dam works
• Theoretically treat problems due to the opening and closing operations of water derivation plants (mass and elastic oscillations)
• Use the knowledge acquired in the hydrology course for the sizing of intake and damming works
• Know the principles of dam/reservoir role in the context of hydraulic risk management.
• Demonstrate decision-making autonomy, ability to effectively communicate the results of one's work in written and oral form, ability to adapt language to the context, ability to use different sources and aids.
• Make a conceptual design of hydroelectric energy production plants

The objectives will be achieved with a series of exercises, developed during classes and to be presented at the exam, dedicated to the conceptual design of some hydraulic works.

TEACHING METHODS

The module is divided into 60 hours of teaching, of which at least 25 are exercises involving the preliminary design of hydraulic infrastructures. Students will have to independently choose/derive the project parameters by applying the methods described during lectures. Some hours will be dedicated to the students' presentation of any problems that may have emerged during the dimensioning phase of the works and the solutions will be discussed interactively. During the exam, each student will have to present the results and have a discussion with the teacher regarding the different project choices.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The topics covered by of the module are:

• Introduction to the course: types and uses of infrastructures for the management of water resources, the materials used, historical notes
• Artificial reservoirs: useful hydraulic references, terminology and general classification, verification problem and design problem, infrastructure obsolescence
• Dams: typologies, preliminary design, design loads
• Mass and elastic transients in adduction works
• Accessory infrastructures, monitoring and protection, water hammer, penstock design
• The production of hydroelectric energy: planning of the exploitation of water resources at the basin scale, overall example of sizing of a reservoir plant
• The role of dams in flood control
• Run-of-river systems: types and general sizing of a system
• Turbines: characteristics and sizing

The topics covered in the various sections will be the subject of in-class exercises that will have to be presented in the final exam.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The essential bibliography, with free access, will be provided by the teacher during the lessons or via Aulaweb. Upon request, the teacher can provide specific indications on in-depth texts, which can be consulted through the university library system.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIORGIO BONI (President)

ILARIA GNECCO (President)

PIETRO MISURALE (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/10799/studenti-orario

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral exam, structured as follows:

Presentation of the exercise results, discussion with the teacher, and questions on the theoretical part.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it), the disability liaison for the Engineering study programs

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Application exercises are planned which consist of a preliminary design of some types of hydraulic infrastructures. The exercises, delivered in written form, will be presented and discussed in depth during the final exam. The final exam consists, in addition to the discussion of the exercises, in some questions chosen by the teacher to be answered orally, in particular on the topics of the entire program not covered exhaustively in the exercises.

60% of the summative assessment of the course is based on the presentation of the reports. 40% of the assessment is based on the outcome of the oral questions.

Exam schedule