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SPP1 4209-Hydro Power Techniques

The document summarizes the key components and process of a hydroelectric power plant. Dams are constructed to store water, which is then sent through tunnels and penstocks to spin turbines and generate mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy via generators. Main components include the dam, intake, penstock, surge chamber, turbine, generator, transformer, and transmission lines to deliver the power. The amount of power generated depends on factors like water flow rate, water head height, and plant efficiency. Civil works for a hydro plant include structures like the forebay, intake, penstocks, surge chamber, power house, draft tubes, and tailrace channel.

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Shariff Oluoch Odiwuor
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46 views5 pages

SPP1 4209-Hydro Power Techniques

The document summarizes the key components and process of a hydroelectric power plant. Dams are constructed to store water, which is then sent through tunnels and penstocks to spin turbines and generate mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy via generators. Main components include the dam, intake, penstock, surge chamber, turbine, generator, transformer, and transmission lines to deliver the power. The amount of power generated depends on factors like water flow rate, water head height, and plant efficiency. Civil works for a hydro plant include structures like the forebay, intake, penstocks, surge chamber, power house, draft tubes, and tailrace channel.

Uploaded by

Shariff Oluoch Odiwuor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SPP1 4209: HYDRO-POWER TECHNIQUE

It is a form of renewable energy resources. Electricity produced from water is usually


referred as hydroelectricity. In this process dams are constructed for storage of water and then
water led down through tunnel to lower level which rotates the turbine to produce mechanical
energy. The produced mechanical energy can be converted into electrical energy with the
help of generator and again transformed in alternating current through transformer. Once the
electricity is produced it can be delivered to homes, industries etc. The output of energy
produce by dams is totally depends on the volume of water released or discharge speed and
vertical distance from where water fall or vertical distance of water head.

Basic Design of hydro electric power station.


The main components of a conventional hydropower plant are:
» Dam:
Most hydropower plants rely on a dam that holds back water, creating a large water reservoir
that can be used as storage. There may also be a de-silter to cope with sediment build-up
behind the dam.
» Intake, penstock and surge chamber:
Gates on the dam open and gravity conducts the water through the penstock (a cavity or
pipeline) to the turbine. There is sometimes a head race before the penstock. A surge chamber
or tank is used to reduce surges in water pressure that could potentially damage or lead to
increased stresses on the turbine.
» Turbine:
The water strikes the turbine blades and turns the turbine, which is attached to a generator by
a shaft. There is a range of configurations possible with the generator above or next to the
turbine. The most common type of turbine for hydropower plants in use today is the Francis
Turbine, which allows a side-by-side configuration with the generator.
Generators:
As the turbine blades turn, the rotor inside the generator also turns and electric current is
produced as magnets rotate inside the fixed-coil generator to produce alternating current
(AC).
» Transformer:
The transformer inside the powerhouse takes the AC voltage and converts it into higher-
voltage current for more efficient (lower losses) long-distance transport.
Transmission lines:
Send the electricity generated to a grid-connection point, or to a large industrial consumer
directly, where the electricity is converted back to a lower voltage current and fed into the
distribution network. In remote areas, new transmission lines can represent a considerable
planning hurdle and expense.
» Outflow: Finally, the used water is carried out through pipelines, called tailraces, and re-
enters the river downstream. The outflow system may also include “spillways” which allow
the water to bypass the generation system and be “spilled” in times of flood or very high
inflows and reservoir levels.
Diagram representation

Power Estimation
The potential electric power of the water in terms of flow and head can be calculated
from the following equation.

KW = 9.81 x Q x H x η

Where,
kW = electric power in kW

Q = quantity of water flowing through the hydraulic turbine in cubic meters per
second. Discharge (quantity of water) flowing in a stream and available for power
generation has daily and seasonal variation. Optimum discharge for power generation
is determined on the basis of energy generation cost.

H = Net available head in meters (gross head – losses)

η = overall efficiency of the hydro power plant.


For general estimation purposes, η is normally taken as 0.85
Example
A hydropower station has a gross head of 8.2 meter. Head loss in water conductor
system is 0.5 meters. Optimum discharge is 267 cubic meter per second (m 3/s).
estimate the power that can be generated in an hour

Working
KW = 9.81 x Q x H x η
KW = 9.81 x 267 x (8.2 - 0.5) x (0.85 )kW
= 17143.12 kW/s
In an hour
= (17143.12 x 3600)
= 61715239.74 kW

One exercise quiz.


A hydropower station has a maximum height of 10.6 meter. Losses due to height in
water conductor system is 0.8 meters. The maximum discharge is 300 cubic meter per
second (m3/s). Estimate the power that can be generated in an hour

Civil Works
Component of hydropower scheme
1. Forebay
A forebay is a basin area of hydropower plant where water is temporarily stored before going
into intake chamber. The storage of water in forebay is decided based on required water
demand in that area. This is also used when the load requirement in intake is less.We know
that reservoirs are built across the rivers to store the water, the water stored on upstream side
of dam can be carried by penstocks to the power house. In this case, the reservoir itself acts as
forebay

2. Intake Structure
its a structure which collects the water from the forebay and directs it into the penstocks.
There are different types of intake structures are available and selection of type of intake
structure depends on various local conditions.

In cold weather regions, there is chance of formation of ice in water, to prevent the entrance
of ice into the penstocks trash racks heated with electricity and hence ice melts when it
touches the trash racks.

3. Penstock
Penstocks are like large pipes laid with some slope which carries water from intake structure
or reservoir to the turbines. They run with some pressure, so, sudden closing or opening of
penstock gates can cause water hammer effect to the penstocks.

4. Surge Chamber
A surge chamber or surge tank is a cylindrical tank which is open at the top to control the
pressure in penstock. It is connected to the penstock and as close as possible to the power
house. Whenever the power house rejected the water load coming from penstock the water
level in the surge tank rises and control the pressure in penstock.Similarly, when the huge
demand is needed in power house surge tank accelerates the water flow into the power house
and then water level reduces. When the discharge is steady in the power house, water level in
the surge tank becomes constant.

5. Hydraulic Turbines
Hydraulic turbine, a device which can convert the hydraulic energy into the mechanical
energy which again converted into the electrical energy by coupling the shaft of turbine to the
generator.The mechanism in this case is, whenever the water coming from penstock strike the
circular blades or runner with high pressure it will rotate the shaft provided at the center and
it causes generator to produce electrical power.

Generally hydraulic turbines are of two types namely

 Impulse turbine
 Reaction turbine
6. Power House
Power house is a building provided to protect the hydraulic and electrical equipment.
Generally, the whole equipment is supported by the foundation or substructure laid for the
power house.

In case of reaction turbines some machines like draft tubes, scroll casing etc. are fixed with in
the foundation while laying it. So, the foundation is laid in big dimensions.

When it comes to super structure, generators are provided on the ground floor under which
vertical turbines are provided. Besides generator horizontal turbines are provided. Control
room is provided at first floor or mezzanine floor.

7. Draft Tube
If reaction turbines are used, then draft tube is a necessary component which connects turbine
outlet to the tailrace. The draft tube contains gradually increasing diameter so that the water
discharged into the tailrace with safe velocity. At the end of draft tube, outlet gates are
provided which can be closed during repair works.
8. Tailrace
Tailrace is the flow of water from turbines to the stream. It is good if the power house is
located nearer to the stream. But, if it is located far away from the stream then it is necessary
to build a channel for carrying water into the stream.

Otherwise the water flow may damage the plant in many ways like lowering turbine
efficiency, cavitation, damage to turbine blades etc. because of silting or scouring caused by
unnecessary flow of water from power house. Hence, proper design of tailrace should be
more important.

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