HydroVision International 2015

Robert Rittase
Chief Hydraulic Engineer
American Hydro


Mr. Rittase joined Weir American Hydro in January 2012. He has over 23 years of experience in the hydro industry both in a consulting and a manufacturing role. Mr. Rittase is responsible for preparation of hydraulic performance estimates, hydraulic design of turbine equipment and model/field testing of the hydraulic characteristics of the equipment. He has served as project manager and lead engineer on numerous hydro upgrade and assessment projects as well as Owner’s Engineering support for equipment and installation contracts. These projects involve Francis, Kaplan, propeller, and pump-turbine applications. His responsibilities have included basic hydraulic layout; development of revenue and energy models; cost estimating and financial modeling for new projects; and scoping, upgrade assessment, and financial modeling of modernization projects. Mr. Rittase has performed the hydraulic design and analysis on Francis, Kaplan, propeller, and pump-turbine modernization projects. Projects have included designs using CFD-based modeling only, as well as complete homologous model testing. He has also served as a Project Manager on both new turbine and modernization hydroelectric projects. These projects have ranged from small runner replacement contracts to complete new water-to-wire projects. Specifically, Mr. Rittase has served as lead hydraulic engineer on the following major Francis turbine upgrade projects for Voith Hydro that involved homologous model testing: Grand Coulee, Conowingo, Muddy Run (P-T), and Acaray. In those projects, Mr. Rittase was responsible for performance predictions, CFD design and analysis of the replacement runners, and design or modification to distributor components including wearing rings, draft tubes, wicket gates and stay vanes.

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