WATER CONDUCTOR SYSTEM

IN HYDRO PROJECTS
A Brief Overview

CONTENTS

Introduction to Hydro Power

Hydro Project Components.

WCS in Hydro Projects

Design Aspects

INTRODUCTION TO HYDRO POWER

Potential
Energy

Electrical
Energy
Electricity

Kinetic
Energy

Mechanical
Energy
3

HYDRO PROJECT COMPONENTS

HEAD WORKS:
Dam, Weir, Barrage, etc.,

WATER CONDUCTOR SYSTEM

POWER HOUSE COMPLEX

TAILRACE ARRANGEMENTS

CANAL FALL

IRIGATION CANAL

INTAKE

TAIL RACE
CHANNEL
POWER HOUSE

CANAL FALL POWER HOUSE

DIVERSION STUCTURE

POWER INTAKE

POWER CHANNEL

FALL

FOREBAY

PENSTOCK
POWER HOUSE
TAIL RACE POOL

POWER CHANNEL DEVELOPMENT

DIVERSION STUCTURE

POWER INTAKE

HEAD RACE TUNNEL

FALL
SURGE SHAFT

POWER HOUSE
TAIL RACE POOL

POWER TUNNEL DEVELOPMENT

RESERVOIR

DAM

POWER HOUSE

TAIL RACE CHANNEL

DAM TOE DEVELOPMENT

ACCESS SHAFT
DAM

SURGE CHAMBER

TAIL RACE TUNNEL

UNDERGROUND POWER HOUSE
UPSTREAM STATION ARRANGEMENT

SURGE TANK
DAM

ACCESS
GALLERY

HRT
PRESSURE SHAFT

ACCESS
TUNNEL

VALVE GALLERY
UNDERGROUND
POWER HOUSE

TAILRACE TUNNEL
DOWNSTREAM STATION ARRANGEMENT

SURGE TANK

HRT
SURGE CHAMBER

UNDERGROUND MACHINE HALL

TAIL RACE TUNNEL

INTERMEDIATE LOCATION OF STATION

INTAKE

AIR CUSHION CHAMBER

POWER
HOUSE
CAVERN
ACCESS

PRESSURE TUNNEL

STEEL PENSTOCK

DIAGONAL TUNNEL ALIGNMENT WITH

RESERVOIR

DAM
SURGE TANK
TURBINE

INTAKE
TAILRACE

VALVE

FREE STANDING SURGE TANK

UPSTREAM SURGE SHAFT

RESER-

HYDROSTATIC LEVEL
STEADY STATE LEVEL

VOIR

DOWNSTREAM
SURGE SHAFT

PRESSURE SHAFT

AIR VENT

LOW PRESSURE
CONDUIT

TAILRACE TUNNEL
UNDERGROUND POWER HOUSE

U/S AND D/S SURGE TANK SYSTEM

WCS IN HYDRO PROJECTS

RIVER DIVERSION WORKS

Diversion Tunnel.
Intake Structure
Outlet Structure

Diversion Channel

POWER TUNNEL ARRANGEMENTS

TAILRACE ARRANGEMENTS

POWER TUNNEL ARRANGEMENTS

Power Intake Structure

Feeder tunnels

De-Silting Arrangements

Head Race Arrangements

Surge Accommodation Structures

Pressure shaft / Penstocks

Tailrace Arrangements

POWER INTAKE STRUCTURE

A Power Intake structure is an arrangement which is

placed in a surface water source to facilitate the
regulated discharge as well as to ensure smooth flow to
the water conductor system for Power Generation.

The entry of undesirable floating debris to the water

conductor system can be controlled through trash racks
provided in the intake structure.

It also supports necessary auxiliary appurtenances such

as

trash

rack

cleaning

machine,

Gate

hoisting

arrangements and provisions for installation of bulkhead

or stop-log closure devices.

Typical Section of Power Intake

Types of Power Intake

Fore-bay Type Intake

Drop Type Intake

Semi-Circular Type Intake

Types of Power Intake (Contd.)

Tower Type Intake

Dimension & Location of Power Intake

The Type, dimensions and location of the Power

Intake depends on
The design discharge for power generation
Nature of Water conductor system
Type of the diversion structure
Topography of Project area

Generally the Intake structures are designed as

Gravity structures to resist water pressure as well as
to maintain the stability of pressure shafts.

Hydraulic Design Aspects

There should be minimum head loss as water enters

from the reservoir into the water conducting system.

There should not be any formation of vortex that could

draw air into the water conducting system.

There should be minimum entry of sediment into the

water conducting system.

Floating material should not enter the water conducting

system.

Arrangements of Silt exclusion.

Hydraulic Design Aspects (Contd.)

The Hydraulic design of Power Intake consist of the

following components,
Geometry of the Bell-mouth entry.
Transition.
Minimum Submergence for maintaining pressurized flows.

Trash-rack Opening.

FEEDER TUNNEL

PURPOSE OF DESILTING ARRANGEMENTS

The suspended load, especially the sharp edged fine

sand (quartz) transported by rivers in mountain reach
causes rapid wear of turbine runner blades/buckets due
to abrasion. This abrasion tendency increases with the
head.

In course of time this may result in shut down of units

for considerable duration thereby causing enormous

loss of power and revenue.

De-silting Arrangements can be designed as Free flow

Structure or Pressurized Structure.

It also called as Silting tanks, Settling basins, sediment

traps, De-Silting chambers, etc.,

DESILTING CHAMBER

CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS

SIZE

The velocity of flow in the basin is required to be

reduced to induce settlement.

Generally, a flow through velocity of 0.3 m/sec for

removal of sediment coarser than 0.2mm and
0.15m/sec for removal of particles up to 0.1mm dia.
is considered in the design.

The Configuration of Silt collector or Traps Shall be

finalized with Hydraulic Model Studies.

HEADRACE ARRANGEMENTS

The Head Race system can

pressurized flow or Gravity flow.

be

designed

for

The Head Race system conveys the design discharge

for Power Generation to the High Pressure Tunnels or
Penstock.

The Alignment and Nature Head race system depends

on Topography of Project Area.
Head Race Channel
Head Race Tunnel

The Shape & Dimension of the Head Race System

defined by the Design Discharge and prevailing
geological Condition of the Project

Headrace tunnels,uneven topography,himalayas

HEAD RACE TUNNEL

Generally the Head Race tunnel is designed as low

pressure tunnels.

The Design of HRT involves,

Geometric Design.
Economical Diameter

Hydraulic Design.
Structural Design.

HEAD RACE TUNNEL (Contd.)

Geometric Design

The Geometry of Tunnel depends on,

Geological Condition
Hydraulic Requirement
Structural Requirement

Functional Requirement

HEAD RACE TUNNEL (Contd.)

Economical Diameter
The Economic Diameter of Tunnel is the diameter for

which the annual cost, which includes Cost of Power lost

due to friction and charges for amortization of construction
cost, maintenance, Operation, etc., is the Minimum.
Economical Diameter of Tunnel
500
450
400

Construction Cost

Power Loss

350

Cost

300
250
200
150
100
50
0
5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0
Tunnel Diameter, m

9.0

10.0

11.0

HEAD RACE TUNNEL (Contd.)

Hydraulic Design
For Hydraulic Design of Tunnels, Hydraulic Gradient is

Required.
The

Discharge Capacity of Tunnel is controlled by

combined effect of Pressure Head, Slope, Size, Shape,
Length and Surface Roughness .

Proper Aeration is necessary for Free Flowing Tunnels.

Incase

of Pressure tunnels, Entry of Air should be

restricted during Operation to avoid Negative Pressure in
the System.

Head Losses.

HEAD RACE TUNNEL (Contd.)

Structural Design
During Construction of Tunnel
Design of Rock Support

Pre Excavation
During Excavation
Drainage & Grouting Arrangements

Permanent Supports
Concrete Lining

Reduce Head Loss

Long Term Stability of Tunnel by Preventing Rock and Joint

Filling Erosion
To Prevent or Reduce Seepage Flow

SURGE ACCOMODATING STRUCTURES

Surge or Water Hammer:

In Hydro Power Scheme the pressure oscillation in water

conductor system is not avoidable.

It happens because of the power plant operations such as

accepting and rejecting the water flow by the hydraulic

turbine due to Grid Operation.
Water hammer is a pressure surge or wave resulting when a

fluid in motion is forced to stop.

The Water Hammer have tendency to Damage the Water

Conductor System Partially or Completely.

Water Hammer Case Study Russian Power Plant

SURGE ACCOMODATING STRUCTURES

Function of Surge Accommodating Structure:

It Provides a free reservoir surface close to the discharge

regulation mechanism. This will cut short and Limit the

Conduit Length liable to Water Hammer Pressure.
It Supplies the Additional Water required by the Turbine

during load demand until the conduit

accelerated to the new steady state value.

velocity

has

It stores Water during load rejection until the conduit

velocity has been declared to the New steady state value.

SURGE ACCOMODATING STRUCTURES

Types of Surge Accommodating Structure:

According to the material of construction

Concrete Surge Tank
Steel Surge Tank

According to location relative to terrain

Excavated Surge Tank
Free Standing Surge Tank

According to location relative to power house

Upstream Surge Tank
Downstream Surge Tank

According to hydraulic design

Special surge tanks (Air Cushion Chambers)

SURGE ACCOMODATING STRUCTURES

Types of Surge Accommodating Structure:

According to hydraulic design

Simple Surge Tank

Restricted Orifice
Surge Tank

Differential
Surge Tank

SURGE ACCOMODATING STRUCTURES

Design Criteria:

Upstream Surge Arrangements

Maximum Upsurge: Due to Sudden Load Rejection (100-0)
Minimum Down surge: Due to Sudden Load Acceptance (0-100)

Downstream Surge Arrangements

Maximum Upsurge: Due to Sudden Load Acceptance (0-100)
Minimum Down surge: Due to Sudden Load Rejection (100-0)

PRESSURE SHAFT / PENSTOCK

Pressure Shaft is a High Pressure Tunnel conveys Design

Discharge to the Power House

The Pressure Shaft shall be lined with Steel or Concrete

to Prevent the Erosion and minimize the Head Losses.

The Surface Penstock is designed as Steel Lined Pipes.

For High head Scheme the Geometry of Pressure shaft is

Circular to resist High External and Internal Pressure.

Generally the Pressure shafts are designed for Velocity

in the range of 5 to 6 m/s.

The Surface Penstocks shall be Buried to avoid Exposure

to Atmosphere and Damages due to Rock Fall.

PRESSURE SHAFT / PENSTOCK

Incase of Inclined Pressure shaft the Inclination should not

be steeper than 45o with Horizontal for Construction
requirements.

The Lining of the Pressure Shaft shall be designed to resist,

The Water Hammer Effect due to Power Plant Operations.
The External Pressure when the Pressure shaft is empty during

Maintenance
The Internal Pressure during Operation

The Surface Penstock Alignment

Topography of the Project Site.

is

controlled

by

The Anchor Block is provided where the Penstock changes

its Alignment or 300m if it goes Straight.

In Between Anchor Blocks Saddles shall be provided at

Suitable Intervals to have better stability.

TAIL RACE ARRANGEMENT

The Tailrace system can be a Open Channel or Tunnel

The Tailrace Tunnel shall be designed for Pressure flow

or Free Flow depends on type of Turbine used.

Incase of Reaction Turbine, the Tailrace Tunnels should

be Designed for Pressure Flow, if required Surge control
arrangements has to be provided.

Incase of Impulse Turbine, the Tailrace tunnels can be

Free Flow tunnel and it does not require Surge Control
arrangements even for longer lengths.

The Hydraulic Design is Similar that of HRT.