Reference: www.rockmass.

net
March 2006

AIR CUSHION SURGE CHAMBER

a cost-effective solution in hydropower design
by Arild Palmstrom, Ph.D, special adviser Norconsult as

The purpose of the air cushion surge chamber is to damp surges in the headrace pressure tunnel of the
underground hydropower plant. It replaces the conventional, open surge shaft, see Figure 1.

The surge chamber is hydraulically connected to the headrace tunnel via a short connection tunnel (Figure 3).
Six of the chambers have pressure above 4 MPa, one as high as 7.7 MPa. The volume varies from 2,000 to
110,000m3. The air cushion itself occupies from 25% to 85% of the cavern volume with typically 2 to 5m
depth of the cavern water bed, see Figure 2.

An important provision in a successful design and construction of air cushion surge chambers is the layout
and relevant measures regarding the rock stresses acting and the permeability of the surrounding rock
masses. The application of a special designed water curtain has proven an effective means of reducing
possible air losses during plant operation, as is shown in Figures 2 and 3.

HWL SURGE SHAFT

RESERVOIR
HEADRACE TUNNEL
PE
N ST
LAKE TAP OC
K POWER STATION

OLD SOLUTION WITH PENSTOCK

SURGE SHAFT
HWL
RESERVOIR
HEADRACE TUNNEL
PR
E
LAKE TAP SS
U POWER STATION
RE
S ACCESS TUNNEL
H
AF
T

TAILRACE TUNNEL

SOLUTION WITH PRESSURE SHAFT

HWL
RESERVOIR
AIR CUSHION
SURGE CHAMBER

LAKE TAP PRE

SSU POWER STATION
RE T
UNN
EL ACCESS TUNNEL

TAILRACE TUNNEL

SOLUTION WITH PRESSURE TUNNEL AND AIR CUSHION SURGE CHAMBER

FIGURE 1. DEVELOPMENT IN DESIGN OF UNLINED PRESSURE CONDUITS INTO PRESSURE TUNNEL WITH AIR
CUSHION SURGE CHAMBER
 Reference: www.rockmass.net
March 2006

A A
el
nn
tu
n
t io
ec
He

nn
ad

Co
ra c
e
tu n
n el

Water curtain holes Chamber

0 50m
PLAN

Water curtain gallery

Wa te r
curtain
Connection tunnel b ore ho
Plug le

Air pressure
4.44 MPa
He a Water bed
dr a
ce t
unn
el SECTION A - A

FIGURE 2. LAYOUT OF THE AIR CUSHION SURGE CHAMBER AT TORPA HYDROPOWER PLANT, DESIGNED BY NORCONSULT
Normalized Air Loss [Nm / (h x m x MPa)]

1 In addition to the layout of

the chamber, the calculation
of air loss and the design of
2

mechanical equipment as
0.1
well as the surge calculations
3

are vital features in the air

cushion surge chambers.
no grouting or water curtain
0.01
with initial water curtain A total number of 10 air
initial cushion surge chambers have
after grouting
been constructed in Norway,
0.001 the first one has been in
initial
operation since 1973. All
after installation
of water curtain
together they provide more
0.0 001 than 200 years of experience.
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2 .5 3.0
Mean Operating Press ure Ratio

FIGURE 3. AIR LOSS IN NORWEGIAN AIR CUSHION SURGE CHAMBERS. AS SEEN, WATER SEALING BY GROUTING AND
ESPECIALLY INSTALLATION OF A WATER CURTAIN HAS REDUCED THE AIR LEAKAGE.