Hydrodynamics Laboratory of Near-Critical Flows

Areas of Activity

• Conducting fundamental research on near-critical fluid flows.
  Solving applied problems of hydrodynamics of near-critical flows for specific operating conditions of various types of hydroelectric and hydraulic structures.
• Conducting laboratory and field studies to determine hydrodynamic, kinematic, and other characteristics of structures in order to find optimal solutions to various problems related to the design, construction, and operation of hydroelectric and hydraulic facilities.
• Surveying rivers and adjacent areas to identify sites suitable for the construction of hydroelectric power stations.
• Examination of the technical condition of hydraulic structures and equipment of hydroelectric and hydraulic facilities.
• Preparing passports and operating rules for hydroelectric power stations, reservoirs, and other hydroelectric and hydraulic facilities.
• Consulting and providing assistance to production.
• Raising the scientific and technical level of training for bachelor's, master's in the specialty 'Renewable Energy Sources and Hydropower' and PhD students of the relevant specialties.

Leaders and Executives

Scientific supervisor of the laboratory – Dr. of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Energy Ryabenko O.A.
Executors – PhD, Associate Professor Halych O.O.; PhD, Associate Professor Tymoshchuk V.S.; PhD, Senior Lecturer Gerba O.V.; PhD student Zaychuk R.M.; PhD student Popruga P.V.

Scientific Equipment

• Installation for studying steady and unsteady operating modes of inlet and outlet pipelines of hydroelectric power stations and pumped storage hydropower plants.
• Installation for experimental studies of near-critical fluid flows.
• Stand for pressure derivation.
• Installation for calibration of measuring instruments.
• Energy stand for vertical model turbine.
• Energy stand for horizontal model (natural) turbine.
• Automated system for measuring depths and pressures in the studied aquatic environment of the water flow.

Scientific Results

• Defense of the doctoral philosophy dissertation. Gerba O.V. 'Improving the operating conditions and design of hydraulic screw turbines of small hydroelectric power stations', NUVGP, 2025.
• Reports at international scientific and technical conferences.
  
  • Halych O., Nowak P., Bilkova E., Riabenko O. Hydraulic modeling for environmentally friendly small hydropower: innovations and applications. XVII International Scientific Conference of Environmental and Climate Technologies. CONECT 2025. 14–16 May 2025, Riga, Latvia.
  • Riabenko O., Nowak P., Halych O., Vovk L.  Innovative trends in the use of pumped storage power plants in the management of energy systems.Proceedings of International Conference and Exhibition HYDRO 2025 “Partnering for Global Solutions”, October, 22-24, 2025, Thessaloniki, Greece.
  • Riabenko O., Nowak P., Bilkova E., Halych O. The Role of Pumped Storage Power Plants in Ukrainian Energy Market Under Conditions of Military Conflict. XIX International Scientific Conference of Environmental and Climate Technologies. CONECT 2026. 13–15 May 2026, Riga, Latvia. 
• Scientific publications.
  
  • Riabenko O., Halych O., Tymoshchuk V., Kliukha O. Use of Near-critical Flows in the Operation of Hydropower and Water Management Facilities. Proceedings of CEE 2025. CEE 2025. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 781. Springer, Cham. 2025. pp. 334-345 In: Blikharskyy Z., Katunský D., Lichołai L. (eds) (Scopus). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06850-7_33.
  • Halych O., Bilkova E., Nowak P., Riabenko O. A review on hydropower in Ukraine - its state, role in the energy system and potential for post-war recovery. Energy Strategy Reviews, Volume 62, 2025, 11 pp. 101997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2025.101997 (Scopus).
  • Ryabenko O.A., Popruga P.V., Poplavskyi D.M. Numerical modeling of the hydraulic regime of the upper reach of the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Station during the passage of the design flood. Bulletin of NUVGP. Collection of Scientific Works. Technical Sciences. Issue No. 1 (109) 2025, pp. 75-83.
  • Gerba O.V., Halych O.O., Ryabenko O.O. Evaluation of the economic efficiency of using screw turbines on small rivers. Bulletin of NUVGP, series 'Technical Sciences', issue 2 (110) 2025, pp. 121-130.
  • Ryabenko O., Sunichuk S., Zaychuk R., Pylypenko V. Use of trapezoidal water meters to determine filtration losses of earth dams. Journal 'Hydropower of Ukraine', No. 1-4. 2025. pp. 90-93. ISSN 1812-9277.
  • Riabenko O. Paradoxes and Equations for Conjugated Depths of Near-critical Fluid Flows with the Allowance of Non-hydrostatics in their Initial Cross Sections. International Journal of Fluid Mechanics Research 53(2):79-90. 2026. https://dl.begellhouse.com/journals/71cb29ca5b40f8f8,09f7b87f00409c3a,0da11a0874f8f5a0.html