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1.1 THERMAL POWER PLANT

1.1.1 THERMAL POWER STATION: A thermal power  After which this coal is fed to the stoker and burn it under
station converts the chemical energy of the fossil fuels into proper conditions to boil the water in boilers.
electrical energy. In such plants, this action is achieved by
generation of steam in boilers and then fed this high
pressurized steam to turbine, which is mechanically coupled COAL STORAGE
with generator and responsible of electrical energy generation.

Mechanical COAL HANDLING

energy PLANT
Generator
Steam ASH HADLING BOILER
PLANT FUEL
Steam Electrical
Coupling GAS
turbine energy
Water
Boiler Flue gases ASH STORAGE
FIG.1.2 COAL & ASH CIRCUIT

Thermal
(b) Air & Gas Circuit:
energy
 For combustion of fuel, air is required and this air is
FIG.1.1 BASIC LAYOUT OF THERMAL POWER PLANT supplied through the forced draught fan and induced draught
fan.
1.1.2 SITE SELECTION: Selection of site of any power  The air fed to the boiler is pass through the air pre-heater to
plant plays an important role in the economy of the station. exhaust energy of flue gases coming out from the boiler.
Site selection is based on various important factors, some of  Then it passes through the economizer and dust collector
which for thermal power plant is given as: and then finally released to the atmosphere through
(a) Cost of land: Cost of land should be reasonable and chimney.
further extensions, if necessary should be possible.
(b) Nature of land: The type of the land selected as site

CHIMNEY
should have good bearing capability to withstand the load of BOILER
the plant. PREHEATER
(c) Availability of fuel: Thermal power stations requires huge
amount of fuel per day. Therefore it is necessary that the FORCED
DRAFT FAN ECONOMIZER
location of the plant should in such that the fuel may available
at low cost and it should be easy to deliver fuel from coal INDUCED
fields at a low transportation charges and within time. FURNACE DRAFT FAN
(d) Availability of water: Thermal (steam) power plants FIG.1.3 AIR & GAS CIRCUIT
requires large amount of water because water is used as
working fluid wich is respectively evaporated and condenced. (c) Feed Water & Steam Circuit:
Abundant quantity of cooling water for condenser should also  The exhausting of turbine is condensed by condenser. Is first
available and its large amount is required for ash handling. It is heated in closed feed water heater through extracted steam.
therefore, necessary to locate the power plant near water body.  This water is then passed though deaerator (which plays a
(e) Easy transportation facility: It is also a very important role to reduce the dissolved oxygen content), then this feed
consideration. It is always necessary to have easy water is pumped to a high pressure heater to the boiler
transportation by which transportation of fuel and heavy through economizer.
machinery becomes an easy task.  Some part of steam and water is lost in circulation of
(f) Waste disposal facility: It is an important factor because different componets of the system, adding a make-up water
proper disposal of wate products is very important, since they is necessary in feed water to compensate it.
affects environment and may create serious problems.  In boiler, water is converted into high pressure steam, which
is fed to super-heaters to absorb its moisture and make it
1.1.3 MAIN PARTS & THEIR WORKING: Main steam dry.
station of a thermal plant works on the Rankine cycle. The  This high pressurized dry steam is now fed to the turbine
plant can be divided into four basic circuits: through the main valve.
(a) Coal & Ash Circuit:
 Coal is transported from supply points to storage through (d) Cooling Water Circuit:
transportation medium like by road/train or from others.  Colling water is used to condense the steam in condenser
 After proper treatment i.e. passing the coal through curshers, and maintaining it on a low pressure.
dryers and magnetic seperators (for sizing, removal of  In such process a large ammount of cooling water is
magnetic substances or imuprities) this coal is fed to the required, which may be taken from river side or any other
boiler furnace through a conveyer belt. reservoir.

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STEAM

TO ALTERNATOR
SUPER-

ALTERNATOR
HEATER

TURBINE
BOILER
SUPER VALVE
BOILER MAKE-UP WATER

TO
TANK HEATER
WATER

TURBINE
ECONOMIZER

CONDENSER

CIRCULATING
CONDENSER

WATER
COOLING
EVAPORATOR WATER PUMP

RIVER OR POND
FEED WATER
CONDENSATE FIG.1.5 COOLING WATER CIRCUIT
PUMP FEED WATER
PUMP
HEATER
FIG.1.4 FEED WATER & STEAM CIRCUIT

1.1.4 BOILERS: (b) Water Tube Boiler:

 A device (closed vessel) which is use to produce steam  In this boiler, water tubes are surrounded by hot gases which
under high pressure. are produced due to the combustion of fuel.
 It is one of the major components of the steam power plant.  These tubes are interconnected by common water storage
 Boilers are broadly classified as: fire tube boiler & water and to steam outlet.
tube boiler. Generally water tube boilers are used.  Depending on the positions of tubes, water tube boiler may
(a) Fire Tube Boiler: classified as: vertical, horizontal and inclined tube boilers.
 In these boilers, the products of the combustion pass through  The circulation of water takes place naturally or it is a forced
the tubes which are surrounded water. process as per requirment and condition.
 They have low initial cost.
 In such boilers, the water volume is more and circulating AIR
being poor so they cannot meet quickly changes in staem PREHEATER
demand. FLUE GAS
 Depending on the tubes, they may be further classified as: SUPER
AIR
vertical and horizontal tube boilers. HEATER
 They may be internally fed or externally fed. STEAM
 In and internally fed boiler, grate and combustion chamber
enclosed within the boiler shell while in externally fed
boilers all these are separate and distinct from boiler shell.
STEAM
STEAM OUTLET DRUMS
HOT GASES OUTLET

COOL C
O
FIRE TUBE C MB
H U
BOILER A S
M T
BE I O
R N
ECONOMISER
FURNACE

HOT
GAS ASH
FIG.1.7 WATER TUBE BOILER

1.1.5 SUPERHEATERS & REHEATERS:

 These are used to superheat steam to the desired value.
FIG.1.6 FIRE TUBE BOILER  Superheated steam contains more heat than saturated steam
at same pressure & it has been heated above the temprature
corresponding to its pressure.
 Due to superheating of the steam, the heat provides more

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energy to the turbine and thus power output is more.
 Corrosion of the turbine blads reduces and the steam can be AIR
transmitted for longer distances with low heat loss.
 Superheater removes the last traces of moisture from the INJECTION
saturated steam leaving the boiler tube and increases the WATER SPRAY
temprature of this steam.
 Superheaters may be classified as: CONDENSER
(a) Convection superheaters, (b) Radiant superheaters or SHELL
may be combination of both.
 A convection superheater is located where gas stream
receives most of the heat convection. EXHAUST
 A radiant superheater is placed near to the furnace where STEAM
heat is received by radiation.
 In modern boilers, reheaters also used to suoerheat the partly
expended steam from the turbine.
 This action dries the steam through the last stage of turbine.
TO
1.1.6 STEAM TURBINE: BOILER
 A steam turbine utilized the heat energy of steam by PUMP
converting it into mechanical energy which drive the
generator.
 When steam passes through the small opening attain high
velocity and then it if used to rotate the turbine.
 Steam primover is of two types: (a) impulse turbine;
(b) reaction turbine.
 Both types of turbines have various stages in which pressure COOLING POND
drop takes place. FIG.1.8 JET/CONTACT CONDENSER
 Usually the number of stages in a reaction turbine are more
thean in an impulse turbine of same rating.
 In an impulse turbine stationary nozzels are used to attain a EXHAUST
high velocity. STEAM COOLING WATER
 Nozzles converted potential enery of steam due to pressure PLATE OUTLET
in kinetic energy.
 A reaction turbine has no nozzels.
 A potential drop of pressure is used to allow tha steam into
the moving blades.

1.1.7 CONDENSER:
 Condenser are used to decrease the exaust pressuer of the
steam below atmospheric pressure, which improves the WATER
efficiency of the power plant. BOX COOLING
 Condensers also help to recover steam and this provides a CONDENSATE TO WATER INLET
source of good pure water to the boiler and this process EXTRACTION PUMP
reduces the capacity of water softening plant.
 Condensers are of two types: (a) Jet/contact condensers; FIG.1.9 SURFACE CONDENSER
(b) Surface Condenser.
1.1.8 ECONOMISER:
 Jet/Contact Condenser:
 An economiser is a heat exchanger wich extract heat from
 In such condensers, colling water is mixed with exaust
flue gases and this exctracted heat is used to raise the
steam.
temprature of feed water.
 Generally water from river or any other storage is used for
 The use of an economiser results in saving in coal
this purpose through centrifugal pumps.
consumption and higher boiler efficiency. It also increases
 After use this warm water is returned to the river.
the evaporation efficiency of boiler.
 Economiser is generally used in all mordern power plants.
 Surface Condenser:
 Economiser contains thin water tubes of small diameter,
 It consist of a air-tight cylindrical shell having a chamber
placed between two headers.
at each end.
 Flue gases flow outside the tubes and feed water enters from
 Cooling water circulated through the tubes.
one header and leaves through the other.
 The steam enters from the top and get condensed due to
 The temprature range of the various parts of the boiler is
contact with the surface of these cooling water tubes and
redused which is responsible for reduction of stress due to
leaves from the bottom.
unequal expansion.

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 A regenerative air preheater forms a compact and efficient
FLUE GASES heat exchanger for steam power plant due to its large surface
area provided by rotor element.
FEED WATER
OUTLET 1.1.10 FUEL/COAL HANDLING SYSTEM: In most of the
thermal plants coal is used as fuel and more tha half of the
operating cost is on account of coal, therefore its handling is
very important for proper operation of plant.
Requirments odf a good fuel handling syatem are:
 It should be reliable;
 Should require minium mantinance and operating cost;
 Should fulfill the requirment during peak periods, etc.
FEED WATER
Various stages of a fuel handling system is as:
INTLET
FLUE GASES
(a) Delivery of fuel: Fuel(coal)
FIG.1.10 ECONOMISER may be delivered by sea or
Fuel Delivery
river, rail or road. Coal selection
1.1.9 AIR PREHEATER: Road/River/Rail
is depend upon the system
 Air preheaters are used to extract more heat from the flue
capacity in tonnes per hour,
gases coming out from economiser.
location of the plant with Unloading
 Cooling of flue gases by 200C raises the plant efficiency by
transportation medium and the
1%.
storage facility.
 Air preheaters may be classified as: plate type or tubular Preparation
(b) Unloading: In unloading the
type or regenerative type.
choice of equipment will
 In plate type air heater, alternate narrow lanes are there for
depend on how the coal is Transfer
gas na dair passages. In which two fluids flow in opposite
received.
directions.
(c) Preperation: Proper
Outdoor storage
preparation of coal is very
SHAFT
important before its
COLD AIR combustion. It may contain Indoor Storage
COLD FLUE
various other elements so coal
GAS preparation plant may include:
In-plant Handling
(i) Crushers
(ii) Sizers (iii) Dryers
ROTOR ELEMENT

(iv) Magnetic separators. Measurement

(d) Transfer: Tranfer of coal from
unloading point to storage site Furnace Firing
from where it is discharged to
the firing equipment, depends
FIG. 1.12 COAL
on local conditions. Various
HANDLING
equipments, which are used are
following: (i) Belt conveyors, (ii) Screw conveyors, (iii)
Bucket elevators, (iv) Grab bucket conveyers, (v) Skip
hoists, (vi) Flight conveyers etc.
(e) Outdoor/Dead Storage: Outdoor or dead storage is used
to store the coal for a long duration of time span. In most
HOT AIR HOT FLUE of the plants such storage stores coal for 15 days to
GAS 1months or more than that.
(f) Indoor/Live storage: Such a storage constitutes coal
FIG.1.11 AIR PREHEATER requirments of the plant for a day. The live storage can be
(REGENERATIVE) provided with bunkers and coal bins.
 In tabular air heaters, the gases flow inside the tubes and the (g) Inplant Handling: This refers to handling of coal
air passes over the tube exteriers. between the final storage to the firing equipment.
 The regenerative preheaters are the most popular preheatear Equipments used for inplant handling are the same as used
which uses a cylendrical rotor made of corrugated steel for coal transfer.
plates, which is fixed on to a shaft and rotates at a speed of 2 (h) Coal Weighing: A correct measurment of coal enables
to 4 rpm. one to have an idea of total quantity of coal delivered at
 The rotation of rotor alternatively passes through flue gases the site and also whether or not proper quantity has been
and air zones. burned as per load on the plant. (i) Weigh bridge, (ii) Belt
 Flue gases heated the rotor element in their zone and this scale, (iii) Automatic recording system.
element transfer this heat to air when they are in air zone.

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1.1.11 COMBUSTION & COMBUSTION EQUIPMENT:
Fuel is burnt in a confined space called furnace. There are two FLAMES
basic methods: hand firirng and stoker firing.
(a) Hand Firing: It is simple method which require no capital GREEN
investment. COAL …………

INCANDESCENT
……………..
(b) Stoker Firing: In this method of firing coal is carried into
…...…………………………………
………………………………………
………………………………………
…...…………………………………
the furnace for combustion and ash formed after combustion is ASH
……………..
…………

COKE
discharged at appropriate point.
These are classified as: (i) overfeed, (ii) underfeed, and
this classification is based on how the coal is feed above or
below the level at which primary air is admitted in the frame. PRIMARY
AIR
STOKER FIG.1.15 UNDERFEED STOKER
1.1.12 ASH HANDLING SYSTEM: The ash handling
system mainly classified into four groups:
OVERFEED UNDERFEED (a) Mechanical handling system
(b) Hydraulic system;
SINGLE RETORT (c) Pneumatic system;
SPREADER STOKER (d) Steam jet system.
STOKER
MULTI RETORT
(a) MECHANICAL HANDLING SYSTEM:
TRAVELING STOKER  This system is generally used for low capacity power plant
GRATE STOKER using coal as fuel.
 The hot ash released from boiler furnace is made to fall over
CHAIN GRATE the belt conveyer after cooling it through water seal.
STOKER  This cooled ash is transported to ash bunkers.
 From ash bunker this ash is removed to the dumping site
BAR GRATE through trucks.
STOKER
BOILER
FIG. 1.13 TYPES OF STOKERS FURNACES

 In case of overfeed stoker coal is fed on to the grate above

the point of admission of air, as shown in figure 1.14.
 In case of an underfeed stoker fuel is fed from underneath
the fire and works gradually upward, primary the air being . . . .
ASH ASH ASH
.. . ASH

supplied into the bed just below the level at which

. .
BUNKER
combustion takes place.
BELT CONVEYER

CONTROL VALVE

FLAMES
….. TRUCK
…...……………………………………………
…………………………………………………
ASH …………………………………………………
…...……………………………………………
…..
. .
INCANDESCENT

FIG. 1.16 MECHANICAL HANDLING SYSTEM

COKE

(b) HYDRAULIC SYSTEM:

 In this system ash is carried with the flow of water with high
PRIMARY velocity through a channel and finaly dumped in the site.
GREEN
AIR  This syetm is further divided as:
COAL (i) High Pressure System:
 This system having ash carrying capacity as large as 120
FIG.1.14 OVERFEED STOKER tonnes per hours and a covering distance of 1000 mtrs.
 In this system, the hoppers below the boilers are fitted
with water nozzles at the top and on the sides.
 The top nozzles quench the ash while side ones provide
the drying force for the ash.
 The cooled ash is carried to the sump through the trough.
 Water is again saparated from ash and recirculated.

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FURNACE  The ash carrying capacity of this ayatem varies from 15 to

25 tonnes per hours.
 Some of the advantages of such systems are:-
QUENCHING NOZZLE No spillage and rehandling.
High flexibility.
STOKER No chance of ash freezing or sticking in the storage bin
and material can be discharged freely by gravity.
As materials are handled in an enclosed condition, so
dustless operation is possible.
ASH The cost of plant per tonne of ash discharge is less as
compare to other systems.
 Some disadvanteges:
High maintenance charge.
TROUGH More noisy then other systems.

AIR
FIG. 1.17 HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM

CRUSHERS
AIR & ASH PIPE

BOILER
(ii) Low Pressure System:
 In this system a drain is provided below the boilers and
the water is made to flow through the trough.
 The ash directly falls into the troughs and it carried by
water to sumps.
 In the sump the ash and water is seperated through a
screen and this water is pumped back to the trough for
reuse and ash is removed to the dumping yard. ASH HOOPER

SUMP

WATER PRIMARY ASH

TRUCK
. .

TROUGHS BOILERS SEPARATOR

SUMP

ASH SEPARATOR
ASH
FIG. 1.18 LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM

SECONDARY
EXHAUSTER

(c) PNEUMATIC SYSTEM:

 This system is used for thr boiler plant from which ash and
soot is to be transported some far off distance for final
disposal.
FILTER
 The exhauster provided at the discharge end creates a high
velocity stream which picks up ash and dust from all
discharge points and then carried out it in the conveyer pipe
to the point of delivery. FIG. 1.19 PNEUMATIC ASH HANDLING SYSTEM
 Large ash particles are generally crushed into small sizes
through crushing units.
 These crushing units are fed from the furnace ash hopper (d) STEAM JET SYSTEM:
and discharge into the conveyer pipe which terminates into a  In this system, high velocity steam is passed through a pipe
and dry solid materials of considerable size are carried along
seperator at the delivery end.
with it.
 The separator works on the principle and removes dust and
ash which passout into the ash hopper at the botom while  This system can remove economically the ash through a
clean ash is discharged from the top. horizontal distance of 200 mtrs and vertical distance of 30
 The exhauster mey be mechanical or it may use steam jet for mtrs.
its operation.  Some of the advantages are:
 When a mechanical exhauster is used it is essential to use a Less space requirment.
filter to ensure that the exhauster handles clean air and such Low capital cost as compare to other systems.
exhausters used in large stations. No need of auxiliary drives.
 Steam exhausters may be used in small amd medium size  Some disadvantages are:
stations where large quantity of water is easily and cheaply Noisy operation.
Limited capacity of about 7 tonnes per hour.
available.

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EXHAUST
COAL
STORAGE

CHIMNEY
COAL FAN
HANDLING AIR
AIR
ASH ASH BOILER AIR
STORAGE HANDLING ECONOMISER HEATER FAN
ASH
FLUE

BOILER FEED WATER

PUMP
L.P. HEATER

H.P. HEATER
SUPERHEATED
STEAM

CONDENSATE
EXTRACTION PUMP
CONDENSATE

CONDENSER
TURBINE
STEAM
CIRCULATING
CIRCULATING

WATER PUMP
WATER

ALTERNATOR

COOLING
TOWER
TRANSFORMER

CIRCUIT
BREAKER
NAL
R CA
ER O
, RIV
S EA

FIG.1.20 SCHEMATIC LAYOUT OF A TYPICAL COAL-FIRED POWER STATION

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1.2 HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT

1.2.1 WATER POWER: Water storage has potential energy. 1.2.4 DISADVANTAGES:
When water drops through a height, its energy is able to (i) High capital cost.
rotate turbines which are coupled with alternators. By (ii) These plants are dependent on water availability, so in
electromechanical conversion action this energy is converted a dry year, the power generation is very small.
into electrical energy. (iii) Required large time to build.
From Bernoulli’s equation, the electrical power , P is given (iv) Proper supervision of dam is required.
0.736
by: P Qwh kW 1.2.5 CLASSIFICATION OF HYDRO-ELECTRIC
75
where: Q = discharge in m3/sec POWER PLANT: The classification of hydro-electric power
w = density of water = 1000 kg/m3 plant is based on:
h = head in meters. (1) Quantity of water available
Another way is to represent this power is as: (2) Available load
(3) Nature of the load
0.736
P Qwh  kW;
75 (1) Quantity of water available: According to this the plants
(𝜂=overall efficiency of turbine alternator set). may be divided into:
(a) Run-off River plants without pondage
1.2.2 SITE SELECTION: Following factors should be (b) Run-off River plants with pondage
considered while selecting the site of a hydro power plant: (c) Reservoir plants.
(i) Availability of Water: The river run-off data pertaining
to many previous years should be analyzed to estimate of (a) Run-off River Plants Without Pondage:
the power potential of the project can be done. It decides  The plant uses water as it comes, there is no storage or
the capacity of the plant. Also useful to setting up of pondage.
peak load and avoid adequate spillways relief during the  There is no control on flow of water. So during periods
flood periods. of high flows or low loads, water is wasted while during
(ii) Water Storage: Water storage is necessary to maintain lean flow periods, the plant capacity is very low.
the availability of water throughout the year which may  Such sites are mainly used for irrigation or navigation
affected by the wide variation in rainfall during the year. whereas the plant is only identical.
(iii) Head of Water: In order to generate power, proper head
of water is very important. An increase in head of water (b) Run-off River Plants With Pondage:
reduces the capital cost of the plant by reducing the  In such sites pondage are used for storing the water
storage of water, handled by penstock, screens and which permits storage of water during the peak-off
turbines. periods and use it during peak-off load.
(iv) Distance from the load centre: The site should not  The firm capacity of the plant increases.
locate far away from the load centre because this may  This type of plant is more reliable and its generating
increase the cost of transmission line and the losses capacity is less dependent on available rate of flow of
associated with it. water.
(v) Access to site: The site should be easily accessible and it
should have transportation facilities. (c) Reservoir plants:
(vi) Geological investigations: Geological survey is very  These plants have a reservoir of such size as to permit
important to see the foundation rock for the dam and water storage from wet season to the next dry season.
other structures. It is an important factor to understand  Water is stored behind the dam and is available to the
that the land where we are going to construct hydro plant plant with control as required.
is capable to withstand the stress of such mega structures.  These plants having better capacity and works efficiently
throughout the year.
1.2.3 ADVANTAGES:  Most of the hydro power plants belong to this category.
(i) No fuel is required, therefore operating cost is low.
(ii) Large life span (about 50+ years). (2) Available Head: Hydro power plants may be classified
(iii) No standby losses. as:
(iv) These plants are more robust as compared to others. (a) Low Head Plants,
(v) Maintenance cost is low as compared to steam and (b) Medium Head Plants,
nuclear power plants. (c) High Head Plants.
(vi) Efficiency does not depend on its age.
(vii) Its use helps in conservation of fossil fuels. (a) Low Head Plants:
(viii) Few skilled workers are required to run the plant.  In such plants the water head is less than 30 mtrs.
(ix) In addition to power generation, multiple projects like  Small dam is built across the river to provide the
irrigation, flood control, navigation etc. are also served necessary load.
at same time.  In such plants no surge tank is needed.
(x) Free from air pollution.  The excess water is allowed to flow over the dam itself.

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 Francis of Kaplan turbines are used. (c) High Head Plants:
 Head is above 300 mtrs.
HEAD  In such plants, all water is carried from the main
RACE DAM reservoir by a tunnel upto a surge tank and then to the
POWER power house in penstock.
HOUSE  For lower head Francis turbine is common but heads
TAIL RACE above 500 meters. Pelton turbines are used.

FIG.1.2.1 LOW HEAD PLANT

DAM

HEAD RACE
SURGE
POWER TANK
CANAL
HOUSE
DAM

POWER

PE
HOUSE

N
ST
O
C
RIVE TAIL RACE

K
R

(a) FIG.1.2.4 HIGH HEAD PLANT

POWER
HOUSE
(3) Nature Of The Load: On basis of nature of the load,
plants may be divided as:
DAM DAM (a) Base-load Plants,
POWER (b) Peak-load Plants,
HOUSE (c) Pumped storage plants for peak-loads.
L
NA

RIVER (a) Base Load Plants:

CA

 They are used to provide base load to the system.

RIVER  Generally of high efficiency.
 Supplies almost constant load throughout.
(c)  Operate on a high load factor.
(b)  Run-off river plants without pondage and reservoir plants
can be used as base load plants.
FIG.1.2.2POSITON OF POWER HOUSE WITH RESPECT
TO DAM FOR LOW HEAD PLANT (b) Peak-load Plants:
 They are use to supply peak loads to the system.
 Run-off river plants with pondage can be used as peak-
(b) Medium Head Plants:
 In medium head plants, the water head is between 30 to load plants.
300 mtrs.  Reservoir plants with enough storage can be used either
 Water is generally carried in open canals from main as base-load plants or as peak-load plants as required.
reservoir to the fore-bay and then to the power house
through the penstock. (c) Pumped Storage Plants For Peak-loads:
 Generally Francis, Propeller and Kaplan turbines are  They are used when the availability of water quantity is
used. insufficient for generation.
 A storage pond is built to store water at head and tail
HEAD RACE race.
 Head race water is fed to the turbine to generate
electrical energy and this water is stored in tail race
which may be again pumped up to the head race when
required through a centrifugal pump.
FOREBAY TAIL RACE
 The pumping back of water is done during off-peak
period.
PENSTOCK  Such plants can only be operated in interconnected
systems where other generating plants are also available.
POWER HOUSE

FIG.1.2.3 MEDIUM HEAD PLANT

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1.2.6 DIFFERENT COMPONENTS IN 1.2.7 HYDRAULIC TURBINES: According to their action,
HYDROELECTRIC PLANT: The following are the main the hydraulic turbines may be divided into two categories:
components/stages of a hydroelectric plant: (a) Impulse turbines;
(a) RESERVOIR: Its purpose is to store water which (b) Reaction turbines.
may be utilized to run the prime mover of the turbine
to produce electrical energy. A reservoir stores water (a) IMPULSE TURBINES: In an impulse turbine, a
during rainy season and delivers it during the dry fast-moving fluid is fired through a narrow nozzle at
season. the turbine blades to make them spin around. The
(b) DAM: It provides a head to the water to be utilized in blades of an impulse turbine are usually bucket-shaped
the water turbine, which can be used throughout the so they catch the fluid and direct it off at an angle or
year by proper controls. sometimes even back the way it came (because that
(c) TRASH RACK: It prevents the entries of debris gives the most efficient transfer of energy from the
which might damage the wicket gates and turbine fluid to the turbine). In an impulse turbine, the fluid is
runners of mean choking of nozzles of the turbine. It is forced to hit the turbine at high speed.
made of steel bars and is placed across the intake.
(d) FOREBAY: It works as a regulating reservoir storing
water temporarily when load on the plant is reduced
and providing water for increasing load situation. It is
and enlarged body of water at the intake to store water
temporarily to meet the hourly load fluctuations. It
may be enlarged section of the canal or a pond.
(e) SURGE TANK: This is an additional storage space
near the turbine, generally used in high head and
medium head plants when there is a considerable
distance between the water source and turbine which
necessitates a long penstock. When the load on the
FIG.1.2.6(a) Impulse Turbine (b) Reaction Turbine
turbine decreases the surge tank provides space for
holding water. Similarly when load on the turbine
increases it furnished additional water.
(b) REACTION TURBINES: In a reaction turbine, the
blades sit in a much larger volume of fluid and turn
GRADIENT around as the fluid flows past them. A reaction turbine
RESERVOIR doesn't change the direction of the fluid flow as
SURGE drastically as an impulse turbine: it simply spins as the
TANK
fluid pushes through and past its blades. Wind turbines
DAM

TU N POWER are perhaps the most familiar examples of reaction

N EL HOUSE turbines.

PELTON TURBINE:
 This turbine work under large head and low quantity of
PENSTOCK water.
 It is tangential flow impulse turbine.
FIG.1.2.5 SURGE TANK & PENSTOKE  The pressure inside is atmospheric pressure, in which the
potential energy of water in the penstock is converted
into kinetic energy in a jet of water issuing from nozzle.
(f) PENSTOCK: It provides a path for taking water from  From the nozzle, water comes out in the form of jet and
the intake work and fore-bay to the turbines. Penstocks strikes the buckets of the runner and causes the motion of
may be classified as, the low pressure and high the rotor.
pressure.  After performing work, water discharges into tail race.
(g) SPILLWAY: Spillway is an arrangement to discharge  The rate of flow of water can be controlled by the
excess water during floods. These should be so movement of spear.
designed as to discharge the major flood water without  The rotor (or runner) is made of cast steel.
damage to the dam but the same time maintain a  The buckets are bolted on the runner and made of cast
predetermined head. iron, bronze or stainless steel.
(h) POWER HOUSE: Power house is generally located  For low head of water, Pelton wheel required a large
at the foot of the dam and near the storage reservoir diameter for the same output so it is not suitable for
and responsible for power generation. heads below 200 m.
(i) PRIME MOVER: They are used to convert the
kinetic energy of the water into mechanical energy.
Commonly used prime movers are Pelton wheel,
Francis/Kaplan/Propeller turbines.
(j) TAIL RACE: It is required to discharge the water,
leaving the turbine, into the river.

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acting on the front and back of the runner buckets.
 They are of large sizes and are generally of vertical type
HO to effect economy in space.
RI
CASING Z  The water, under pressure, enters the runner from guide
T SH ONT
C KE AF AL vanes radially and discharges out of the runner axially.
BU T  In this turbine, water glides over the blade with a small
and constant velocity and exerts pressure varying from
maximum at the top to a small value at the bottom.
 As the water passes over rotating blades of the runner
both pressure and velocity of water are increased causing
a reaction force driving the turbine. After doing work
SPEAR water is discharged to the tail race through the draft tube.
 Francis runners for low heads may be of cast iron but
heads above 100 m, cast iron or bronze is preferred.

PROPELLER & KAPLAN TURBINE:

 Propeller turbine is a reaction turbine suitable for low
WATER JET
head and large quantity of water.
 A Kaplan turbine is propeller turbine with adjustable
TAIL RACE blades. With the help of adjustable blades, a Kaplan
WATER FROM PENSTOCK turbine operates at high efficiency even under part load
condition.
FIG.1.2.7 PELTON TURBINE  In such turbines, water flows radially inward through
regulating gates all rounds the sides and change the
direction of runners to axial flow and causing a reaction
FRANCIS TURBINE: force which drives the turbine.
 This turbine is an inward mixed flow reaction turbine  In these turbines negligible loss is occurred at low head
suitable for medium heads and medium flows. and therefore uniform efficiency maintains at all loads.
 It provides high speed as compared to other types of
From Penstock turbines.

RUNNER SLIDE VANES SHAFT

DRAFT TUBE

Stationary Vanes Scroll

ADJUSTABLE
BLADES

Adjustable
Guide vanes RUNNER
NOSE
CONE

FIG.1.2.9 KAPLAN TURBINE

Q: Write a short note on hydro-electric potential in India.

Draft Tube

TAIL RACE
FIG.1.2.8 FRANCIS TURBINE

 In such turbines, the power is developed partly due to the

velocity of water and partly due to difference in pressure

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