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Review of Case Materials
Reviews records, documents, testimony, data, and other relevant materials and consults with counsel regarding technical issues related to the matter.
Provide Expert Analysis
Applies specialized knowledge and experience to evaluate the technical or professional issues involved.
Form Expert Opinions
Develops independent, supportable opinions based on the available evidence and relevant standards.
Prepare Expert Reports
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A performance evaluation can compare water discharge, available head, turbine output, generator output, operating point, efficiency, and instrumentation with the conditions under which performance was claimed or guaranteed. Differences in reservoir elevation, tailwater level, flow, equipment condition, and measurement methodology can affect comparisons between tests. ASME PTC 18 establishes procedures for field performance and acceptance testing of hydraulic turbines and pump-turbines. The code determines performance through measurements including flow rate, head, and power, from which turbine efficiency can be calculated.
Hydroelectric output depends substantially on both the quantity of water moving through the turbine and the elevation difference through which that water falls. That elevation difference is commonly called head. Changing reservoir levels, tailwater conditions, flow restrictions, or water availability can therefore change the energy available to the turbine even when the electrical equipment itself has not changed. The U.S. Department of Energy explains that the energy available at a hydropower plant depends on both water flow and head: greater flow and greater head generally provide greater potential electrical generation.
Relevant evidence may include vibration trends, pressure measurements, operating load, runner and blade condition, cavitation damage, erosion, bearing data, inspection photographs, maintenance records, outage history, water conditions, and the operating ranges used before the event. Cavitation can be particularly important. Bureau of Reclamation research identifies off-design hydraulic operation as a potential source of cavitation erosion, pressure pulsations, and excessive vibration in hydropower turbines. Comparing physical damage with operating history can help determine whether deterioration developed gradually or was associated with particular operating conditions.
Prepares clear, well-supported expert reports outlining methodology, analysis, findings, and opinions.
Provide Deposition Testimony
Explains findings and opinions under oath and responds to questioning during deposition testimony.
Testify in Court
Presents specialized findings and opinions clearly to judges, juries, arbitrators, or other decision-makers.
The turbine and generator perform different functions. Water acting on the hydraulic turbine produces mechanical shaft power; the generator converts that mechanical input into electrical power. A unit that produces less electricity than expected can therefore require separate evaluation of the water supply, turbine efficiency, shaft conditions, generator electrical performance, excitation, controls, and losses between stages. DOE describes conventional hydropower as water flowing through a penstock to turn a turbine, which in turn drives a generator. IEEE also maintains a current standard specifically for 50 Hz and 60 Hz synchronous generators and generator/motors rated 5 MVA and above coupled to hydraulic turbines, reinforcing the technical distinction between the hydraulic and electrical portions of the generating unit.
