Chapter 4 Hydraulic structures in hydropower stations Chapter 4 Hydraulic structures in hydropower stations

CHAPTER FOUR 4.2.2 Valley dam plants (medium to high head plants)
HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES IN HYDROPOWER STATIONS These are Storage plants. A storage plants have an upstream storage reservoir of sufficient size, so as to permit
sufficient carry-over
over storage from the rainy season to the dry season, and thus to develop a firm flow. In this
4.0 Introduction
Hydroelectric power (often called hydropower) is considered a renewable energy source. A renewable energy scheme, a dam is constructed across the river, and the power house may be located at the foot
f of the dam. The

source is one that is not depleted (used up) in the production of energy. Through hydropower, the energy in falling power house may sometimes be located much away from the dam. In such cases, the power house is located at the
water is converted into electricity without “using up” the water. end of tunnels which carry water from the reservoir. The tunnels are connected to the power house machines by

4.1 Classification of Hydropower Plants means of pressure penstocks

Hydropower plants could be classified on the basis of:
- Location & topographical features
- Presence or absence of storage
- The range of operating heads
- The hydraulic features of the plant
- Operating features etc.
4.2 Classification based on constructional features (layouts)
4.2.1 Run-off-river plants (low to medium head plants)
These plants are those which utilize the minimum flow in a river having no appreciable pondage on its upstream
side. A weir or a barrage is sometimes constructed across a river simply to raise and maintain the water level. Such Figure 4. 2:: Valley Dam Plant Arrangement
a scheme is essentially a low head scheme and may be suitable only on a perennial river having sufficient dry
4.2.3 Diversion canal plant
weather flow.

Run-off river plants generally have a very limited storage capacity, to supplement the normal flow. Therefore, a
small storage capacity, called pondage, is provided for meeting the hour to hour fluctuations of load or of stream
flow over a day. When the available discharge at site is more than the demand, i.e., during off-peak hours, the
excess water is temporarily stored in the pond on the upstream side of the barrage, which is then utilized during the
peak hours.

Figure 4. 3: Diversion Canal Plant Arrangement

4.2.4 High head diversion plants

a) Block power plant b) Twin block plant c) Island plant d) pier head plant e) Submersible plant
Figure 4. 1: Run-off-River Plant Arrangement

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During peak hours, the water flows from the reservoir to the turbine and electricity is generated. During off-peak
hours, the excess power available from some other plant is utilized for pumping water back from the tail pool to
the head pool. This minor plant thus supplements the power of another major plant. In such a scheme, the same
water is utilized again and again and no water is wasted.
For heads varying between 15 to 90 m, reversible pump turbines have been devised, which can function both as
turbine as well as a pump. Such reversible turbines can work at relatively high efficiencies and can help in
reducing the cost of such a plant.
4.3 Classification on the basis of operation
Based on actual operation in meeting the demand one can have:
♦ isolated plant - operating independently (not common now a days)
♦ interconnected in to grids

Thus in a grid system, a power station may be distinguished as a base load plant or peak load plant. Hydropower
Figure 4. 4:: High Head Plant Arrangements plants are best suited as peak load plants, because hydropower plants can start relatively quickly and can thus accept
load quickly.

Hydropower
4.2.5 Pumped storage plants

Load (MW)
A pumped storage plant generates power during peak hours, but during the off-peak
off peak hours, water is pumped back
Nuclear
from the tail water pool to the head water pool for future use. The pumps are run by some
s secondary power from
some other plant in the system. The plant is thus primarily meant for assisting an existing thermal plant or some
Thermal
other hydro plant.
Time (months)
Figure 4. 6: Place of Hydropower in a Power System.
4.4 Classification based on plant capacity
Classification based on plant capacity changes with time as technology improves.
Thus we have the following classification according to Mossonyi, and present day trend classification.
According to Mossonyi Present day classification
i) Midget plant up to 10 KW i) Micro hydropower < 5 MW
ii) Low capacity < 1000KW ii) Medium plant 5 to 100 MW
iii) Medium capacity < 10,000KW iii) High capacity 100 to 1,000 MW
iv) High capacity > 10,000KW iv) Super plant above 1,000 MW
4.5 Classification based on head
The most popular & convenient classification is the one based on head on turbine. On this basis:
Figure 4. 5: Typical Section through Pumped Storage Plant
i) Low head plants < 15m

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Chapter 4 Hydraulic structures in hydropower stations Chapter 4 Hydraulic structures in hydropower stations

ii) Medium head plants 15-50m 4.6.2 Water Reservoir

iii) High head plants 50-250m The water reservoir is the place behind the dam where water is stored. The water in the reservoir is located higher

iv) Very high head plants > 250m than the rest of the dam structure. The height of water in the reservoir decides how much potential energy the

The figures may vary depending on each country’s standard. water possesses. The higher the height of water, the more its potential energy. The high position of water in the
reservoir also enables it to move downwards effortlessly.

4.6 Principal Components of Hydroelectric Scheme The height of water in the reservoir is higher than the natural height of water flowing in the river, so it is
These may include: dam and reservoir, mainly for storage plants, fore bay, intake structure, surge tank, considered to have an altered equilibrium. This also helps to increase the overall potential energy of water, which
Penstocks, power-house, turbines and governors, generators, transformers, and transmission lines. Figure 4.7 helps ultimately produce more electricity in the power generation unit.
shows some of the major components.
4.6.3 Intake or Control Gates
These are the gates built on the inside of the dam. The water from reservoir is released and controlled through
these gates. These are called inlet gates because water enters the power generation unit through these gates. When
the control gates are opened the water flows due to gravity through the penstock and towards the turbines. The
water flowing through the gates possesses potential as well as kinetic energy.
4.6.4 The Penstock
The penstock is the long pipe or the shaft that carries the water flowing from the reservoir towards the power
generation unit, comprised of the turbines and generator. The water in the penstock possesses kinetic energy due to
its motion and potential energy due to its height.

The total amount of power generated in the hydroelectric power plant depends on the height of the water reservoir
and the amount of water flowing through the penstock. The amount of water flowing through the penstock is
controlled by the control gates.

4.6.5 Water Turbines

Water flowing from the penstock is allowed to enter the power generation unit, which houses the turbine and the
generator. When water falls on the blades of the turbine the kinetic and potential energy of water is converted into
the rotational motion of the blades of the turbine. The rotating blades cause the shaft of the turbine to also rotate.
The turbine shaft is enclosed inside the generator. In most hydroelectric power plants there is more than one power
generation unit.
Figure 4. 7: Major Components of Hydroelectric Plant
There is large difference in height between the level of turbine and level of water in the reservoir. This difference
4.6.1 Dam in height, also known as the head of water, decides the total amount of power that can be generated in the
The dam is the most important component of hydroelectric power plant. The dam is built on a large river that has
hydroelectric power plant.
abundant quantity of water throughout the year. It should be built at a location where the height of the river is
There are various types of water turbines such as Kaplan turbine, Francis turbine, Pelton wheels etc. The type of
sufficient to get the maximum possible potential energy from water.
turbine used in the hydroelectric power plant depends on the height of the reservoir, quantity of water and the total
power generation capacity.

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4.6.6 Generators 4) Based on the specific speed of the turbine:

It is in the generator where the electricity is produced. The shaft of the water turbine rotates in the generator, which
• Low specific speed, impulse turbine. e.g : pelton wheel
produces alternating current in the coils of the generator. It is the rotation of the shaft inside the generator that
• Medium specific speed, reaction turbine. e.g : Francis wheel
produces magnetic field which is converted into electricity by electromagnetic field induction. Hence the rotation
• High specific speed, reaction turbine. e.g : Kaplan and Propeller turbine.
of the shaft of the turbine is crucial for the production of electricity and this is achieved by the kinetic and potential
energy of water. Thus in hydroelectricity power plants potential energy of water is converted into electricity.
5) Based on the name of the originator:
4.7 Hydraulic Turbines
A turbine is something that rotates or spins. Hydraulic Turbines transfer the energy from a flowing fluid to a • Impulse turbine - Pelton wheel, Girard, Banki turbine

rotating shaft. Hydraulic Turbines have a row of blades fitted to the rotating shaft or a rotating plate. Flowing • Reaction turbine - Forneyron, Jonval, Francis, Dubs, Deriaze, Thomson Kaplan, Barker, Moody, Nagler,

liquid, mostly water, when pass through the Hydraulic Turbine it strikes the blades of the turbine and makes the Bell.

shaft rotate. While flowing through the Hydraulic Turbine the velocity and pressure of the liquid reduce, these
Here below the two main types of hydro turbines (Based on type of energy at inlet to the turbine) : impulse and
result in the development of torque and rotation of the turbine shaft. There are different forms of Hydraulic
reaction are discussed. The type of hydropower turbine selected for a project is based on the height of standing
Turbines in use depending on the operational requirements. For every specific use a particular type of Hydraulic
water—referred to as "head"—and the flow, or volume of water, at the site. Other deciding factors include how
Turbine provides the optimum output.
deep the turbine must be set, efficiency, and cost.
4.7.1 Classification of Hydraulic turbines
1) Based on type of energy at inlet to the turbine: 4.8 Impulse Turbine
The impulse turbine generally uses the velocity of the water to move the runner and discharges to atmospheric
• Impulse Turbine: The energy is in the form of kinetic form. e.g: Pelton wheel, Turgo wheel. pressure. The water stream hits each bucket on the runner. There is no suction on the down side of the turbine, and
• Reaction Turbine: The energy is in both Kinetic and Pressure form. e.g: Tubular, Bulb, Propeller, Francis the water flows out the bottom of the turbine housing after hitting the runner. An impulse turbine is generally
turbine. suitable for high head, low flow applications.

2) Based on direction of flow of water through the runner: 4.8.1 Pelton

• Tangential flow: water flows in a direction tangential to path of rotational, i.e. Perpendicular to both axial A pelton wheel has one or more free jets discharging water into an aerated space and impinging on the buckets of a
and radial directions. runner. Draft tubes are not required for impulse turbine since the runner must be located above the maximum tail
• Radial inward flow water to permit operation at atmospheric pressure.
• Radial outward flow e.g : forneyron turbine.
• Axial flow: Water flows parallel to the axis of the turbine. e.g: Girard, Jonval, Kaplan turbine. A Turgo Wheel is a variation on the Pelton and is made exclusively by Gilkes in England. The Turgo runner is a

• Mixed flow : Water enters radially at outer periphery and leaves axially. e.g : Modern Francis turbine. cast wheel whose shape generally resembles a fan blade that is closed on the outer edges. The water stream is
applied on one side, goes across the blades and exits on the other side.
3) Based on the head under which turbine works:
4.8.2 Cross-Flow
• High head, impulse turbine. e.g : Pelton turbine.
• Medium head, reaction turbine. e.g : Francis turbine. A cross-flow turbine is drum-shaped and uses an elongated, rectangular-section nozzle directed against curved

• Low head, reaction turbine. e.g : Kaplan turbine, propeller turbine. vanes on a cylindrically shaped runner. It resembles a "squirrel cage" blower. The cross-flow turbine allows the
water to flow through the blades twice. The first pass is when the water flows from the outside of the blades to the

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inside; the second pass is from the inside back out. A guide vane at the entrance to the turbine directs the flow to a
limited portion of the runner. The cross-flow was developed to accommodate larger water flows and lower heads
than the Pelton.

4.9 Reaction Turbine

A reaction turbine develops power from the combined action of pressure and moving water. The runner is placed
directly in the water stream flowing over the blades rather than striking each individually. Reaction turbines are
generally used for sites with lower head and higher flows than compared with the impulse turbines.

4.9.1 Propeller

A propeller turbine generally has a runner with three to six blades in which the water contacts all of the blades
constantly. Picture a boat propeller running in a pipe. Through the pipe, the pressure is constant; if it isn't, the
runner would be out of balance. The pitch of the blades may be fixed or adjustable. The major components besides
the runner are a scroll case, wicket gates, and a draft tube. There are several different types of propeller turbines:

o Bulb turbine: The turbine and generator is a sealed unit placed directly in the water stream.
o Straflo: The generator is attached directly to the perimeter of the turbine.
o Tube turbine: The penstock bends just before or after the runner, allowing a straight line
connection to the generator.
o Kaplan: Both the blades and the wicket gates are adjustable, allowing for a wider range of
operation.

4.9.2 Francis
A Francis turbine has a runner with fixed buckets (vanes), usually nine or more. Water is introduced just above the
runner and all around it and then falls through, causing it to spin. Besides the runner, the other major components
are the scroll case, wicket gates, and draft tube.
Figure 4. 8: Francis Turbine

4.9.3 Kinetic
Kinetic energy turbines, also called free-flow turbines, generate electricity from the kinetic energy present in
flowing water rather than the potential energy from the head. The systems may operate in rivers, man-made
channels, tidal waters, or ocean currents. Kinetic systems utilize the water stream's natural pathway. They do not
require the diversion of water through manmade channels, riverbeds, or pipes, although they might have

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applications in such conduits. Kinetic systems do not require large civil works; however, they can use existing
structures such as bridges, tailraces and channels.

Figure 4.9 kinetic turbines (Francis turbine arrangements)

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