Hydropower

Independent measurement and evaluation of hydraulic turbine performance for acceptance testing, guarantee measurements, and operational assessment.

As an independent partner, we are not tied to turbine manufacturers. This allows us to deliver objective and reliable results for contractual verification and performance evaluation.

Our work is based on close cooperation with the client. Measurement campaigns are prepared and executed with respect to site-specific conditions, operational constraints, and project requirements.

We focus on real operating conditions — not ideal assumptions. This approach ensures results that reflect actual turbine behaviour and support practical decision-making.

Why OSC

We combine independent measurement with practical engineering understanding of hydraulic turbine operation.

Our work goes beyond data collection — we deliver results that are technically sound, clearly interpretable, and directly usable.

Independent partner for contractual and guarantee verification
Experience across a wide range of turbine types and operating conditions
Extensive experience with high-accuracy flow measurement, particularly the Gibson method
Ability to adapt measurement campaigns to real plant constraints
Clear communication before, during, and after the measurement
Transparent and understandable presentation of results

Track Record

More than 20 years of experience
Projects across different turbine types and plant configurations
International project experience

Services

Measurement and diagnostic campaigns tailored to specific project and plant requirements delivered as standalone measurements or as part of comprehensive evaluation campaigns.

Performance Testing & Diagnostics
Measurement and evaluation of turbine performance for contractual and operational purposes, analysis of turbine operation with focus on identifying hydraulic and mechanical issues.

Efficiency and flow measurement for acceptance and guarantee testing
Pressure pulsations, vibrations and cavitation detection
Combined performance and diagnostic campaigns

Special Measurements & Technical Support
Custom measurement campaigns and engineering support for non-standard conditions and project-specific needs.

Measurements under constrained or atypical operating conditions
Adaptation to limited access or instrumentation constraints
Support during turbine commissioning and start-up, including performance verification

Measurement Methods

Methods are selected based on required accuracy, site conditions, and project objectives.

Gibson Method (Pressure–Time)
High-accuracy flow determination based on transient pressure measurement, widely used for reliable performance and guarantee testing, and a well-established part of our practice with extensive project experience.

Current Meters (Hydrometric Propellers)
Direct flow measurement using calibrated hydrometric propellers, suitable for a wide range of turbine types, particularly for low-head plants and sites with short or no penstocks.

Thermodynamic Method
Direct efficiency determination based on temperature measurement, eliminating the need for flow measurement and providing very low uncertainty under suitable conditions.

Index Testing
Relative performance measurement used to identify optimal operating regimes, often applied in combination with absolute methods to extend and refine results.

Process

1. Preparation
Definition of measurement scope with respect to project objectives, turbine type, and site-specific conditions, in close coordination with the client and with consideration of operational and hydraulic constraints.

2. On-site Measurement
Execution of the measurement campaign under real operating conditions, with flexibility to adapt to actual plant operation and hydrological variability, and continuous coordination with plant staff.

3. Evaluation & Reporting
Transparent processing and interpretation of measured data, delivering clear and reliable results for performance verification, optimisation, and direct use in further decision-making.