ALGOR AROUND THE WORLD - Australia

Engineer Analyzes Penstock Bifurcation with Algor FEA

Mr. Krstich Misho, Design Engineer with Transfield Construction Pty. Ltd., recently completed an Algor FEA analysis of a penstock bifurcation for a large hydroelectric power station. Transfield is a leading civil and energy infrastructure engineering and construction firm located in Sydney, Australia.

Design Engineer Krstich Misho of Transfield Construction Pty. Ltd.

The bifurcation consists of a 3.1 m diameter inlet pipe that splits into two 1.8 m diameter outlet pipes. It is designed to feed water to hydroelectric turbines and must sustain a maximum working pressure of 860 kpa and a test pressure of 1,050 kpa. The pipe is stiffened by a thick, tapered cantilever crotch plate to decrease stress levels at the bifurcation joint.

According to Mr. Misho, "The bifurcation was difficult to analyze using classical methods. Algor FEA provided an opportunity to examine the penstock behavior under various load conditions. It was essential that the design be verified prior to encasing the pipe in ballast concrete.

Inlet pipe designed to feed water to hydroelectric turbines.

"Several runs were required to optimize the design with particular attention paid to the size and location of the stiffeners and crotch plate," continues Mr. Misho. "The results showed satisfactory stress values and confirmed the acceptability of the design. During the design and analysis process, I found Algor FEA to be easy to use and very intuitive."