4 Dec.

, 2011

MHP
OVERVIEW

Slide No. 1

Hydropower: Basic Concept

• Hydropower: Power produce from water
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
Slide No. 2

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 4 Dec., 2011

Energy Potential
• Potential energy of WATER of certain mass (m) with
reference to certain HEAD (H) is the basis for available
power source for all Microhydro power plants.

PE = m.g.H Where:
m KE = 0 Hg = Gross Head (m) mIntake Water Level (ZIWL)
Qg= Gross Flow (m3/s)
V=0
PE
H m
KE

m PE = 0
KE = 1/2mV2 Tail Water Level (ZTWL)
Datum Line V=Vmax
Slide No. 3

Quantifying Power Potential

(gρ) Hg Qg
Power Potential P (kW) =
1000`
Seasonal
(g.ρ) = Weight density of water = 9810 N/m3 variation
Hg = Level difference between Intake and Tailwater (m)
Qg = Water flow rate at Intake (m3/s)
Usually
minimum dry
season flow is
considered

Tailrace Once the site is fixed the

gross head (Hg) is remain
constant

Slide No. 4

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 4 Dec., 2011

Flow Duration Curve (FDC)

Flow in the river varies throughout the
year. MHP is usually designed for
minimum flow measured during dry
season

550
400
85

Slide No. 5

Energy Conversion

Energy can be converted in one

form to others, BUT there is loss
of certain portion of energy in
every conversion
Slide No. 7

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Available Power vs Useful Power

 For any MHP scheme the available energy is
potential energy express based on (Head * Flow),
which can not be used directly.
 However, it can be converted into useful energy
like mechanical or electrical.
 But in any conversion there is loss (in the form of
heat, etc.) The amount of loss is depend on design
of the system and type of components used.
 The effectiveness of the system is express in
terms of efficiency.

Slide No. 8

Overall Efficiency
USABLE AVAILABLE
POWER Useful Available Overall POWER
(PAVA.)
(PUSA.) Power = Power x Efficiency
(PUseful) (PAvailable) (ηOverall)
~05%

~14%
~25%

~10% ~09%

If power potential of a
Typical Example: MHP site is 100 kW,
ηOverall  0.95  0.91 0.75  1 0.86  0.9  50 % ONLY 50kW is available
~0% for useful work.

ηOverall  ηCanal  η Penstock  ηTurbine  η Drive  ηGenerator  ηTransmission 

Slide No. 9

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 4 Dec., 2011

Types of Hydro-power Plants (by water usage)

Run-off-River type
• Uses water within the range of the natural
river flow.
• Seasonal Variation of Flow
• No Storage of Water Energy

Reservoir / Pondage type

•Has a reservoir that enables regulating the river flow
•Supplies power in response to the demand.
• Head may alter as per reservoir water Level

Pump storage type

•Has an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir.
•Generates power during peak demand.
•Pumps up water during low demand.
• Improves Load Factor

Slide No. 10

MICRO HYDRO POWER (MHP) SCHEME: Classifications

Technology for harnessing locally available water sources for rural
electrification.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF HYDROPOWER - IN TERMS OF PLANT
CAPACITY- NEPAL'S CONTEXT
Volt
meter
1 MICRO HYDRO Up to 100 kW Contro
Main switch
l Panel
PICO HYDRO Up to 5 kW Power Cable

2 MINI >100 kW - 1000 kW Generator Control valve

Casing
3 SMALL >1000 kW - 10000 kW Runne
r
Penstock

4 MEDIUM >10000 kW - 50000 kW Nozzle

5 LARGE Above 50000 kW Peltric-Set

Peltric-Set
Slide No. 11

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IMPORTANCE OF MHP - NEPAL'S CONTEXT

• Make use of locally available water resources
• Per kW cost is low (in compare to bigger plant/ other
Renewable Energy sources)
• Suitable for Nepal
- hilly and isolated settlement
- Abundance water resources
- Nation Grid connection - Limited in urban area
• Power source for operating cottage industries
• Income generation - for rural people
• Health improvement, Social and Educational Benefit
• Eco-friendly - less environmental adverse impact

LIMITATIONS
• Site specific (Availability of Head / Flow)
• Long distance transmission - not suitable
• Power Limitation (Demand based / Availability)
Slide No. 12

Micro-hydro plant: Typical System layout

MHP SYSTEM:
FOUR BASIC DIVISIONS
- Water ways system
- Power Generation system
- Transmission and
distribution system
Intake
Transmission Headrace - End uses
line
Spillway/ Gravel
trap Weir
Overflow Expansion joint Crossing/
Settling
basin (Aqueduct)
Forebay
Support Piers

Penstock Ballast
Load River
Transformer
Anchor block

Turbine
Generator

Control
Panel
Power House

Tailrace

6 February 2011 IOE-MSREE-MHP(Elective-A): MHP-Overview : By Dr. T.R.B.; Dr. R.S ; A.S. Slide No. 13

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CIVIL COMPONENTS
Intake structure
weir
headrace Canal
Gravel trap
Spill way
Settling/ Desanding Basin
Forebay Tank
Anchor Block and support pier
Power House
Tailrace Canal

MECHANICAL COMPONENTS
Turbine (Pelton/ Crossflow ...)
Penstock (Steel / PVC / HDPE ...)
MAJOR MHP COMPONENTS Drive System (Belt / Coupling / Gear)
Expansion Joint
CIVIL Valves (Gate / Sphere / Butterfly)
Trash rack (Coarse / Fine)
Flushing system (Cone / Sluice gate)
MECHANICAL Governor (Mechanical / Hydraulic)

ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

Generator
TRANSMISSION/ Electronic Load Controller
Transformer (Step-up / Step-down)
DISTRIBUTION Control Panel
Power cable (Armored / Unarmored)
PROTECTION / CONTROL
TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
PROTECTION & CONTROLLING SYSTEM Conductor (Aluminum / Copper)
Lighting arrestor Insulator
Earthing Staywires
Fuse / MCB, etc. Poles (Wooden / Concrete / Steel)
Slide No. 14

Slide No. 15