HYDROELECTRICITY - RENEWABLE ENERGY

INTRODUCTION

Hydropower has been used since ancient times to grind flour and perform other tasks. In the
mid-1770s, French engineer Bernard Forest de Blidor published Architecture
Hydraulique which described vertical- and horizontal-axis hydraulic machines. By the late
19th century, the electrical generator was developed and could now be coupled with
hydraulics.[5] The old Schoelkopf Power Station No. 1 near Niagara Falls in the U.S. side
began to produce electricity in 1881. The first Edisonhydroelectric power station, the Vulcan
Street Plant, began operating September 30, 1882, in Appleton, Wisconsin, with an output of
about 12.5 kilowatts.[8] By 1886 there were 45 hydroelectric power stations in the U.S. and
Canada. By 1889 there were 200 in the U.S. alone.[5]

HYDROELECTRIC POWER CONSTRUCTION

Dam and Reservoir: The dam is constructed on a large river in hilly

areas to ensure sufficient water storage at height. The dam forms a large
reservoir behind it. The height of water level (called as water head) in the
reservoir determines how much of potential energy is stored in it.

Control Gate: Water from the reservoir is allowed to flow through the
penstock to the turbine. The amount of water which is to be released in
the penstock can be controlled by a control gate. When the control gate is
fully opened, maximum amount of water is released through the
penstock.

Penstock: A penstock is a huge steel pipe which carries water from the
reservoir to the turbine. Potential energy of the water is converted into
kinetic energy as it flows down through the penstock due to gravity.

Water Turbine: Water from the penstock is taken into the water turbine.
The turbine is mechanically coupled to an electric generator. Kinetic
energy of the water drives the turbine and consequently the generator
gets driven. There are two main types of water turbine; (i) Impulse
turbine and (ii) Reaction turbine. Impulse turbines are used for large
heads and reaction turbines are used for low and medium heads.

Generator: A generator is mounted in the power house and it is

mechanically coupled to the turbine shaft. When the turbine blades are
rotated, it drives the generator and electricity is generated which is then
stepped up with the help of a transformer for the transmission purpose.

Surge Tank:

On the other hand, the surge tank provides excess water needed when the gates are suddenly
opened to meet the increased load demand.

Types Of Hydro-Power Plants

Conventional Plants:

Conventional plants use potential energy from dammed water. The energy extracted depends
on the volume and head of the water. The difference between height of water level in the
reservoir and the water outflow level is called as water head.

Pumped Storage Plant:

In pumped storage plant, a second reservoir is constructed near the water outflow from the
turbine. When the demand of electricity is low, the water from lower reservoir is pumped into
the upper (main) reservoir. This is to ensure sufficient amount of water available in the main
reservoir to fulfil the peak loads.

Run-Of-River Plant:

In this type of facility, no dam is constructed and, hence, reservoir is absent. A portion of
river is diverted through a penstock or canal to the turbine. Thus, only the water flowing from
the river is available for the generation. And due to absence of reservoir, any oversupply of
water is passed unused.
HYDROPOWER 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.

Parts of a Hydroelectric Plant

Most conventional hydroelectric plants include four major components (see graphic below):

1. Dam. Raises the water level of the river to create falling water. Also controls the flow
of water. The reservoir that is formed is, in effect, stored energy.
2. Turbine. The force of falling water pushing against the turbine's blades causes the
turbine to spin. A water turbine is much like a windmill, except the energy is provided
by falling water instead of wind. The turbine converts the kinetic energy of falling
water into mechanical energy.
3. Generator. Connected to the turbine by shafts and possibly gears so when the turbine
spins it causes the generator to spin also. Converts the mechanical energy from the
turbine into electric energy. Generators in hydropower plants work just like the
generators in other types of power plants.
4. Transmission lines. Conduct electricity from the hydropower plant to homes and
business.

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 has twice 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.

Advantages Of A Hydroelectric Power Plant

No fuel is required as potential energy is stored water is used for electricity generation
Neat and clean source of energy
Very small running charges - as water is available free of cost
Comparatively less maintenance is required and has longer life
Serves other purposes too, such as irrigation

Disadvantages

Very high capital cost due to construction of dam

High cost of transmission as hydro plants are located in hilly areas which are quite
away from the consumers

Turn off the light, Keep the future bright.

 FACTS AND BIOGRAPHY OF KAMARAJ

INTRODUCTION
Kumaraswami Kamaraj, was a leader of the Indian National Congress, widely
acknowledged as the "kingmaker" in Indian politics during the 1960s.

Born: 15 July 1903

Birth Place: Virudhunagar, Madras, India
Nationality: India
Died: 2 October 1975 (aged 72)
Nationality: Indian
Known as: King Maker
Awards: Bharat Ratna (1976)

Achievements

During British regime the education was only 7 percent. But in Kamarajs period it was 37% .
During Rajajis period there were 12000 schools in the state.Whereas it was 27000 in the
period of Kamaraj. Power supply in all the villages , industrial growth were in the period of
Kamaraj.

Tamils compared the education to our eyes. Hence Tamilians were considered as genius .
Kamaraj who hailed from this group made a revolution in education.

He removed the system of communal education started by Rajaji. He ordered to re-open the
6000 elementary schools closed by Rajaji. Moreover he opened 14000 new schools.

During first plan schools which were 21500 in number had gone upto 26750 during 2nd plan
which crossed over 30,000 later. Likewise the admission of students also went up gradually
from 25 lakhs to 33.8 and to 46.1 lakhs. During 3rd plan it was decided to admit 14 lakhs
more students.

The result of Kamarajs work was there for all to see. There was an all-round development
with village as the nucleus. By inducting colleagues like Shri R. Venkataraman and C.
Subramaniam in his Ministry he paved the way for the growth of industrial, agricultural and
educational sectors.Tamilnadu set itself as an example for other States to emulate.
Major irrigation schemes were planned in Kamaraj's period. Dams and irrigation canals were
built across higher Bhavani, Mani Muthar,
Aarani, Vaigai, Amaravathi, Sathanur, Krishnagiri, Pullambadi, Parambikulam and Neyyaru
among others. The Lower Bhavani Dam in Erode district brought 207,000 acres (840 km2) of
land under cultivation. 45,000 acres (180 km2) of land benefited from canals constructed
from the Mettur Dam. The Vaigai and Sathanur systems facilitated cultivation across
thousands of acres of lands in Madurai and North Arcot districts respectively. Rs 30 crores
were planned to be spent for Parambikulam River scheme, and 150 lakhs of acres of lands
were brought under cultivation; one third of this (i.e. 56 lakhs of acres of land) received a
permanent irrigation facility. In 195761 1,628 tanks were de-silted under the Small
Irrigation Scheme, and 2,000 wells were dug with outlets. Long term loans with 25% subsidy
were given to farmers. In addition farmers who had dry lands were given oil engines and
electric pump sets on an installment basis.

Industries with huge investments in crores of Rupees were started in his period: Neyveli
Lignite Corporation, BHEL at Trichy, Manali Oil Refinery, Hindustan raw photo film factory
at Ooty, surgical instruments factory at Chennai, and a railway coach factory at Chennai were
established. Industries such as paper, sugar, chemicals and cement took off during the period.

UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT MR. KAMARAJ

A water tap provided by the local body to his house in the native town, when he was in
Delhi, to help his old mother, was noticed on his visit to the house. He immediately
chastised the authorities for the partisan treatment given to his premises while there were
similar old women in many houses!

During a village tour of the leader, the local panchayat leader started to list the long pending
amenities, wherefore Kamraj cut him back and started telling him the stages of the irrigation
channel, drinking water project etc himself (he had enquired the stages of works at the district
office before proceeding to the progammed villages!). Thus was always in the grasp of
people's problems and sincerely endeavoured to sort out earliest.

On April 13, 1954 Kamaraj became Chief Minister of Madras. During his time, Madras
State was renamed Tamilnadu. During his tenure as Chief Minister, Kamaraj brought
about several changes and reforms in Tamilnadu. He gave top priority to education. New
schools were opened and the existing ones were provided with better facilities like
buildings, libraries and laboratories.

Kamaraj died at his home, on Gandhi Jayanti day (2 October 1975), which was also the 12th
anniversary of his resignation. He was aged 72 and died in his sleep.

There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with
education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process
of learning.