Hydropower Engineering

Hydropower concepts and Classification of hydropower plants

1. Hydropower concepts
1.1 Introduction
• Hydropower engineering refers to the technology involved in
converting the pressure energy and kinetic energy of water into
more easily used electrical energy.
• The prime mover in the case of hydropower is a water wheel
or hydraulic turbine which transforms the energy of the water
into mechanical energy.
• Work: is the application of force through a distance.
• Power: is the rate of flow of energy, or the rate at which work
is done.
 Cont’d
• Energy: is the capacity to do work.
• Energy is the ability of a ‘‘system’’ to carry out work. Energy
can be transferred from one system to another in any of three
ways:
 by carrying out mechanical work, as in a belt drive
 by heat exchange, as in a steam engine
 by electromagnetic fields, as in an electromotor
Energy can be available in different forms
• Potential energy: energy stored within a physical system as a
result of the position (differences in altitude)( Energy in the body
due to its position). It is expressed as:
•
 Cont’d
• m- mass of the object
• g- gravitational acceleration
• h-the height above the ground
Kinetic energy: the energy possessed by a body
because of its motion, equal to one half the
mass of the body times the square of its speed
• Kinetic Energy (K.E.):
 Cont’d
• m = mass of the body (Kg),
• v = velocity of the body (m/s2)
• K.E is in joule
• Thermal energy: the energy in any system by virtue of
temperature
Electrical energy: the energy made available by the flow of
electric charge through a conductor. Electrical Energy is:
 Clean Energy (nonpolluting); and
 Easily Transportable energy
Chemical energy: the energy due to associations of atoms in
molecules and various other kinds of aggregates of matter
Nuclear energy: the energy released during a nuclear reaction as a
result of fission or fusion.
 Cont’d
• 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
 It is the most widely used form of renewable energy
 Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project
produces no direct waste, and has a considerably lower output
level of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) than fossil
fuel powered energy plants
 Most hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of
dammed water driving a water turbine and generator
 The power extracted from the water depends on the volume
and on the difference in height between the source and the
water's outflow
 This height difference is called the head
 Cont’d
• Hydro projects are designed for different
purposes:
1. To control the floods in the rivers.
2. Generation of power.
3. Storage of irrigation water.
4. Storage of the drinking water supply
 Cont’d
• Any object placed at some height h, has a
potential energy. The energy is given by
P=m*g*h (1)
m- mass of the object
g- gravitational acceleration
h is the height above the ground
A unit mass of water place in a unit elevation has
potential energy. Flow of water from that elevation
to another lower elevation produces kinetic energy.
 Cont’d
 The mechanical energy (potential energy) at the
turbine input is converted into rotational kinetic
energy when the water hits the turbine blades.
 This energy runs the prime mover of a generator
which in turn produces electrical energy. In such
process, the mechanical energy is converted into
electrical energy
 Motor: takes electrical energy as input;
Generator: takes mechanical energy as input
 Cont’d
• The available power large reservoir depends on:
 Water flow rate
 water head
• Each unit of water does an amount of work equal to
Energy=m*g*h
Power of water is equal to
Power=Energy/time
=m*g*h/t
 Cont’d
But, Density=mass/volume, hence mass=density*volume
P=density*volume*g*h/t
=density*(volume/t)*g*h
volume/time=water flow rate
P=Density*φ*g*h
P = ρ*φ*g*h (2)
Where: P-water power at the input of the turbine
ρ-density of water
φ-water flow rate
h-water head
g-gravitational acceleration
m-mass
 Cont’d
• The power, eqn(2),is the potential energy input to the
turbine. Equivalently it produces kinetic energy in the
turbine runner.
The power output depends on the efficiency of the turbine.
• Assuming efficiency of given turbine to be ηt
• Power output of turbine is:
Pt=ρ*φ*g*h* ηt (3)
• Therefore, the power output in the generator side will be
Pg=ρ*φ*g*h* ηt *ηg
ηg-efficiency of a generator
K-constant of ηt *ηg
• Pg=K*ρ*φ*g*h (4)
 Cont’d
 the output power of a turbine can also be calculated
from the kinetic energy in the runner.
Assuming, v-speed of water hitting the turbine blades
KE=1/2*mass*(speed)^2
KE=1/2*m*v^2
Power=KE/time
p=1/2*mass*(speed)^2/time
p=1/2*m*v^2/t
p=1/2* ρ *volume*v^2/t
But volume =area*height
p=1/2* ρ *area*height*v^2/t
 Cont’d
Height/time=speed
p=1/2* ρ *area*v*v^2
p=1/2* ρ *A*v^3 (5)
Therefore, Power output of a generator is:
p=1/2* ρ *A*v^3*ηt *ηg
p=k*1/2* ρ *A*v^3 (6)
Where,
A-area of penstock
V -speed of water in the penstock
 1.2 State of Hydropower in Ethiopia

• Ethiopia is endowed with abundant renewable energy

resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and hydro
• The Hydro power resource potential:

Resource Unit Exploitable Exploited Exploited

Reserve Amount Percent

MW 45,000 above <5%

Hydropower 2100
 Cont’d
• Hydro Plants constructed and under Construction:
Tekeze Dam
 1.3 Hydro power plant layout

• Figure: typical layout of a hydroelectric power plant

 Cont’d
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.
 Cont’d
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.
 Cont’d
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.
• Power House.
The power house: is a building in which the turbines and
alternators are housed.
 The transformers and power house of hydropower
plant act as an interface between the electric
generator and the power transmission lines.
 Cont’d
Continuity equation
• The continuity equation of water suggests that
due to its incompressible nature, the product
of velocity of flow and cross section area
of flow remains constant.
• The continuity equation for water is given by:
v1A1= v2A2=v3A3= . . . =constant
Where:
v1, v2, v3 are velocities at three different
sections having area A1, A2, A3.
 Cont’d
Velocity equation
• Energy is stored in water due to its elevation
or fall height.
• When water falls over a height h, the potential
energy is converted into equivalent kinetic
energy as shown in the equation below:
• Loss in potential energy = Kinetic energy after
falling over fall height h.
• mgh=1/2*m*v2
• =1/2*ρ*V*v2
• v= √((2*g*h))
1.4 Classification of hydropower plants
Hydropower plants can be broadly subdivided into
different classes based on quantity of water
available, available head, and nature of load.
1.4.1 Classification with Respect to Quantity of
Water Available
(i) Run-off river plants without pondage:
• These plants have not storage or pondage to store
water; it uses water as it comes.
• The plant can use water as and when available.
Since, generation capacity of these types of plants
depend on the rate of flow of water, during rainy
season
 Cont’d
(ii) Run-off river plants with podage:
• Run of River Plants Without Pondage has
limitation. To overcome this drawback, the
available water from river or lake should be
stored in pond.
• Due to this storage water in pond, it is useful
to run the plant during off-peak & peak
period.
• The capacity of such type of hydro-electric
plant is depends upon the size of pond.
 Cont’d
(iii) Reservoir plants:
• This type of hydro-electric plant is totally
different from the above mentioned two
plants.
• In this type of hydro-electric power plant,
reservoir is provided.
• This reservoir is useful to store an ample
quantity of water during rainy season, & this is
useful throughout the year.
• Such type of power plant has better capacity.
 Cont’d

• Fig: Reservoir Plant

 Cont’d
1.4.2 Classification According to Availability of Water
Head
i)Low Head Plants (Below 30m)
• The low head plants have water head below 30m.
• A low head power plant store water by construction
of dam across river or lake.
• The power house is installed near the base of dam on
the downstream side.
• In low head hydro-electric power plant Kaplan
turbines can be used.
 Cont’d
ii)Medium Head Plants:
• If the available water head is between 30 and
100 m, the plant is called a medium-head
plant.
• Water is led to the turbines by the penstocks,
which may be steel pipes
• Francis turbines are normally used.
 Cont’d
• iii) High Head Power Plant:
• are the most common and generally utilize a dam to
store water at an increased elevation.
• It provides the capability of storing water during rainy
periods and releasing it during dry periods.
• This results in the consistent and reliable production of
electricity, able to meet demand.
• Most large hydro-electric facilities are of the high-head
variety.
• High-head plants with storage are very valuable to
electric utilities, because they can be quickly adjusted
to meet the electrical demand on a distribution system.
 Cont’d
1.4.3 Classification According to Nature of Load
(i) Peak Load Plants:
• The peak load plants are used to supply power at the
peak demand phase.
• The pumped storage plants and Gas Turbine plants
are this type of plants. Their efficiency varies
between 60–70%.
• The various peak demands of load over & above the
base load on the station are known as peak load.
 Cont’d

• Fig: Base and Peak Load

 Cont’d
(ii) Base load plants:
• A base load power plant is one that provides a
steady flow of power regardless of total power
demand by the grid.
• These plants run at all times through the year
except in the case of repairs or scheduled
maintenance.
• The unvarying load which occurs almost the
whole day on the station is known as base load.
• The base load on the station is almost constant in
nature.
 1.5 Selection of Site for Hydro-Electric Power Plant
• The following factors should be considered
While selecting the site for Hydroelectric
power plant
a. Quantity of Water Required: