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Hydroelectric Power Plants

Hydroelectric power plants harness the kinetic energy of moving water to generate electricity. There are various types of hydroelectric power plants classified based on factors like hydraulic characteristics, head, capacity, turbine characteristics, and load characteristics. Micro-hydro systems, which typically generate under 100 kW of power, are run-of-the-river systems commonly used by homeowners and small businesses. Hydrographs and flow duration curves are important tools for analyzing river flow data and assessing a site's potential for hydropower generation.

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MANISH MISHRA
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54 views11 pages

Hydroelectric Power Plants

Hydroelectric power plants harness the kinetic energy of moving water to generate electricity. There are various types of hydroelectric power plants classified based on factors like hydraulic characteristics, head, capacity, turbine characteristics, and load characteristics. Micro-hydro systems, which typically generate under 100 kW of power, are run-of-the-river systems commonly used by homeowners and small businesses. Hydrographs and flow duration curves are important tools for analyzing river flow data and assessing a site's potential for hydropower generation.

Uploaded by

MANISH MISHRA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Hydroelectric Power Plants

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https://www.enel.com/stories/a/2019/03/hydroelectric-world-water-day
Recap of Previous Class
• Importance of hydroelectric power
• Long history of hydroelectric power
• Usage of hydroelectric power for electricity production, storage and direct mechanical power
• Large and small scale hydel plants. Classifications. Significance of scales on emissions.
• Hydrological cycle as source of power
• Layout of hydroelectric power plants
• Global status of hydroelectric power plants
• Classification of hydroelectric power plants : Based on hydrological characteristics

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Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Power Plants

Major disadvantages of water power are the following:


1. Hydro-power projects are capital-intensive with a low rate of
return.
2. The gestation period of hydro projects is quite large.
3. Power generation is dependent on the quantity of water
available, which may vary from season to season and year to
year.
4. Such plants are often far way from the load centre and
require long transmission lines to deliver power.
5. Large hydro-plants disturb the ecology of the area, by way of
deforestation, destroying vegetation and uprooting people.
Classification of Hydel Power Plants
A. Based on Hydraulic
Characteristics:
1. Run off River Plant (Diversion Plant):
• Utilize the stream flow as it comes,
without any storage being provided.
• Seasonal changes in river flow and
weather conditions affect the plant’s
output.
• In a run-off river SHP scheme,
through a diversion structure water is
diverted to water conductor system to
the powerhouse.
Source: Teachers Mannual, HYDROPOWER ENGINEERING, AHEC, IIT Roorkee

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2. Storage Plant: 3. Pumped Storage Plant:
• A common type of hydro power plant. • Water is utilized for generation of power during peak
• Storage reservoir provided by constructing a dam demand
across the river. • Pumping back in the reservoir during off peak
• Reversible turbine-pump units.
• Takes care of fluctuations of water supply.

Source: NPTEL, HYDROPOWER ENGINEERING Version 2 CE IIT, Kharagpur


Source: https://www.andritz.com/hydro-en/hydronews/hn32/11-pumped-storage
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B. Based on Head: C. Based on Capacity:
Type Head Type Capacity
Low head plant Upto 30 m Midget plant up to 100kW
Medium head plant Between 30 m to 300 Low-capacity plant up to 1,000kW
m Medium capacity plant up to 10,000kW
High head plant More than 300 m
High capacity plant > 10,000kW

D. Based on Turbine Characteristics (i.e. Specific Speed):


Type Specific speed Type of Turbine
Low Specific Speed 10 to 60 Pelton Wheel

Medium Specific Speed 60 to 300 Francis turbine


High Specific Speed 300 to 1000 Kaplan, Propeller
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Specific Speed
The specific speed of turbine, Ns, is the speed of a geometrically
similar turbine which produces 1 kW power under 1 m head. It is
given by

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E. Based on Load Characteristics:
1. Base load plant:
• Operates continuously and generate constant power throughout the year.
• E.g. Storage plant, Run off river plant without pondage.
2. Peak load plant:
• Which supply the power during the peak hours only.
• E.g. Pumped storage plant, Run off river plant with pondage.

MICRO & PICO HYDRO


– Upto 100 kW : Micro Hydro
– Upto 5kW : Pico Hydro

http://www.british-hydro.org/micro-hydro/

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Micro-hydropower System
• Most simple and consistent forms or renewable energy on your property.
• Usually generate up to 100 kilowatts of electricity.
• Most of the hydropower systems used by homeowners and small business owners,
including farmers.
• Run-of-the-river based.
• Basic components:
– Water conveyance
– Turbine or waterwheel
– Alternator or generator
– Regulator
– Wiring

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/buying-and-making-electricity/microhydropower-systems https://offthegridgbi.co.nz/energy/micro-hydro/

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Hydrograph and Flow Duration Curve
Power Plant Engineering ; P.K Nag

Ques. The run off data of a river at a particular site is tabulated below:
1. Draw hydrograph and find the mean flow?
2. Draw Flow duration curve?

Solution: The hydrograph for given data is:

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To obtain flow duration curve, it is necessary to find length of time during which certain flows are
available as shown in table below:

Flow Duration Curve


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