HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT

- A facility at which electric energy is produced by hydroelectric generators

Site Selection for a Hydro Power plant (The ff factors shld be considered in selecting the site for
HEPP)
1. Availability of Water
2. Water storage (capacity of water storage)
3. Water Head (availability of water head)
4. Accessibility of site
5. Distance from the load center
6. Geological characteristics of the site (type of land site/ground water data)

Plant Capacity
1. Micro Hydel plants – capacity less than 5MW
2. Medium Capacity plants – capacity between 5MW and 100MW
3. High Capacity plants – capacity between 101MW to 1000MW
4. Super hydro plants – capacity greater than 1000MW

Basic Parts of High Head Hydro-Electric Power Plant:

Reservoir – stores the water coming from the upper river or water falls
Headwater – the water in the reservoir or upper pool.
Spillway – a weir in the reservoir which discharges excess water so that the head of the plant
will be maintained. Passage which allows excess water to flow to a dissimilar
storage area away as of dam.
Dam – the concrete structure that encloses the reservoir . This is the 1st element we find in a
hydrostatics power station. There are many classification of dams like based on purpose
such as storage dams, detention dams, diversion dams to mention.
Slit Sluice - a chamber which collects the mud and through which the mud is discharged.
Trash Rack – a screen which prevents the leaves, branches and other water contaminants t
enter into the penstock.
Valve- opens or closes the entrance of the water into the penstock.
Surge Chamber - a standpipe connected to the atmosphere and attached to the penstock so
that the water will be at atmospheric pressure.
Penstock – the channel that leads the water from the reservoir to the turbine. A long pipe or
the shaft that carries the water flowing form the reservoir towards the power generation unit,
comprised of the turbines and generator. The water in the penstock possesses kinetic energy
due to its motion and potential energy due to its height.
Hydraulic Turbine – a device that converts the energy of the water into mechanical energy.
Generator – converts the mechanical energy of the turbine into electrical energy output
Draft tube – connects the turbine outlet to the tail water so that the turbine can be set above
the tail water level. A pipe that conducts the water from the turbine to the tailrace so that the
turbine can be set above the tail water level. Is an empty structure made beneath the
turbine.Purpose;1)to reduce the velocity head losses of the water;2)to allow the turbine to be
set above the tailrace to facilitate inspection and maintenance.
 Tailrace – a channel which leads the water from the turbine to the tail water. A canal that is
used to carry the water away from the plant
Tail water – the water that is discharged from the turbine.
Undershot wheel - water enters at the bottom of the wheel tangential to its periphery and
impinges on the bucket or vanes.
Breast Shot wheel – a wheel used for heads up to 16ft, where water enters between the
bottom and top of the wheel at an angle and is prevented from leaving the wheel by a breast
wall on the side of the wheel.
Over shot wheel – a wheel used for high heads, where water enters the wheel at the top by
being discharge from a flume.
Spiral case – it conducts the water around the reaction type turbine.

REACTION TURBINE IMPULSE TURBINE

In a reaction turbine, nozzle will move on In an impulse steam turbine, there are
bearing in the opposite direction of the some fixed nozzles and moving blades are
steam flow and the pressure is not constant present in the disc mounted on a shaft.
in this turbine. This is why the , a reaction Moving blades are symmetrical in order.
force is always applied in the nozzles and The steam enters the turbine casing with
tubes. some pressure. After that, it passes
through 1 or more fixed nozzle into the
turbine
 Kinds of Turbine

Turbines are sometimes classified according to their principle of operation. All turbines
operate by impulse or reaction, or by combination of these principles. In an impulse turbine,
the force of a fast-moving fluid striking the blades makes the rotor spin. In a reaction
turbine, the rotor turns primarily as a result of the weight or pressure of a fluid on the blades.
Turbines are commonly classified by the type of fluid that turns them. According to this
method, there are four main kinds of turbines.
1. Water turbines 2. Steam turbines 3. Gas turbines 4. Wind turbines

Water turbines
- Also called hydraulic turbines. Most water turbines are driven by water from waterfalls or
by water that is stored behind dams. The turbines are used primary to power electric
generators at hydroelectric plants. The type of water turbine used at a plant depends on
the head available. A Head is the distance the water falls before it strikes the turbine.
Heads range from about 2.5 meters to more than 300 meters.

Kinds of Water Turbine:

a. Pelton wheel – is an impulse turbine. It is used with heads of more than

300meters. A Pelton’s rotor consists of a single wheel mounted on a
 horizontal axle. The wheel has cup-shaped buckets around its perimeter.
Water from a lake or reservoir drops toward the turbine through a long pipe
called penstock. One to six nozzles at the end of the penstock increase the
water’s velocity and aim the water toward the buckets. The force of these
high-speed jets of water against the buckets turns the wheel.
b. Francis turbine – The rotor is enclosed in a casing. Its wheel has as many as
24 curved blades. Its axle is vertical. The wheel of a Francis turbine operates
underwater. It is encircled by a ring of guide vanes, which can be opened or
closed to control the amount of water flowing past the wheel. The spaces
between the vanes act as nozzles to direct the water toward the center of the
wheel. The rotor is turned chiefly by the weight or pressure of the flowing
water.
c. Kaplan turbine – is used for heads of less than 30meters. The Kaplan rotor
resembles a ship’s propeller. It has from three to eight blades on a vertical
axle. It works in a manner similar to that of Francis turbine.
Both the Kaplan turbine and Francis turbine are Reaction Turbine.

Impulse turbine – converts the energy of fluid in the form of pressure.

Reaction turbine – converts the energy by reaction on rotor blades, when the fluid
undergoes a change of momentum.

Performance of Hydroelectric Power Plant:

1. Gross Head, hg = the difference between head water and tail water elevations.(The
difference in elevation between the head water level and tail water level).
hg = hhw - htw
2. Friction Head loss, hf = is the head lost by the flow in a stream or conduit due to frictional
disturbances set up by the moving fluid and its containing conduit and by intermolecular
friction.
2
fL V
hf = ;m (Darcy Equation)
2 gD
2
2 fL V
hf = ;m (Morse Equation)
gD
where:
f = coefficient of friction (Moody friction factor)
L = total length of pipe, in meters (Length of penstock)
V = velocity, m/sec
also V = √ 2 gh if there is coefficient of velocity; V = Cv √ 2 gh
g = 9.81 m/sec2
D = inside diameter, meters
(Friction head loss is usually expressed as a percentage of the gross head)
3. Net head or Effective Head, h = difference between the gross head and the friction head
loss.
h = hg - hf

4. Penstock efficiency, Ef = the ratio of the net head to the gross head.
 h
Ef =
hg
5. Volume flow rate of water, Q (Discharge or rate of flow/General flow eqn) = the product
of the velocity and the cross-sectional area.
Q = AV ; m3/sec
Where:
A = cross sectional area , m2
π
= d2 d = diameter of penstock
4
V = velocity , m/sec
also V = √ 2 gh if there is coefficient of velocity; V = Cv √ 2 gh

6. Water Power, Pw = the power generated from an elevated water supply by the use of
hydraulic turbines.
Pw = Qδ h ; KW
Where:
δ = specific weight of water or density
= 9.81 KN/m3
= 1000kg/m3
7. Brake Power , BP (turbine output)
BP = 2πTn T = brake torque n = rpm
8. Turbine efficiency, ƞt
Turbine output
ƞt =
water power
9. Electrical or generator efficiency, ƞe
generator output
ƞe =
turbine output

10. Generator Speed, N

120 f
N=
p
Where:
N = speed, rpm
f = frequency (usually 60 hz)
p = number of poles (even number) usually divisible by 4
11. hydraulic efficiency , ƞh
utilized head , hw
ƞh =
net head , h

12. Head of pelton (Impulse) Turbine = power-generation prime mover in which fluid under
pressure enters a stationary nozzle where its pressure (potential)energy is converted to
velocity (kinetic) energy and absorbed by the rotor.
P V2
h= +
δ 2g
Where:
V = velocity of jet
 P = inlet gage pressure
G = 9.81 m/sec2
13. Head of reaction (Francis and Kaplan) Turbine = power-generation prime mover utilizing
the steady flow principle of fluid acceleration where nozzles are mounted on the moving
element.
2 2
P V A −V B
h = +Z +
δ 2g

14. Peripheral coefficient, ∅ = ratio of the peripheral velocity (Vp) to the velocity of the jet
(Vj).
peripheral velocity πDN
∅= =
velocity of jet √2 gh
Where:
D = diameter of runner, meters Cv
N = speed of runner, rev/sec
g = 9.81 m/sec2
h = net head, meters
15. Specific speed of hydraulic turbine = number used to predict the performance of the
hydraulic turbines
N √ HP
Ns = 5 ; rpm where: N = speed h = head; feet
h4
In metric units:
0.2623 N √ KW
Ns = 5 ; rpm where: N = speed h = head; meters
h4
16. Total efficiency of the turbine, ƞt
ƞt = ƞh ƞm ƞv
where:
ƞh = hydraulic efficiency
ƞm = mechanical efficiency
ƞv = volumetric efficiency
17. Turbine type recommendation based on head

Net Head Type of Turbine

Up to 70 ft Propeller type
70 ft to 110 ft Propeller or Francis type
110 ft to 800 ft Francis type
800 ft to 1300 ft Francis type or impulse type
1300 ft and above Impulse type

For small capacity, use propeller type

For medium capacity turbine, use Francis type
For high capacity turbine, use Impulse type
 1. The flow of a river is 4.25 m3/s at a site where a 22.86m hydrostatic head can be created
by the installation of a dam. What is the potential capacity of a hydroelectric power plant
if installed at this site? Consider turbine efficiency of energy conversion can be 80% , and
that of the electric efficiency can be 90%.

Given:

Q = 4.25 m3/s h = 22.86m ƞt = 80% ƞe = 90%

Solution:
Capacity (KW) @ 90% electric efficiency = turbine output (ƞe)
But: turbine output = Water power ( ƞt)
= Qδ h ƞt
= 4.25 m3/s ( 9.81 KN/m3 ) (22.86m) (0.80)
= 762.47 KW
Therefore: KW capacity = 762.47 KW (0.90) = 686.225 KW //ans.
2. A Pelton type turbine has a gross head of 40m and a friction head loss of
6m. Calculate the penstock diameter if the penstock length is 90m and
the coefficient of friction head loss is 0.001. Use Morse

Given:

L = 90m hg = 40m hf = 6m f = 0.001

Solution:
2
2 fLV
hf = also; V = √ 2 gh and: h = hg - hf
gD

√( m
)
therefore: V = 2 9.81 2 (40 m−6 m)
s
V = 25.83 m/s

6 =2(0.001)(90 m)¿ ¿

D = 2.04m //ans.
 3. A pelton type turbine was erected 30m below the head gate of the
penstock. The head loss due to friction is 15% of the given elevation.
The length of the penstock is 80m and the coefficient of friction is
0.00093. Determine the power output in KW.

Given:

L = 80m hg = 30m hf = 0.15(30) f = 0.00093

Solution:
Pw = Qδ h
But: Q = AV and V = √ 2 gh ; h = hg - hf = 30 - 0.15(30) = 25.5 m

therefore:
√( m
)
V = 2 9.81 2 (25.5 m)
s

V = 22.368 m/s
2
2 fL V
Also; to find the diameter; D hf =
gD
0.15(300 =2(0.00093)(80 m)¿¿
D = 1.686 m
π
Q = 4 (1.686)2 (22.368 m/s)

Q = 49.94 m3/s
Therefore: Pw = 49.94 m3/s ( 9.81 KN/m3) (25.5m)
Pw = 12,492.74 KW or 12.492 MW //ans.