Options for High Head Hydro Sites

Design of Strong and Compact Muscles for High

Specific Energy .
P M V Subbarao
Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
Global Layout of A Hydro Power Plant
Plant
Outlet
Runner
Outlet
Runner
Inlet
Inlet
To Stator
g
V
stream main
2
2

0 =
abs
h
H
H
Stator
Outlet
h
atm

Hydraulic Energy Diagram for A HEPP
Inlet
To Intake
System
Conservation of Rothalpy for Incompressible
Machines : Clues for High Head Hydro Station
In an ideal Penstock
constant
2
2
= + = + gH p
V
p
atm
penstock
static

In an ideal Nozzle
constant
2
2
= +
jet
static
V
p

In an ideal turbo-machine
constant
2
2
= +
rel
static
V
p

( ) constant
2
1
2 2
= + + gz U V
p
blade rel

( ) constant
2 2
1
2
2 2
= + + = + + gz U V
V
p
gz U V
p
blade blade rel u

Options for High Head Sites

High power with low volume flow rate is feasible.
A relatively high flow rate can be easily split into multiple
number of low specific speed jets.
Can produce high velocity jets/streams.
Pure and maximum change in direction of flow velocity is
feasible.
Invent a machine which absorbs energy by changing the
direction of a high velocity jet.
No variation of static pressure across machine.
Entire machine is exposed to atmospheric pressure.

Concept of Simple & Pure Impulse Moving Blade

V
ri
= V
ai
- U
b

V
re
= -V
ri

U
b

V
ae
= V
re
+U
b

V
ai

Analysis of Simple Moving Impulse Blade
( )
b ai b b ai b ri ae
U V U U V U V V 2 + = + = + =
( )
b ai ri re whirl
U V V V V = = A 2
( )
( )
b ai R
b ai A
U V m V m F
U V m V m F
= A =
= A =
- -
- -
2
2
( )
b b ai b
b b R b
U U V m P
V U m U F P
=
A = =
-
-
2
Kinetic power lost by the jet :
( ) { } ( )
{ } ( )
( )
b b ai
b ai
b ai
U U V m KP
U V V
m
KP
U V V
m
V V
m
KP
ai
ai ae ai
= A
= A
= = A
-
-
- -
2
2
2
2
2 2
2
2
2
2 2 2
Power lost by jet = Power gained by the Blade
( ) ( )
b b jet jet jet b b ai b
U U V V A U U V m P = =
-
2 2
Power Jet
Power Blade
Blade Impulse pure of Efficiency =
( )
gH
U U gH
blade

=
2 2
q
gH
DN DN
gH
blade
60 60
2 2
t t
q
|
.
|

\
|

=
( )
2
60
2
max . . max
gH
ND
gH
U
eff
t
= =
Pelton Turbine: The First Titled Impulse Turbine
Lester Allan Pelton, considered to be the
father of modern day hydroelectric
power, was born in Vermilion Township,
Erie County, in Ohio, on September 5,
1829.
Pelton embarked on an adventure in
search of gold.
Shifted to California from Ohio in 1850,
he was 21 years old.
After a failed quest for gold, he joined in
the gold mines as a millwright, and
carpenter at Camptonville, Yuba County,
California in 1864 .
Captonville
Camptonville Gold Mine : Use of Hydro Power
Water wheels were being used to provide mechanical
power for all things mining, air compressors, pumps,
stamp mills and operating other machines.
The energy to drive these wheels was supplied by powerful
jets of water which struck the base of the wheel with flat-
faced vanes.
These vanes eventually evolved into hemispherical cups,
with the jet striking at the center of the cup on the wheel.
Pelton observed that one of the water wheels appeared to
be rotating faster than other similar machines.
It turned out initially that this was due to the wheel had
come loose, and moved a little on its axle.
Damaged Wheel is A Better Design
He noticed the jet was striking the inside edge of the cups,
and exiting the other side of the cup.
His quest for improvement resulted in an innovation.
Pelton reconstructed the wheel, with the cups off center
only to find again that it rotated more rapidly.
Pelton also found that using split cups enhanced the effect.
By 1879 he had tested a prototype at the University of
California, which was successful.
He was granted his first patent in 1880.
By 1890, Pelton turbines were in operation, developing
thousands of horsepower, powering all kinds of equipment.

Hydro Power Plant using Pelton Wheel
The Pelton wheel was first used at
the Mayflower Mine in Nevada City,
California in 1878