Making connections: Information transfer in hydropower generation system during the transient process of load rejection

The transient process of hydropower generation system (HGS) frequently appears when the unit operates, which is the result of the interaction between the subsystems, contains abundant information. Researches on the transient process usually simplify the coupling relationship between subsystems. However, the coupling between the subsystems during the transient process is unknown. Here we show that the coupling of the two sub-information systems is represented by the information flow between the intuitive parameters of the two systems in the transient process. And what we found is the coupling between systems is bidirectional. Furthermore, we found that the information flow path and direction of the system will not change with the change of load. The most strongly coupled part of the information is the two sets of parameters at the end of the path rather than the beginning of the path, which is the response components of the unit represented by the guide vane that could change the dynamic characteristics of HGS. Our results demonstrate how information, matter, and energy cooperate in the load rejection process of HGS. The analysis methods presented here could be direct and efficient approaches for further research and engineering applications in system information mining.

Automated summary

This study reveals the coupling relationship between subsystems in the transient process of hydropower generation system through information flow, which is bidirectional and unaffected by load changes. The most strongly coupled part of the information is the parameters at the end of the path, which can change the dynamic characteristics of the system.