HYDROPOWER MCQs

Hydro power plants are established in hilly areas. Initial cost of installation is high. But later
operating charges are small. Thus over number of years, this method becomes economical.
Big and small hydro power plants are found all over the world.
1. Types of power stations are a) Central power station, b) Captive power station, c)
Both (a) & (b), d) None
2. Central power station is meant for a) Large number of domestic users, b) Big number
of industries, c) Small number of industries & domestic consumers, d) None
3. Captive power station is for a a) Domestic use, b) Certain Industry own use, c) Both
(a) & (b), d) None
4. The initial cost and space requirement of thermal power plant vs hydroelectric
power plant respectively are a) Less and less, b) More and Equal, c) Equal and less, d)
less and more
5. First hydroelectric power station was designed & built by a) William, Lord Armstrong,
b) Zenobe Gramme, c) Both (a) & (b), d) None
6. Hydro power is a a) Renewable energy, b) Non-renewable energy, c) Can’t say, d)
None
7. The fuel for hydropower plant is a) Air, b) Water, c) Petrol, d) None
8. Dams failures cause a) Flooding, b) Loss of life and property, c) Both (a) & (b), d)
None
9. Hydro power plants generate electricity using: a) Potential energy, b) Kinetic energy,
c) Both (a) & (b), d) None
10. Which of the following scientific principles is mainly behind the generation of
hydroelectric power? a) Conversion of electrical energy into gravitational energy, b)
Conversion of gravitational potential energy into thermal energy, c) Conversion of
electrical energy into kinetic energy, d) Conversion of gravitational potential energy
into electrical energy.
11. Hydro power plants produce electricity which is nearly a) 2% of Global power
produced, b) 15% of Global power produced, c) 25% of Global power produced, d)
None

12. The correct sequence in the direction of the flow of water for installations in a
hydropower plant is _________ a) Reservoir, Surge tank, Turbine, Penstock, b)
Reservoir, Penstock, Surge tank, Turbine, c) Reservoir, Penstock, Turbine, Surge tank,
d) Reservoir, Surge tank, Penstock, Turbine [The main components of a hydropower
plant is Forebay, intake arrangement, Penstock, Surge tank, turbines and generators,
powerhouse and tailrace. The water is taken from a reservoir or forebay and is taken
down to the powerhouse by penstock. A surge tank is fitted at some opening made
on a penstock to receive the rejected flow when the pipe is suddenly closed]
13. Forebay provides temporary storage before the water goes to the turbine. Following
perform the function of forebay ________ a) River, b) tailrace channel, c) reservoir,
d) approach channel [The reservoir itself acts as a forebay when it is constructed by
building a dam. The water is taken to the powerhouse directly from the reservoir
through penstocks. Following are some functions of forebay: (i) To temporarily store
water and to meet the instantaneous demand, (ii) Absorbs the short interval
variations and fluctuations]
14. What is the basic requirement of hydroelectric power station? a) Reservoir, b)
Turbine, c) Power house, d) Penstock [a reservoir where large quantity of water is
stored during flood season and used during dry season. It is generally built of
constructing dam across river]
15. Spillway discharges the overflow water to the downstream side when the reservoir is
full. a) True, b) False [A safety valve for a dam. A condition may arise during flood
periods when water level increases beyond the capacity of reservoir. In such
conditions spillway acts as safety valve]
16. Which among the following reduces the capacity of reservoir and causes rapid
erosion of turbine blades? a) Contamination of highly corrosive material, b)
Sedimentation effect, c) Submerged vegetation, d) Solid contamination [Sediments in
the aquatic ecosystem are analogous to soil in the terrestrial ecosystem as they are
the source of substrate nutrients, and micro- and macro flora and -fauna that are the
basis of support to living aquatic resources.]
17. Trash racks are located _______a) near tailrace, b) at the entrance of turbine, c)
inside penstock, d) intake.
18. Trash racks are built for ______a) discharging the water freely from the turbine exit
to tailrace, b) preventing the turbine from ingress of floating and other materials, c)
creating artificial head to store sufficient potential energy of water, d) controlling the
opening of valves [Heavy solid materials flowing with water can damage the turbine
blades if not stopped. Trash racks are closely spaced flat bars which provides narrow
path from which such unwanted materials cannot pass (thin flat steel bars placed 10
to 30 cm apart and the permissible velocity of water entering these is 0.6 to 1.6
m/s)]
19. To avoid the possible damage to the wicket gates and turbine runners ________ is
provided. a) Trash racks, b) surge chamber, c) floating boom, d) racks and trolley
arrangement [to prevent the entry of debris into the penstocks or to prevent choking
up of the nozzles of the impulse turbines.]
20. Penstock in a hydroelectric power plant is _____a) a pipe connected to runner
outlet, b) nozzle that release high pressure water on turbine blades, c) a conduit
connecting forebay to scroll case of turbine, d) a pipe connecting surge tank to dam
[Penstocks are the conduit built of steel through reinforced concrete (Cast iron is
used for small plants) so as to connect forebay or surge tank to scroll case of turbine
or A pipe between surge tank and prime mover. Their main function is to carry water
from dam to the turbine. The intake of penstock at the dam or fore bay of canal
should be positioned such that it always provides adequate water even at low level]
21. Which type of penstocks is less expensive? a) Buried penstock, b) Covered penstock,
c) Open penstock, d) Exposed penstock [and have a longer life. Their inspection and
maintenance is easier. Penstocks are not covered because exposed pipes are easily
accessible. The water flow rate is 2, 4, and 7m/s in low, medium and high head
power plants respectively.]
22. Sharp bends must be avoided in penstocks while designing components of the
hydroelectric scheme. a) True, b) False [Sharp bends cause loss of head and requires
special anchorages. It may be buried under the ground or kept exposed. The
penstock can be replaced by constructing a tunnel through a hill if a considerable
saving in length can be gained]
23. In a hydropower station, a surge tank is provided to a) Increase the supply of water,
b) Control the water flow in the turbine, c) Reduce the diameter of the penstock, d)
Control the pressure variation in the pipes due to sudden load variations, e) To store
the moving back water when the load decreases

[The cylindrical chamber which is connected to the penstocks and open to the
atmosphere is the simplest one. It serves the following functions i.e. to reduce the
pressure fluctuations in the pipe and helps in eliminating additional water hammer
pressure]
24. Which type of valves is preferred for moderate heads? a) Butterfly valve, b) Tube
valve, c) Needle vale, d) Globe valve [Gate valves are used to regulate the flow. This
valve is used both as intake gate and as turbine valve. It helps inspection without
dewatering the penstock line. Needle valves are used in high head installations. The
needle valve consists of three water filled chambers A, B and C in which hydraulic
pressures can be varied. The valves are opened and closed by varying the pressures
in these chambers]
25. Which element of hydroelectric power plant prevents the penstock from water
hammer phenomenon? a) Valves and Gates, b) Draft tubes, c) Spillway, d) Surge
Tank.
26. The surge tank serves which of the following purposes? i. It allows the sediment to
settle down, ii. It prevents debris from entering powerhouse, iii. It controls pressure
 variations in pipelines, iv. It regulates flow in the pipelines a) i and ii, b) ii and iii, c) iii
and iv; d) i, ii and iii
27. The surge tanks are usually provided in high or medium head …. Power plants when
considerably …. Is required a) Hydro-electric, short penstock, b) Hydro-electric, long
penstock, c) Thermal, short penstock, d) Thermal, large steam turbine.
28. Which statement about hydroelectric power plant is wrong? a) Efficiency of
hydroelectric power plant does not reduce with age, b) Its construction coast is very
high and takes a long time for erection. c) It is very neat and clean plant because no
smoke or ash is produced. d) Meeting rapidly changing load demands is not possible
in hydroelectric power plant [it can be met just by controlling the flow of water using
valves and gates]
29. Hydro power plants are located near the a) River, b) Dam, c) Fall, d) None
30. In a hydropower plant, turbine is placed a) Above the dam, b) At the level of dam, c)
Below the level of dam, d) None
31. Dam having very wide base as compared to its height is called ____ a) buttress dam,
b) arch dam, c) earth dam, d) solid gravity dam [Buttress dams are the concrete dams
supported on downstream side by buttresses. Arc dams are concrete dams curved
from upstream side. Earth dam is a type of embankment dam and have rock filled
inside the structure]
32. A draft tube is essentially required for impulse type turbines. a) True, b) False [The
entire flow from head race to tail race takes place in a closed system as the water is
under pressure. The wheels of the turbine are submerged and water enters all
around the periphery of the wheel. A closed conduit or casing like the draft tube is
absolutely necessary so as to prevent any access of atmospheric air into the turbine]
33. In a Francis turbine, the water flows through a closed draft tube. a) True, b) False
[the water enters radially inward but leaves in a parallel direction to the shaft at the
center, it is called mixed flow. In the case of a reaction turbine like Francis turbine, a
draft tube is used to connect the outlets of the runner to the tailrace]
34. Draft tube increases the operating head on the turbine a) True, b) False [Draft tubes
are the pipes of suitable diameter attached to the runner outlet. Draft tube converts
the pressure developed by water leaving from turbine into kinetic energy. This in
turn increases the operating head on turbine.]
35. The pressure at the inlet or exit of the draft tube should not be ___a) less than one
third of atmospheric pressure, b) greater than one third of atmospheric pressure, c)
less than one atmospheric pressure, d) greater than one atmospheric pressure
[Decrease in pressure in any portion of turbine below one third of atmospheric
pressure may cause vapour bubbles or cavities to form. This phenomenon is called
cavitation. Also to maintain continuity of flow without vaporisation the pressure
should not fall below vapour pressure of water]
36. Types of hydropower plants are a) Impoundment & diversion, b) Diversion and
pumped storage, c) Pumped storage, diversion and impoundment, d) None
37. Impoundment hydropower plant need a a) Running river, b) Dam and a reservoir, c)
Both (a) & (b), d) None
38. Which plants supply the peak load for the base power plants? a) Mini hydel plants,
b) Pump storage power plants, c) Low head plants, d) Run-off river power plants [and
pump all or a portion of their own water supply. Pumped storage plants can be used
with hydro, steam and IC engines. The generating pumping unit is at the lower end.
During off peak hours some of the surplus electric energy generated by the base
plant is utilized to pump water from tail water pond into the head water pond.]
39. Which type of hydro power plant can be with or without pondage? a) Mini hydel
plants, b) Pump storage power plants, c) Low head plants, d) Run-off river power
plants [A runoff river plant without pondage has no control over river flow and uses
water as it comes. The runoff river plant with pondage may supply base load power]
40. Hydropower plants on the basis of size are a) Large and small, b) Large, small &
micro, c) Large, small, micro and Pico, d) None
41. A large hydropower plant produces electric power greater than a) 10 MW, b) 20
MW, c) 30 MW, d) None
42. A small hydropower plant produces electric power up to a) Firstly 10 MW, b)
Secondly 20 MW, c) Thirdly 30 MW, d) None
43. A micro hydropower plant produces electric power up to a) 1000 kW, b) 500 kW, c)
100 kW, d) None

44. Which principle is used in Hydraulic Turbines? a) Faraday law, b) Newton’s second
law, c) Charles law, d) Braggs law [A Hydraulic Machine uses the principle of
momentum which states that a force is generated which is utilized in a turbine]
45. Buckets and blades used in a turbine are used to: a) Alter the direction of water, b)
Switch off the turbine, c) To regulate the wind speed, d) To regenerate the power
[Turbines use blades and buckets to alter the direction of water. It is used to change
the momentum of water. As momentum changes, force is produced to rotate the
shaft of a hydraulic machine]
46. Hydraulic Machines fall under the category: a) Pulverizers, b) Kinetic machinery, c)
Condensers, d) Rotor-dynamic machinery [Hydraulic Machines use the principle of
 rotation of blades to alter the speed of water. Hence fall under rotor-dynamic
machinery]
47. Types of hydro turbines as per water flow direction are a) Radial and axial, b)
Tangential, c) Both (a) & (b), d) None
48. In a hydro turbine, head available is converted into a) Kinetic energy, b) Pressure
energy, c) kinetic and pressure energy, d) None
49. Types of hydro turbines are a) Impulse, b) Reaction, c) Both (a) & (b), d) None
50. The impulse turbine rotor starts rotating due to a) Change in velocity, b) Change in
acceleration, c) Change in momentum, d) None
51. In an Impulse turbine, there are a) Moving nozzles, b) Fixed nozzles, c) Both (a) & (b),
d) None
52. In an Impulse turbine, pressure drop is in a) Fixed blades, b) Nozzles, c) Both (a) &
(b), d) None
53. In a Reaction turbine, there is a pressure drop in a) Fixed blades, b) Moving blades, c)
Both (a) & (b), d) None
54. Impulse hydro turbine is a) Kaplan, b) Pelton, c) Both (a) & (b), d) None
55. Reaction hydro turbine is a) Kaplan, b) Pelton, c) Both (a) & (b), d) None
56. Turgo Turbine is an impulsive turbine. a) True, b) False [In a turgo turbine, velocity of
water changes with due respect. Hence it is an Impulse turbine]
57. How many types of Reaction turbines are there? a) 5, b) 4, c) 3, d) 9 [namely VLH,
Francis, Kaplan, Tyson, Gorolov helical turbine]
58. An impulse turbine like a Pelton’s turbine is ____a) an open body exposed to the
atmosphere, b) a closed body not exposed to the atmosphere, c) a partially open and
partially closed body, d) depends on the design requirements [The water through a
contracting nozzle or by guide vanes is made to strike on a series of buckets. The
wheel revolves free in the air and the water is in contact with only a part of the
wheel at a time and the pressure is atmospheric. A casing is provided in order to
prevent splashing and to guide the water discharged from the buckets to the tail-
race]
59. In a reaction turbine like a Francis turbine or a Kaplan turbine ____a) the potential
head of water is totally changed into the kinetic head, b) the potential head of water
is partially changed into the kinetic head, c) the potential head of water is not at all
changed into the kinetic head, d) the change of potential head of water totally or
partially depends on other factors as well
60. Which kind of turbines changes the pressure of the water entered through it? a)
Reaction turbines, b) Impulse turbines, c) Reactive turbines, d) Kinetic turbines
[Reaction turbines which act on water try to change the pressure of the water
through its motion]
61. Which type of turbine is used to change the velocity of the water through its flow? a)
Kinetic turbines, b) Axial flow turbines, c) Impulse turbines, d) Reaction turbines [In
Impulse turbines, potential energy is utilized to convert as kinetic energy thereby
changing the velocity of the water through its process]
62. The range of head and velocity for a Pelton turbine is a) < 100 m and 10-50m/s, b)
>400 m and 30-100 m/s, c) < 300 m and 10-50 m/s, d) None
63. The range of head and velocity for a Kaplan turbine is a) 30-70 m and 100-300 m/s,
b) 30-70 m and 300-1000 m/s, c) 30-50 m and 300-1000 m/s, d) None
64. The range of head and velocity for a Francis turbine is a) 40-300 m and 100-300 m/s,
b) 40-400 m and 300-1000 m/s, c) 40-400 m and 60-300 m/s, d) None
65. What type of Hydro plant is it if the Plant head is above 100m? a) High head hydro-
plant, b) Medium head hydro-plant, c) Low head hydro-plant, d) Base load hydro-
plant [it can extend to 1000 meters. These are most commonly constructed hydro
plants]
66. Which type of hydro plant is it if the head of a hydro plant is 30 – 100m? a) High
head hydro-plant, b) Medium head hydro-plant, c) Low head hydro-plant, d) Base
load hydro-plant [Water stored in fore bay is conveyed to the turbine through
penstocks. In these plants the river water is tapped off to a fore bay on one bank of
river]
67. Low head hydro plant is also known as _____ a) Canal power plant, b) Medium head
hydro-plant, c) Run-off river hydro-plant, d) Base load hydro plant [The dam in this
type of power plant is of very small head may be even few meters only. The low
head type of power plants cannot store water]
68. Which type of turbines does modern hydro power plant use? a) Kaplan turbine, b)
Francis turbine, c) Pelton wheel, d) Cross flow turbine [Francis turbine is a water
turbine developed by James Francis. It is an inward flow reaction turbine that
combines radial and axial flow concepts. These are primarily used for electric
production]
69. Which of the following is turbine is used for medium heads ranging from 25 to 150
meters? a) Pelton turbine, b) Kaplan turbine, c) Francis turbine, d) Propeller turbine
[For high heads over 150 meters, a low-speed turbine like Pelton wheel is suitable.
Francis turbine is used for medium heads varying from 25 to 150 meters and for low
heads, Kaplan and propeller turbines are used]
70. For a hydropower plant having 150 m head of stored water behind the dam. The
water in the reservoir is clear and load on the powerhouse is not likely to fluctuate
much. Which type of turbine will be suitable for the same? a) Pelton turbine, b)
Francis turbine, c) Kaplan turbine, d) Propeller turbine [Francis turbines are cheaper
than Pelton’s turbine and there is no special need for Pelton’s turbine because
variable loads are not likely to come and water is not sandy which may certainly
need Pelton’s turbines that are also used relatively high head at low flow rates.
Hence, Francis turbine will suffice to our needs]
71. An impulse turbine is essentially a _______a) low-speed turbine and is used for high
heads, b) low-speed turbine and is used for low heads, c) high-speed turbine and is
used for high heads, d) high-speed turbine and is used for low heads
72. Kaplan turbines are found to be more versatile and costly in their initial cost as
compared to propeller turbines. a) True, b) False [Kaplan turbines have an additional
arrangement of adjusting the inclination of the runner blades or vanes on the hub.
This causes the Kaplan turbine to give higher efficiency even under part-load
conditions although both the turbines look alike and behave hydraulically in a similar
fashion.]
73. If the specific speed in revolution per minute of a turbine is in between 60 to 300,
the type of the turbine is ______ a) Pelton turbine, b) Francis turbine, c) Propeller
turbine, d) Kaplan turbine [The specific speed of a Pelton turbine ranges from 10 to
30. Francis turbine has a specific speed between 60 to 300 and the specific speed of
Kaplan and propeller turbine lies in between 300 to 1000]
74. Pick the correct choice of turbine required to generate 10,000 HP under a head of 81
m while working at a speed of 500 rpm. a) Pelton, b) Kaplan, c) Bulb, d) Francis. [The
specific speed is given by the equation:
1/ 2 5/4
N S =N . P t /H
Where, N = the normal speed of turbine = 500 rpm, Pt = Turbine output in metric
horsepower = 10,000 hp, H = effective head = 81 m, Ns = 500 x 100 / 815/4 = 205.76
rpm. The turbine which is suitable for a head between 25 to 150 m and Ns of 60 –
300 is Francis turbine i.e reaction type turbine.]
75. Consider the following statements, which ones are correct? i. Runoff river plants can
be located on any river, ii. Runaway speed of a turbine is generally 180% of normal
speed, iii. Underground power stations are suited to areas susceptible to landslides,
iv. Higher the specific speed, higher will be the discharge and the head
a) i and ii, b) ii and iii, c) i and iv, d) ii and iv [The specific speed is inversely
proportional to the specific head, higher the specific speed, lesser will be the head.
Run-off river plants are suitable only on a perennial river and are not suitable for the
constant steady load]
76. Hydro power depends on a) Height of water in the dam, b) Volumetric flow rate to
the turbine, c) Both (a) and (b), d) None
77. The amount of electrical energy that can be generated by a hydroelectric power
plant depends upon __ a) Head of water, b) Quantity of water, c) Specific weight of
water, d) Efficiency of Alternator [Potential energy of large quantity of stored water
is used by hydroelectric power plant to generate electrical energy. Head of water is
important to get kinetic energy from that potential energy. Efficiency of alternator
represents that what percentage of input mechanical power it can convert into
electrical power.]
78. The efficiency of hydro power turbine is a) Work done/ potential energy of stored
water, b) Electricity generated/ Kinetic energy available, c) Both (a) & (b), d) None
79. In hydraulic turbines, inlet energy is greater than the outlet energy. a) True, b) False
[The operating member which receives energy at the inlet should be more compared
to energy at the outlet]
80. Which of the following is the correct equation for the electrical power generated by
the hydroelectric power plant? a) 75×0.736 wQHη Watt, b) (7.5/0.736) × wQHη
Watt, c) 0.845 ×wQHη Watt, d) 9.81 ×wQHη [Rating of any power plant is expressed
by its maximum output power. These are large quantities so rating is given in
megawatts. The electrical power generated by this plant is proportional to specific
weight of water(w), water head(H), generation efficiency(η), flow rate of water(Q)
and acceleration due to gravity]
81. Among the following which turbine has least efficiency? a) Pelton turbine, b) Kaplan
turbine, c) Francis turbine, d) Propeller turbine [Pelton is impulse turbine and
 remaining are reaction turbine, efficiency of reaction turbine is more compared to
impulse turbine]
82. In Pelton ____________ is ratio of volume of water actually striking the runner and
volume of water supplied to turbine. a) Mechanical efficiency, b) Volumetric
efficiency, c) Hydraulic efficiency, d) Overall efficiency

In Pelton turbine the ratio of volume available at shaft of turbine and power supplied at the
inlet of the turbine is _______
a) Mechanical efficiency
b) Volumetric efficiency
c) Hydraulic efficiency
d) Overall efficiency

Overall efficiency is defined as ratio of power available at shaft of turbine to power

83. Which of the following is not an advantage of hydroelectric power plant? a) no fuel
requirement, b) low running cost, c) continuous power source, d) no standby losses
[Output of such plants is never constant because of their dependency over flow rate
of water in river which is seasonal]
84. Which of the following statement is true about hydroelectric power plant? a)
Hydroelectric power plants are multipurpose, b) Due to non-uniform flow of water
frequency control in such plants is very difficult, c) Hydroelectric power plant has
high running cost, d) Water is used as fuel in hydroelectric power plant [In addition
to generation of electricity they are also used for irrigation, flood control etc.]
85. Which of the following is not a requirement for site selection of hydroelectric power
plant? a) Availability of water, b) Large catchment area, c) Rocky land, d)
Sedimentation [Sedimentation may reduce the water storage capacity of reservoir
and may also cause damage to the turbine blades. Availability of water, large
catchment area and rocky land are primary requirements for site selection of
hydroelectric power plant]
86. Hydroelectric power plant is mainly located in ______ a) Flat areas, b) Deserts, c)
Hilly areas, d) Deltas [In order to get sufficient head. Deltas are not suitable for this
because of high sedimentation]