Hydroelectric Power Plant

Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education

DON HONORIO VENTURA TECHNOLOGICAL STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering and Architecture
Bacolor, Pampanga
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT
Engr. Ariel Mallari

Instructor
Submitted by: BSME 5B GROUP 3

Members:
MANALO, Vince Michael G. (REPORTER)
OCAMPO, Eliazer A.
OCAMPO, Justin Q.
PABUSTAN, Jose Adrian A.
PANGILINAN, Rommel L.
PINEDA, Allaiza Hennah A. (REPORTER)

QUIAMBAO, Jayson T. (REPORTER)
RELATO, Jonathan S. (REPORTER)
REYES, Rei Matt Daniel S.

SALENGA, Kier S.
Bacolor, Pampanga
TABLE OF CONTENT
I. HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT
i. SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
ii. DEFINITION OF HYDROELECTRICITY
iii. HISTORY OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT
iv. HOW IT WORKS
II. HYDROELECTRIC VS THERMAL
i. INVESTMENTS AND COST
ii. WATER AVAILABILITY OR HYDROLOGY RISK
iii. HYDROPOWER PERFORMANCE
III. CONVENTIONAL HYDROELECTRIC DAM
i. IMPOUNDMENT
ii. DIVERSION
iii. PUMPED STORAGE
IV. SIZES OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT
i. LARGE HYDRO
ii. SMALL HYDRO
iii. MICRO HYDRO
V. ELEMENTS OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT
i. UPPER RESERVOIR
ii. INTAKE TUNNEL
iii. POWER HOUSE
iv. DISCHARGE TUNNEL
v. RECHARGING
VI. COMPONENTS OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT
i. DAMS/RESERVOIR
ii. INTAKE TUNNEL
iii. GATE CONTROL
iv. PRESSURE TUNNEL
v. SURGE TANK
vi. PENSTOCK
vii. TURBINE
viii. GENERATOR
ix. DRAFT TUBE
x. TRANSMISSION LINE
VII. ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER PLANT
VIII. DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER PLANT
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Hydroelectric Power Plant
What is Hydroelectricity?
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the

production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing
water. In 2015 hydropower generated 16.6% of the world’s total electricity and 70% of all
renewable electricity, and is expected to increase about 3.1% each year for the next 25 years.
Hydropower is produced in 150 countries, with the Asia-Pacific region generating 33 percent of
global hydropower in 2013. China is the largest hydroelectricity producer, with 920 TWh of
production in 2013, representing 16.9 percent of domestic electricity use. The cost of
hydroelectricity is relatively low, making it a competitive source of renewable electricity. The
hydro station consumes no water, unlike coal or gas plants. The average cost of electricity from
a hydro station larger than 10 megawatts is 3 to 5 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. With a dam and
reservoir, it is also a flexible source of electricity since the amount produced by the station can
be changed up or down very quickly to adapt to changing energy demands. Once a
hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project produces no direct waste, and has a
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considerably lower output level of greenhouse gases than fossil fuel powered energy plants.
Hydroelectricity is electricity produced from hydropower.
Hydro power is electrical energy produced through the power of moving water. Power
obtained from the (typically gravitational) movement of water., Hydropower plants derive
energy from the force of moving water and harness this energy for useful purposes. Traditional
uses include watermills. In modern technology, hydropower moves turbines that pass on their
energy to a generator which then produces electric power. Hydropower is a type of renewable
energy, and once the power plant is constructed it produces little to no waste. Globally,
hydropower contributes more electricity than any other renewable energy type.
As the name hydropower suggests, water in lakes, rivers and other reservoirs is
harnessed or put to work to produce kinetic energy. Hydroelectric dams are built to generate
electric power by directing water through high pressure tunnels/penstocks to the turbines,
which are wheels with carved blades as spokes. The falling water spins the blades of the
turbines connected to generators. Hydropower, therefore, is influenced by both the quantity of
water flowing at a certain rate (discharge Q in cubic meter per second) and the difference in
elevations at the head start and tail end of the flow (head h in meters).
The History of Hydroelectric Power
The technology to take advantage of falling water and get useful mechanic energy is old.
The history of hydropower started over 2000 years ago, when water wheels were being used by
the ancient Greeks to grind grain. It was not until the Middle Ages that the technology was
spread to Europe.
Hydroelectric power was also important during the industrial revolution at the
beginning of the 1800’s and provided mechanical power for textile and machine industries.
Probably the most important year in hydropower history was in 1831 when the first
electric generator was invented by Michael Faraday. This laid the foundation for us to learn
how to generate electricity with hydropower almost half a century later, in 1878.
In 1878 the world's first hydroelectric power scheme was developed

at Cragside in Northumberland, England by William Armstrong. It was used to power a
single arc lamp in his art gallery. The old Schoelkopf Power Station No. 1 near Niagara Falls in
the U.S. side began to produce electricity in 1881. The first Edison hydroelectric power station,
the Vulcan Street Plant, began operating September 30, 1882, in Appleton, Wisconsin, with an
output of about 12.5 kilowatts. 7 years later, in 1889, the total number of hydroelectric power
plant solely in the US had reached 200.
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In the 19th century these power plants got an increased amount of commercial
attention and was built rapidly in suitable areas all over the world. 1936 marks an important
year – the largest hydroelectric power plant, the Hoover Dam, was opened and generated 1345
MW (installed capacity later increased 2080MW) from the flowing water in the Colorado River.
During the first half of the 1900’s hydropower became the world’s most important
source of electricity.
In 2008, Three Gorges Dam in China was built. This is the largest power plant at current
date, generating 22.500 MW, adding to China’s installed hydroelectric capacity of 196.79 GW
(2009).
Hydropower is considered a mature technology contributes about 16% of global

electricity generation today and will contribute even more in the future. There’s almost 30
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major hydroelectricity projects with at least 2.000 MW capacity under development, most of
which are located in China.
How it works?
Hydropower plants capture the energy of falling water to generate electricity. A turbine
converts the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical energy. Then a generator converts
the mechanical energy from the turbine into electrical energy.
The amount of electricity a hydropower plant produces depends on two factors:
1. How far the water falls. The farther the water falls; the more power it has. Generally,
the distance that the water falls depends on the size of the dam. The higher the dam,
the farther the water falls and the more power it has. Scientists would say that the
power of falling water is "directly proportional" to the distance it falls. In other words,
water falling twice as far as much energy.
2. Amount of water falling. More water falling through the turbine will produce more
power. The amount of water available depends on the amount of water flowing down
the river. Bigger rivers have more flowing water and can produce more energy. Power is
also "directly proportional" to river flow. A river with twice the amount of flowing water
as another river can produce twice as much energy.
Hydropower VS Thermal Generation
1. Investment, O &M Costs and Useful Life
The hydropower project is capital-intensive, because of the many structures needed to be

built. In addition, because of the required construction work, site investigation to be able to
design the project is more extensive and expensive and implementation period is longer.
The hydropower is also a cite specific, and therefore, the cost of access and the associated
transmission lines may be considerable. Unlike the thermal power where fuel cost is significant,
water which is the fuel for a hydro is free.
It is also renewable as this is returned to the river after its use. The operating and
maintenance cost for the hydro therefore is almost nil. However, this resource (rivers and lakes)
is a patrimony of the nation. The exploitation therefore, of this resource by a private individual
must not be viewed as perpetual. The economic life is also longer - 50 years compared to
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thermal which is between 15 to 30 years. Over the long term therefore, hydropower is the
cheapest source considering the long useful life and the overall costs.
2. Water Availability or Hydrology Risk
As mentioned before, unlike the thermal power project where fuel cost is significant, water
as fuel for hydropower is free. However, generation output depends on the volume of water
available for the turbine. The amount varies, however, for any given time.
3. Hydropower Performance in the System

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The hydropower project can be designed to serve any place in the load curve. It can either
be a base load plant, a peaking station or an intermediate load station. It is versatile enough to
be able to be operated to serve the needs of the system.
There are two components of generation output associated with operation, namely, the
firm energy or on-peak energy and the secondary or off-peak energy. The firm energy is that
output which can be guaranteed (defined at 90 to 95% reliability) to meet a certain system
requirement for a specified period of time. This energy can be dispatched during that period
and, therefore, has a high value than the second type. Associated with this energy is the
dependable or guaranteed capacity which can actually displace an equivalent thermal plant
capacity during operation of the system. The secondary, off-peak or excess energy is that
output which can be generated over and above the firm when the availability of water
warrants. This type of energy cannot be dispatched and is valued less than the firm, specifically
at the cost of the thermal fuel used by an equivalent plant when that energy was utilized by the
system.
Conventional Hydroelectric Dams
There are three main types of conventional hydropower technologies: impoundment (dam),
diversion, and pumped storage.
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 Impoundment
Impoundment is the most common type of hydroelectric power plant. An impoundment

facility, typically a large hydro-power system, uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir.
Water released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a
generator to produce electricity. Generation may be used fairly flexibly to meet base load as
well as peak load demands. The water may also be released either to meet changing electricity
needs or to maintain a constant reservoir level. The layout of a typical impoundment
hydropower facility is shown below in the first figure. One of the world’s most famous
impoundment Dams, the Hoover Dam, is shown in the second figure (although it’s worth noting
that on a global scale, the Hoover Dam is more famous than it is large).
 Diversion
A diversion, sometimes called run-of-river, facility channels a portion of a river through a

canal or penstock. It may not require the use of a dam but also has limited flexibility to follow
peak variation in power demand. Thus, it will mainly be useful for baseload capacity. This
scenario results in limited flooding and changes to river flow. In the United States, many of the
dams in the Pacific Northwest (on the Columbia and Snake Rivers) are diversion or run-of-river
dams, with limited or no storage reservoir behind the dam. The figure below shows a picture of
a diversion hydro-power facility. Compare what that facility looks like with the picture of
Hoover Dam, the impoundment facility shown above.
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 Pumped Storage
A “pumped storage” hydro dam combines a small storage reservoir with a system for
cycling water back into the reservoir after it has been released through the turbine, thus “re-
using” the same water to generate electricity at a later time. When the demand for electricity is
low (typically at night), a pumped storage facility stores energy by pumping water from a lower
reservoir to an upper reservoir. During periods of high electrical demand (typically during the
day), the water is released back to the lower reservoir to generate electricity. The figure below
shows a schematic of a pumped storage hydro facility. Pumped storage facilities are typically
smaller in terms of generation capacity than their impoundment or diversion counterparts, but
are sometimes combined with impoundment or diversion facilities to increase peak power
output or flexibility.
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Sizes of Hydroelectric Power Plant
 Large Hydro
Large-scale hydroelectric power stations are more commonly seen as the largest power
producing facilities in the world, with some hydroelectric facilities capable of generating more
than double the installed capacities of the current largest nuclear power stations.
Although no official definition exists for the capacity range of large hydroelectric power
stations, facilities from over a few hundred megawatts are generally considered large
hydroelectric facilities.
Currently, only four facilities over 10 GW (10,000 MW) are in operation worldwide.
 Small Hydro
Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale suitable for local
community and industry, or to contribute to distributed generation in a regional electricity
grid. The definition of a small hydro project varies, but a generating capacity of 1 to
20 megawatts (MW) is common. In contrast many hydroelectric projects are of enormous size,
such as the generating plant at the three gorges dam at 22,500 megawatts or the vast multiple
projects of the Tennessee valley authority. In India, hydro projects up to 25 MW station
capacities have been categorized as small hydro power (SHP) projects.
 Micro Hydro
Micro hydro is a type of hydroelectric power that typically produces from 5 KW to 100 KW
of electricity using the natural flow of water. Installations below 5 KW are called Pico
hydro. These installations can provide power to an isolated home or small community, or are
sometimes connected to electric power networks, particularly where net metering is offered.
Elements of Hydroelectric Power Plant

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1. Upper Reservoir
When power from the plant is needed, water storage from the upper reservoir is
released into an underground tunnel.
2. Intake Tunnel
The water rushes down into intake tunnel.
3. Power House
The force of the water drives huge turbines, which are underground at the base of a
dam. The spinning turbine are connected to large generators which produces electricity.
4. Discharge Tunnel
The water flows through a discharge tunnel into a lower reservoir.
5. Recharging
When demand of the electricity is low the turbines spin backward and pump the water
up into upper reservoir to make it available to generate electricity when it’s needed.
Components of Hydroelectric Power Plant
1. Dam/Reservoir
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of water or underground

streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for
activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture,
and navigability. Hydropower is often used in conjunction with dams to generate electricity. A
dam can also be used to collect water or for storage of water which can be evenly distributed
between locations. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water.
Types of Dam
According to Structure
 Arch Dams
In the arch dam, stability is obtained by a combination of arch and gravity action. If the
upstream face is vertical the entire weight of the dam must be carried to the foundation by
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gravity, while the distribution of the normal hydrostatic pressure between vertical cantilever
and arch action will depend upon the stiffness of the dam in a vertical and horizontal direction.
When the upstream face is sloped the distribution is more complicated. The normal component
of the weight of the arch ring may be taken by the arch action, while the normal hydrostatic
pressure will be distributed as described above.
Two types of single-arch dams are in use, namely the constant-angle and the constant-
radius dam. The constant-radius type employs the same face radius at all elevations of the dam,
which means that as the channel grows narrower towards the bottom of the dam the central
angle subtended by the face of the dam becomes smaller. Jones Falls Dam, in Canada, is a
constant radius dam. In a constant-angle dam, also known as a variable radius dam, this
subtended angle is kept a constant and the variation in distance between the abutments at
various levels are taken care of by varying the radii. Constant-radius dams are much less
common than constant-angle dams. Parker Dam on the Colorado River is a constant-angle arch
dam.
 Gravity Dams
In a gravity dam, the force that holds the dam in place against the push from the water is
Earth's gravity pulling down on the mass of the dam. The water presses laterally on the dam,
tending to overturn the dam by rotating about its toe. The dam's weight counteracts that force,
tending to rotate the dam the other way about its toe. The designer ensures that the dam is
heavy enough that the dam's weight wins that contest. In engineering terms, that is true
whenever the resultant of the forces of gravity acting on the dam and water pressure on the
dam acts in a line that passes upstream of the toe of the dam.
For this type of dam, it is essential to have an impervious foundation with high bearing
strength. Gravity dams are classified as "solid" or "hollow" and are generally made of either
concrete or masonry. The solid form is the more widely used of the two, though the hollow
dam is frequently more economical to construct. Grand Coulee Dam is a solid gravity dam and
Braddock Locks & Dam is a hollow gravity dam.
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 Barrages
A barrage dam is a special kind of dam which consists of a line of large gates that can be
opened or closed to control the amount of water passing the dam. The gates are set between
flanking piers which are responsible for supporting the water load, and are often used to
control and stabilize water flow for irrigation systems.
 Embankment Dams
Embankment dams are made from compacted earth, and have two main types, rock-fill and
earth-fill dams. Embankment dams rely on their weight to hold back the force of water, like
gravity dams made from concrete.
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 Rock-fill Dams
Rock-fill dams are embankments of compacted free-draining granular earth with an

impervious zone. The earth utilized often contains a high percentage of large particles, hence
the term "rock-fill". The impervious zone may be on the upstream face and made of masonry,
concrete, plastic membrane, steel sheet piles, timber or other material. The impervious zone
may also be within the embankment in which case it is referred to as a core. In the instances
where clay is utilized as the impervious material the dam is referred to as a composite dam. To
prevent internal erosion of clay into the rock fill due to seepage forces, the core is separated
using a filter. Filters are specifically graded soil designed to prevent the migration of fine grain
soil particles. When suitable material is at hand, transportation is minimized leading to cost
savings during construction. Rock-fill dams are resistant to damage from earthquakes.
However, inadequate quality control during construction can lead to poor compaction and sand
in the embankment which can lead to liquefaction of the rock-fill during an earthquake.
Liquefaction potential can be reduced by keeping susceptible material from being saturated,
and by providing adequate compaction during construction.
 Earth-fill Dams
Earth-fill dams, also called earthen dams, rolled-earth dams or simply earth dams, are
constructed as a simple embankment of well compacted earth. A homogeneous rolled-earth
dam is entirely constructed of one type of material but may contain a drain layer to collect seep
water.
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According to Use
 Saddle Dam
A saddle dam is an auxiliary dam constructed to confine the reservoir created by a primary
dam either to permit a higher water elevation and storage or to limit the extent of a reservoir
for increased efficiency. An auxiliary dam is constructed in a low spot or "saddle" through which
the reservoir would otherwise escape. On occasion, a reservoir is contained by a similar
structure called a dike to prevent inundation of nearby land. Dikes are commonly used for
reclamation of arable land from a shallow lake. This is similar to a levee, which is a wall or
embankment built along a river or stream to protect adjacent land from flooding.
 Weir
A weir is a type of small overflow dam that is often used within a river channel to create an
impoundment lake for water abstraction purposes and which can also be used for flow
measurement or retardation.
 Check Dam
A check dam is a small dam designed to reduce flow velocity and control soil erosion.
Conversely, a wing dam is a structure that only partly restricts a waterway, creating a faster
channel that resists the accumulation of sediment.
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 Dry Dam
A dry dam, also known as a flood retarding structure, is a dam designed to control flooding.
It normally holds back no water and allows the channel to flow freely, except during periods of
intense flow that would otherwise cause flooding downstream.
 Diversionary Dam
A diversionary dam is a structure designed to divert all or a portion of the flow of a river
from its natural course. The water may be redirected into a canal or tunnel for irrigation and/or
hydroelectric power production.
 Underground Dam
Underground dams are used to trap groundwater and store all or most of it below the
surface for extended use in a localized area. In some cases, they are also built to prevent
saltwater from intruding into a freshwater aquifer. Underground dams are typically constructed
in areas where water resources are minimal and need to be efficiently stored, such as in deserts
and on islands like the Fukuzato Dam in Okinawa, Japan.
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There are two types of underground dams: a sub-surface and a sand-storage dam. A sub-
surface dam is built across an aquifer or drainage route from an impervious layer (such as solid
bedrock) up to just below the surface. They can be constructed of a variety of materials to
include bricks, stones, concrete, steel or PVC. Once built, the water stored behind the dam
raises the water table and is then extracted with wells. A sand-storage dam is a weir built in
stages across a stream or wade. It must be strong, as floods will wash over its crest. Over time,
sand accumulates in layers behind the dam, which helps store water and, most importantly,
prevent evaporation. The stored water can be extracted with a well, through the dam body, or
by means of a drain pipe.
 Tailings Dam
A tailings dam is typically an earth-fill embankment dam used to store tailings, which are
produced during mining operations after separating the valuable fraction from the uneconomic
fraction of an ore. Conventional water retention dams can serve this purpose, but due to cost, a
tailings dam is more viable. Unlike water retention dams, a tailings dam is raised in succession
throughout the life of the particular mine. Typically, a base or starter dam is constructed, and as
it fills with a mixture of tailings and water, it is raised. Material used to raise the dam can
include the tailings (depending on their size) along with dirt.
Because tailings dams often store toxic chemicals from the mining process, they have an
impervious liner to prevent seepage. Water/slurry levels in the tailings pond must be managed
for stability and environmental purposes as well.
According to Material
 Steel Dams
A steel dam is a type of dam briefly experimented with around the start of the 20th century
which uses steel plating (at an angle) and load-bearing beams as the structure. Intended as
permanent structures, steel dams were an (arguably failed) experiment to determine if a
construction technique could be devised that was cheaper than masonry, concrete or
earthworks, but sturdier than timber crib dams.
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 Timber Dams
Timber dams were widely used in the early part of the industrial revolution and in frontier
areas due to ease and speed of construction. Rarely built in modern times because of their
relatively short lifespan and the limited height to which they can be built, timber dams must be
kept constantly wet in order to maintain their water retention properties and limit
deterioration by rot, similar to a barrel. The locations where timber dams are most economical
to build are those where timber is plentiful, cement is costly or difficult to transport, and either
a low head diversion dam is required or longevity is not an issue. Timber dams were once
numerous, especially in the North American West, but most have failed, been hidden under
earth embankments, or been replaced with entirely new structures. Two common variations of
timber dams were the crib and the plank.
Timber crib dams were erected of heavy timbers or dressed logs in the manner of a log
house and the interior filled with earth or rubble. The heavy crib structure supported the dam's
face and the weight of the water. Splash dams were timber crib dams used to help float logs
downstream in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Timber plank dams were more elegant structures that employed a variety of construction
methods utilizing heavy timbers to support a water retaining arrangement of planks.
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2. Intake
Intake structures are used for collecting water from the surface sources such as river,
lake, and reservoir and conveying it further to the water treatment plant. These structures are
masonry or concrete structures and provides relatively clean water, free from pollution, sand
and objectionable floating material.
Site selection for Intake structures:
 The site should be so selected that it may admit water even under worst condition of
flow in the river. Generally, it is preferred that intake should be sufficiently below the
shore line.
 Site should be very close to treatment plant as possible.
 It should be so located that it is free from the pollution. It is better to provide intake at
upper stream of city so that water is not contaminated.
 It should not interfere with river traffic, if any.
 It should be located where good foundation conditions are available.
 It should be so located that it admits relatively pure water free from mud, sand and
pollutants. Means it should be protected from rapid currents.
3. Gate Control
Water control gates are used to control the mass flow of water or wastewater in various
environmental and process applications. They are usually square and rectangular in shape and
made of stainless steel or galvanized aluminum.
Types of Gate Control
 Slide gates
It has neoprene or elastomeric seals and are actuated with hydraulic cylinders or manual
gear drives.
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 Bulkhead gates
This are supplied in one-piece panels and used in flood control applications. These large
water control gates are installed with a hoist or crane and may include stop logs for ease of
installation.
 Floating bulkheads
This are consisting of individual sections that are floated in place and joined together. These
water control gates are designed for spillway openings and other areas that cannot use a
bulkhead gate.
 Roller gates
This are designed for openings that are too large for slide gates, or that require gravity
closure.
 Crest gates
It features bottom hinges and rubber seals. They are hydraulically-actuated and designed
for water level control.
 Traitor gates
This are operated by hoists and consist of a curved plate and radial arms. Miter gates are
used to control access to navigational locks and canal systems.
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 Bonneted slide gates

This are lifted vertically and operated electrically or hydraulically.
 Ring follower gates

This are slide gates with a solid section that blocks the waterway and a circular opening that
provides a water passage. Jet flow gates, another type of slide gate, are designed for free
discharge and flow regulation.
 Water control gates

This include fish diversion gates, jet flow gates, multiple leaf gates, sector gates, sluice
gates, timber gates, tipping plate regulators, and velocity control gates.
4. Pressure Tunnel
In hydropower projects, it needs to transport water from intake or source to the

powerhouse where turbines are located. Often, powerhouses are located deep inside the
ground in case of underground projects. It requires an underground water way system such as
the combination of tunnels, pressure shafts, surge tank, air cushion chamber etc. to bring water
up to the powerhouse which is called a headrace system or simply headrace.
The pressure shafts are underground circular openings like tunnels in which fully
pressurized flow of water is expected like in pipes. They can be simply realized as pressurized
headrace tunnels but with smaller diameters and greater slopes. Most importantly, the key
point to note here is that pressure shafts are almost like pressurized tunnels but with circular
sections and smaller diameters which make it cheaper to excavate and easier to install linings.
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5. Surge Tanks
Surge tanks are installed on large pipelines to relieve excess pressure caused by water
hammer and to provide a supply of water to reduce negative pressure if a valve is suddenly
opened. A simple surge tank is a vertical standpipe connected to a pipeline. The valve might
represent turbine gates which may open or close rapidly with changes in load on the
generators.
6. Penstock
A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed
pipe that delivers water to hydro turbines and sewerage systems. The term is inherited from
the earlier technology of mill ponds and watermills.
Penstocks for hydroelectric installations are normally equipped with a gate system and
a surge tank. They can be a combination of many components such as anchor block, drain valve,
air bleed valve, and support piers depending on the application.[1] Flow is regulated
by turbine operation and is nil when turbines are not in service. Penstocks, particularly where
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used in polluted water systems, need to be maintained by hot water washing, manual
cleaning, antifouling coatings, and desiccation.
The term is also used in irrigation dams to refer to the channels leading to and from
high-pressure sluice gates. Penstocks are also used in mine tailings dam construction. The
penstock is usually situated fairly close to the center of the tailings dam and built up using
penstock rings. These control the water level, letting the slimes settle out of the water. This
water is then piped under the tailings dam back to the plant via a penstock pipeline.
7. Turbines
A water turbine is a rotary machine that converts kinetic energy and potential energy of
water into mechanical work. Water turbines were developed in the 19th century and were
widely used for industrial power prior to electrical grids. Now they are mostly used for electric
power generation. Water turbines are mostly found in dams to generate electric power from
water kinetic energy. Water turbines works by directing the flowing water to the blades of the
turbine runner. Since the runner is spinning, the force acts through a distance.
Types of Turbines
 Pelton Wheel
It is an impulse-type water turbine. It was invented by Lester Allan Pelton in the 1870s. The
Pelton wheel extracts energy from the impulse of moving water, as opposed to water's dead
weight like the traditional overshot water wheel. Many variations of impulse turbines existed
prior to Pelton's design, but they were less efficient than Pelton's design. Water leaving those
wheels typically still had high speed, carrying away much of the dynamic energy brought to the
wheels. Pelton's paddle geometry was designed so that when the rim ran at half the speed of
the water jet, the water left the wheel with very little speed; thus his design extracted almost
all of the water's impulse energy—which allowed for a very efficient turbine.
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 Francis Turbine
It is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell,

Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow
concepts. Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use today. They operate in a
water head from 40 to 600 m (130 to 2,000 ft.) and are primarily used for electrical power
production. The electric generators that most often use this type of turbine have a power
output that generally ranges from just a few kilowatts up to 800 MW, though mini-hydro
installations may be lower. Penstock (input pipes) diameters are between 3 and 33 ft. (0.91 and
10 m). The speed range of the turbine is from 75 to 1000 rpm. A wicket gate around the outside
of the turbine's rotating runner controls the rate of water flow through the turbine for different
power production rates. Francis turbines are almost always mounted with the shaft vertical to
isolate water from the generator. This also facilitates installation and maintenance. The
components of the Francis turbine are the spiral casing, guide and stay vanes, runner blades,
and draft tube.
 Kaplan Turbine
It Is a propeller-type water turbine which has adjustable blades. It was developed in 1913 by
Austrian professor Viktor Kaplan, who combined automatically adjusted propeller blades with
automatically adjusted wicket gates to achieve efficiency over a wide range of flow and water
level. The Kaplan turbine was an evolution of the Francis turbine. Its invention allowed efficient
power production in low-head applications which was not possible with Francis turbines. The
head ranges from 10–70 meters and the output ranges from 5 to 200 MW. Runner diameters
are between 2 and 11 meters. Turbines rotate at a constant rate, which varies from facility to
facility. That rate ranges from as low as 54.5 rpm (Albeni Falls Dam) to 429 rpm. The Kaplan
Bacolor, Pampanga
turbine installation believed to generate the most power from its nominal head of 34.65 m is as
of 2013 the Tocoma Dam Power Plant (Venezuela) Kaplan turbine generating 230 MW (Turbine
capacity, 257 MW for generator) with each of ten 8.6 m diameter runners.
8. Generator
A generator is a device that converts motive power (mechanical energy) into electrical
power for use in an external circuit. Sources of mechanical energy include steam turbines, gas
turbines, water turbines, internal combustion engines and even hand cranks.
Types of Generator:
 Dynamo
It is an electrical generator that creates direct current using a commutator. Dynamos were
the first electrical generators capable of delivering power for industry, and the foundation upon
which many other later electric-power conversion devices were based, including the electric
motor, the alternating-current alternator, and the rotary converter. A dynamo has the
disadvantages of a mechanical commutator. Also, converting alternating to direct current using
power rectification devices (vacuum tube or more recently solid state) is effective and usually
economical.
Bacolor, Pampanga
 Alternator
It is an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form
of alternating current. For reasons of cost and simplicity, most alternators use a rotating
magnetic field with a stationary armature. Occasionally, a linear alternator or a rotating
armature with a stationary magnetic field is used. In principle, any AC electrical generator can
be called an alternator, but usually the term refers to small rotating machines driven by
automotive and other internal combustion engines. An alternator that uses a permanent
magnet for its magnetic field is called a magneto. Alternators in power stations driven by steam
turbines are called turbo-alternators.
9. Draft Tube
A draft tube is a diffuser tube installed at the exit of the turbine. This draft tube at the
end of the turbine increases the pressure of the exiting fluid at the expense of its velocity. This
means that the turbine can reduce pressure to a higher extent without fear of back flow from
the tail race. In an impulse turbine the available head is high and there is no significant effect on
the efficiency if the turbine is placed a couple of meters above the tail race. But in the case of
reaction turbines, if the net head is low and if the turbine is installed above the tail race, there
can be appreciable loss in available pressure head to power the turbine. Also, if the pressure of
the fluid in the tail race is higher than at the exit of the turbine, a back flow of liquid into the
turbine can result in significant damage. Using a draft tube also has the advantages of placing
the turbine structure above the tail race so that any required inspections can be made more
easily and reducing the amount of excavation required for construction.
Bacolor, Pampanga
Types of Draft Tubes
 Conical diffuser or straight divergent tube
This type of draft tube consists of a conical diffuser with half angle generally less than equal
to 10° to prevent flow separation. It is usually employed for low specific speed, vertical shaft
Francis turbine. Efficiency of this type of draft tube is 90%.
 Simple elbow type draft tube
It consists of an extended elbow type tube. Generally, used when turbine has to be placed
close to the tail-race. It helps to cut down the cost of excavation and the exit diameter should
be as large as possible to recover kinetic energy at the outlet of runner. Efficiency of this kind of
draft tube is less almost 60%.
Bacolor, Pampanga
 Elbow with varying cross section
It is similar to the Bent Draft tube except the bent part is of varying cross section with
rectangular outlet. The horizontal portion of draft tube is generally inclined upwards to prevent
entry of air from the exit end.
10. Transmission lines
Transmission lines are sets of wires, called conductors, that carry electric power from
generating plants to the substations that deliver power to customers. At a generating plant,
electric power is “stepped up” to several thousand volts by a transformer and delivered to the
transmission line. At numerous substations on the transmission system, transformers step
down the power to a lower voltage and deliver it to distribution lines. Distribution lines carry
power to farms, homes and businesses. The type of transmission structures used for any
project is determined by the characteristics of the transmission line’s route, including terrain
and existing infrastructure.
Advantages of Hydroelectric Power Plants
1. Renewable
Hydroelectric energy is renewable. This means that we cannot use up. However, there’s
only a limited number of suitable reservoirs where hydroelectric power plants can be built and
even less places where such projects are profitable.
Bacolor, Pampanga
2. Green
Generating electricity with hydro energy is not polluting itself. The only pollution occurs
during the construction of these massive power plants.
3. Reliable
Hydroelectricity is very reliable energy. There are very little fluctuations in terms of the
electric power that is being by the plants, unless a different output is desired. Countries that
have large resources of hydropower use hydroelectricity as a base load energy source. As long
as there is water in the magazines electricity can be generated.
4. Flexible
As previously mentioned, adjusting water flow and output of electricity is easy. At times
where power consumption is low, water flow is reduced and the magazine levels are being
conserved for times when the power consumption is high.
5. Safe
Compared to among others fossil fuels and nuclear energy, hydroelectricity is much safer.
There is no fuel involved (other than water that is).
Others
 No fuel required
One of the major advantages of the hydroelectric power plants is that they don’t require
any fuel for producing power. The hydroelectric power plants utilize renewable energy of water
to generating electricity.
 Cost of electricity is constant

Since no fuel is required for the hydroelectric power plants, the cost of electricity produced
by them is more or less constant. It does not depend on the cost of fuels like coal, oil and
natural gas in the international market. The country doesn’t even have to import the fuel for
running the hydroelectric power plant thus saving lots of local currency.
 No air-pollution is created
Since the hydroelectric power plants don’t burn any fuel no pollution is caused by them. It
does not emit harmful gases and particulate matter, thus keeps the surrounding atmosphere
clean and healthy for living.
Bacolor, Pampanga
 Long life
The life of hydroelectric power plants is longer than the life of thermal power plants. There
are some hydroelectric power plants that were built more than 50-100 years ago and are still
running.
 Cost of generation of electricity

For the working of hydroelectric power plant very few people are required since most of
the operations are automated, thus operating costs of hydroelectric power plants are low.
Further, as the hydroelectric power plants become older, the cost of generation of electricity
from it becomes cheaper since initial capital cost invested in the plant is recovered over the
long period of operations.
 Can easily work during high peak daily loads

The daily demand of power is not constant throughout the day. The peak power occurs at
night. It is very difficult to start and stop the thermal and nuclear power plants on daily basis.
The hydroelectric power plants can be easily started and stopped without consuming much
time. Water can be collected in the dam throughout the day and this can be used to generate
electricity during peak periods.
 Irrigation of farms
Water from the dams can also be used for the irrigation of farm lands thus producing the
agriculture outputs throughout the year even in the areas where there is scanty or no rainfall.
 Water sports and gardens

In vicinity of the dams the water from reservoir can be utilized to develop public
recreational facilities like water parks for water sports and gardens.
 Prevents floods
The dams also help prevent floods in the areas adjoining the large rivers.
Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Power Plants
1. Environmental Consequences
The environmental consequences of hydropower are related to interventions in nature

due to damming of water, changed water flow and the construction of roads and power lines.
Hydroelectric power plants may affect fish is a complex interaction between numerous
physical and biological factors. More user interests related to exploitation of fish species, which
helps that this is a field that many have strong opinions on.
Bacolor, Pampanga
Fish habitats are shaped by physical factors such as water level, water velocity and
shelter opportunities and access to food. Draining would be completely devastating to the fish.
Beyond this, the amount of water may have different effects on the fish in a river, depending
on the type and stage of the lifecycle. Not all unregulated river systems are optimal in terms of
fish production, because of large fluctuations in flow.
2. Expensive
Building power plants in general is expensive. Hydroelectric power plants are not an
exception to this. On the other hand, these plants do not require a lot of workers and
maintenance costs are usually low.
3. Droughts
Electricity generation and energy prices are directly related to how much water is
available. A drought could potentially affect this.
4. Limited Reservoirs
We have already started using up suitable reservoirs for hydroelectric power plants.
There are currently about 30 major power plants that are expected to generate more than
2.000 MW under construction. Only one of these projects was started in the last two years.
5. Construction needs a large area
To be able to construct a dam, install power production units, plus transformers, and
tether them to the main grid requires a large piece of land. This may call for clearing of large
chunks of forest to provide space for building the dam. Clearing of forest greatly impacts the
natural ecosystems.
6. Require high-quality construction materials
Materials to be used in the construction of the dam must be of uniquely high quality. No
one wants to witness the repercussions of dam breakage. Dam breakage can lead to massive
flooding, which can cause huge destruction to humans, animals, and plants. A typical example
of dam failure is the Banqiao Dam in China that led to the death of over 171, 000 people. The
aftermath of the tragedy left millions without homes.
Bacolor, Pampanga
7. Geological damage
Construction of large-scale dams can contribute to grave geological damage. A classic

example of geological damage is the construction of the Hoover Dam in the United States that
caused earthquakes and led to the depression of the earth’ surface in the area.
While hydropower energy has some noted disadvantages, its advantages are far greater.
It’s a renewable resource, which means it will never end, giving it a sense of reliability.
Hydropower is also safe since it doesn’t involve combustion of fossils fuels. Although the initial
costs of construction are high, the long-term benefits are immense including flexible and cheap
source of electricity for many years.
8. Uproots human populations
Because construction of a dam takes up a large chunk of land, it forces relocation of

humans. It’s almost an insurmountable challenge to convince individuals to uproot their lives
including their businesses. In most instances, these people are never compensated adequately
for their land and inconveniences caused. This always turns out to be chaotic with revolts and
large-scale opposition against the dam construction.
A classic example of large scale opposition to dam construction is the hydropower

project called ‘’Sardar Sarovar.” Though the project would have benefited millions of people,
the government failed to address the critical aspect of resettlement after they were uprooted
from the project site.

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What are the main components of a hydroelectric power plant?

What are the main components of a hydroelectric power plant?

What are some advantages of hydroelectric power?

What are some advantages of hydroelectric power?

Republic of the Philippines

Commission on Higher Education

HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT

Engr. Ariel Mallari

Submitted by: BSME 5B GROUP 3

MANALO, Vince Michael G. (REPORTER)

PINEDA, Allaiza Hennah A. (REPORTER)

REYES, Rei Matt Daniel S.

Hydroelectric Power Plant

Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the

The History of Hydroelectric Power

In 1878 the world's first hydroelectric power scheme was developed

Hydropower is considered a mature technology contributes about 16% of global

The amount of electricity a hydropower plant produces depends on two factors:

Hydropower VS Thermal Generation

1. Investment, O &M Costs and Useful Life

The hydropower project is capital-intensive, because of the many structures needed to be

2. Water Availability or Hydrology Risk

3. Hydropower Performance in the System

Conventional Hydroelectric Dams

Impoundment is the most common type of hydroelectric power plant. An impoundment

A diversion, sometimes called run-of-river, facility channels a portion of a river through a

Sizes of Hydroelectric Power Plant

Elements of Hydroelectric Power Plant

The water rushes down into intake tunnel.

The water flows through a discharge tunnel into a lower reservoir.

Components of Hydroelectric Power Plant

A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of water or underground

Rock-fill dams are embankments of compacted free-draining granular earth with an

Site selection for Intake structures:

 Bonneted slide gates

 Ring follower gates

 Water control gates

In hydropower projects, it needs to transport water from intake or source to the

It is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell,

Types of Draft Tubes

 Conical diffuser or straight divergent tube

Francis turbine. Efficiency of this type of draft tube is 90%.

 Simple elbow type draft tube

 Elbow with varying cross section

10. Transmission lines

Advantages of Hydroelectric Power Plants

 Cost of electricity is constant

 Cost of generation of electricity

 Can easily work during high peak daily loads

 Water sports and gardens

Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Power Plants

The environmental consequences of hydropower are related to interventions in nature

5. Construction needs a large area

6. Require high-quality construction materials

Construction of large-scale dams can contribute to grave geological damage. A classic

8. Uproots human populations

Because construction of a dam takes up a large chunk of land, it forces relocation of

A classic example of large scale opposition to dam construction is the hydropower

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