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HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT

Hydro-electric power plants converts the kinetic energy contained in falling water into electricity.
The energy in flowing water is ultimately derived from the sun, and is therefore constantly renewed.
Energy contained in sunlight evaporates water from the ocean and deposits it on land in the form of
rain. Differences in land elevation result in rainfall run off, and allow some of the original solar energy
to be captured as hydroelectric power.

 Basic Parts of High-Head Hydro-Electric Plant

reservoir
headwater

spillway
surge chamber

dam

penstock

surge chamber
valve generator
silt rack
sluice

turbine tailrace
tailwater

 Basic Elements in Plant Design draft tube

1. storage reservoir used to store water during rainy days and

supply the same during the dry season.
2. spillway discharges excess water to maintain head of the plant.
3. dam used for impounding water for storage and for creating head for the power plant.
4. intake structure or equipment consists of racks or screens to prevent thrash or entry of debris into turbine
runners.
4.1 silt sluice a chamber used to collect and discharge mud
4.2 trash rack a screen which prevents leaves, twigs, branches and other water contaminants.
5. waterway
5.1 open channel
5.2 penstock a pressure conduit which leads water from reservoir to turbine.
5.3 tailrace a channel which leads water from turbine to tailwater.
6. surge tank used to reduce the water hammer during decrease in turbine load.
7. draft tube usually a part of the powerhouse structure to carry the water away from the turbine runner.
8. forebay is reduced and providing water for the initial increments of an increasing load while serve as a
regular reservoir, temporarily storing water when the load on the plant water in the canal is being
accelerated.
9. power house consists of building structure of hydraulic and electrical equipment which includes the
following.
9.1 hydraulic turbine 9.5 pressure relief valves
9.2 governors 9.6 isolation valves
9.3 generators 9.7 transformers
9.4 switch gears
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Pump Storage Hydro-electric Plant or Hydraulic accumulator

upper pool
Pumped storage plant is a hydro-electric plant
which involves the use of peak-off energy to
store water and to use the stored water to
generates extra energy to cope with the
peak load.

Motor
Generator

Turbine lower pool

Run of River ( Low Head ) Hydro Electric Power Plant
Pump
Pondage

Nozzle

 Types of hydraulic turbines

Casing
1. impulse turbine also known as wheel or Pelton wheel, it
Bucket
utilizes kinetic energy of high velocity jet which acts upon
a small part of the circumference at an instant. Runner

2. reaction turbine develops power from the combined action of pressure and
velocity of the water that completes fills the runner and water passages.

2.1 francis type ( for low head) 2.2 Propeller ( Kaplan) type ( for low head )

Casing
Wicket gate
Runner
Kaplan turbine is propeller turbine
with adjustable blades

 Classifications of hydro-electric power plants according to the :

1. available head for power generation

1.1 low head 6 m to 30 m
1.2 medium head 30 m to 150 m
1.3 high head 150 m and above
2. nature of load or function
2.1 base-load plant
2.2 peak load plant
3. quantity of water available for power generation
3.1 run-of-river plant without pondage
3.2 run-of-river plant with pondage
3.3 storage reservoir hydro plant
3.4 pumped storage hydro plant
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 Definition of terms and fundamental concepts in hydro-electric power plant design and performance

1. hg = gross head = difference between headwater and tailwater elevation

fLV 2
2. hf = friction head = ( Darcy equation )
2gD
2fLV 2
= ( Morse equation )
gD
where: f = coefficient velocity
L = total length, meters
V = velocity, m/sec
g = 9.81 m/s2
D = inside diameter, meters
( Friction head loss usually expressed as a percentage of the gross head )
3. h = net head or effective head = hg - hf
h
4. penstock efficiency =
hg
5. general flow or continuity equation: Q = AV

where: Q = flow rate, m3/sec V = mean velocity, m/s

A = cross-sectional area , m2
Q - QL
6. v = Q
where: QL = loss in leakage of flow
7. water power = Qh
where:  = specific weight of water = 9.81 m/s2
8. overall power station efficiency, o
kW output
o = water power
9. turbine efficiency , t
turbine output
t = water power
utilized head
10. hydraulic efficiency = effective head
hw
h = h
11. generator efficiency, g
kW output
g =
turbine output
120f
12. generator speed = N =
P
where: N = speed, rpm
P = number of poles ( even number)
f = frequency ( usually 60 HZ )
peripheral velocity DN
13. peripheral coefficient =  = velocity of jet =
C V 2gh
where: D = diameter of runner, meters
N = speed of runner, rev/sec
g = 9.81 m/sec2
h = net head, meters
CV = coefficient of velocity
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14. overall turbine efficiency, o = hvm

where: h = hydraulic efficiency
v = volumetric efficiency
m = mechanical efficiency

15. specific speed of hydraulic turbine, Ns

- defined as the number of revolutions per minute at which a given runner would revolve if it were so
reduced in proportions that it would develop 1 hp under 1 foot head,: it serves to classify a hydraulic
turbine and to indicate its type.

In mathematical expression,
N P
Ns = 5
H4
Where: N = turbine runner rotative speed
P = horsepower output per runner
H = available head acting on turbine,ft
16. head of pelton ( impulse ) turbine
P
P V2
H= + ; where: V = velocity of jet Casing
 2g
Bucket
Runner

17. head of reaction ( Francis and Kaplan ) Turbine

generator

P
P V 2 − VB2
H= +Z+ A • A
 2g
turbine

Z
B

 Identification of hydraulic type based on available head and specific head

Hydraulics turbine type Available head, m Specific head

Impulse reaction 800 and up 5.5 to 80

Reaction turbine
a. Francis 50 to 800 80 to 22
b. Propeller( Kaplan or Napler ) 15 to 100 170 to 85
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 Environmental impact

Effects

- It produces neither thermal nor particular motion

- At least to some extent, creation of large reservoir requires relocation of highways, railroads, and
power lines, and in some instances small towns have to be moved.
- Frequently, the abandonment of large areas of farmlands/loss of land suitable for agriculture.

Mitigation measure

At flood is the result of runoff from rainfall and/or melting snow in quantities too great to be
confined in the low-water channels of stream. Man can do little to prevent a major flood, but he may be
able to minimize damage to crops and property within the flood plain of the river. The commonly
accepted measures for reducing flood damages are:
1. Reduction of peak flow by reservoir.
2. Reduction of peak stage by increased velocities from channel improvement.
3. Diversion of flood waters through bypasses or floodways to other channels or even another
watershed.

Solution to the Sample Problems

1. At a Hydraulic plant difference in elevation between the surface of the water at intake and at the tailrace
is 183 meters. When the flow is 2.266 m3/s, the friction loss in the penstock is 18m and the head utilized
by the turbine is 140m. The mechanical friction in the turbine is 75 kW, and the leakage loss is 0.085
m3/s. Find:
a. Hydraulic efficiency
b. Volumetric efficiency
c. Power delivered to shaft
d. Brake horsepower
e. Mechanical efficiency
f. Turbine efficiency

SOLUTION:
a. Hydraulic efficiency

b. Volumetric efficiency

c. Power delivered to shaft

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d. Brake horsepower

e. Mechanical efficiency

f. Turbine efficiency

2. A mini hydro-electric power plant found in Lanao has the following data: Francis type turbine with a
specified speed of 73 RPM, single runner;
Gross head at plant = 38m
Mean flow of water = 2.6 m3/s
Length of penstock = 39m
Diameter of penstock = 1m
Penstock friction factor = 0.02
Turbine efficiency = 85%
Generator efficiency = 90%

Determine:
a. Net effective head in meters
b. Turbine output
c. Generator capacity in kW
d. Number of poles of generator for 60 hz.

SOLUTION:

a. Net effective head in meters, h

Where:

Then,
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b. Turbine output

c. Generator capacity in kW

d. Number of poles of generator for 60 hz.

Then,

Recomputed rotation speed:

3. A hydroelectric power plant has a difference in elevation from headwater to tail water of h = 50m and
the flow of Q = 5 m3/s of water through the turbine. The turbine shaft rotates at 180 rpm and the torque
in the shaft is measured to be T = 1.16 x 105 N-m. Output of the generator is 2100 kW. Determine:
a. The power given up by the water to the turbine in kW
b. The power loss in the turbine in kW
c. The turbine and generator efficiency in percent
d. The annual energy production in kW-hr if the discharge us constant throughout the year.

SOLUTION:
a. The power given up by the water to the turbine in kW

b. The power loss in the turbine:

Where:
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Then,

c. The turbine and generator efficiency in percent

Then,

d. The annual energy production in kW-hr if the discharge us constant throughout the year.

4. The difference in elevation between the surface of the water in a large reservoir and the intake to an
impulse turbine was 40m. During a test, the pressure head at the latter point was 38m and the discharge
was 76 m3/min. The inside diameter of the penstock was 76 cm.
a. What is the efficiency of the pipeline?
b. What was the hp delivered to the turbine?
c. What was the friction loss?

SOLUTION:
a. What is the efficiency of the pipeline?

Where:

Then,
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b. What was the hp delivered to the turbine?

c. What was the friction loss?

5. The flow of water of 21.25 m3/s produces a total brake power of 5400 kW. It is proposed to install two
turbines, one of which is twice the capacity of the other. The efficiency and specific speed of both units
are assumed to be 85% and 70 rpm, respectively. Determine:
a. Head in meters
b. Rotative speed of each unit
c. Number of poles on generator for 60 hz.

SOLUTION:
a. Head in meters

b. Rotative speed of each unit

Let: P = be the output of the smaller unit

2P = be the output of the larger unit

So,

P + 2P = 5400 kW
P = 1800 kW
2 P = 3600 kW

For smaller unit:

For larger unit:

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c. Number of poles on generator for 60 hz.

For smaller unit:

For larger unit:

Then, the recomputed rotation speed:

6. A proposed hydro-electric power plant has the following data:

Elevation of normal headwater surface = 194 m
Elevation of normal tailwater surface = 60m
Loss of head due to friction = 6.5m
Turbine discharge at full gate opening = 5 m3/s
Turbine efficiency at rated capacity = 90%
Turbine is to be connected at a 60 cycle, alternating current generator.
Required:
a. What type of turbine would you specify?
b. Find the brake power of turbine in kW.
c. Find the number of poles in the generator.
d. Find the kW output of the direct connected generator if the efficiency is 94%.
e. What important data should be given to the manufacturers of hydraulic turbines and accessories
when asking for a quotation?

SOLUTION:
a. What type of turbine would you specify?

; use francis type turbine rated at 80-22 specific speed

b. Find the brake power of turbine in kW.
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c. Find the number of poles in the generator.

Assume for francis turbine be equal to 22 rpm

Then,

d. Find the kW output of the direct connected generator if the efficiency is 94%.

e. What important data should be given to the manufacturers of hydraulic turbines and accessories
when asking for a quotation?
1. Flow rate
2. Net head
3. Headwater elevation
4. Tailwater elevation
5. Location of turbine above tailwater.

7. A hydroelectric plant has a generator motor efficiency of 96 %, turbine efficiency of 80% and a pump
efficiency of 75%. Average elevation between upper and lower pools = 30m. Assume 2% loss of head
in pipe friction. This unit is installed to carry a peak load of 1400 kw-hr. Daily evaporation loss of
stored water amounts to 907 tons. Calculate the overall efficiency of conversion,

SOLUTION:

Illustration:
Evaporation

30 m Motor
Generator

Turbine lower pool

Pump
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• Solving for the Generator Output:

• Solving for the water flow rate:

• Solving for the daily evaporation loss, Qevap

• Solving the Volume flow handled by a pump:

• Solving for the pump power:

• Solving for the motor input:

Thus, the over-all efficiency: