Hydropower

Engineering
Mohammed A.
 Design of hydropower plant
• In the design of HPP scheme layouts involves positioning the
powerhouse relative to head works used for water diversion from
the river course. In general, two options exist:
 Locate the powerhouse structure adjacent to the head works
 Construct a diversion scheme so the powerhouse is built in a remote
location downstream of the head works to exploit a higher head.
• HPP scheme components can be grouped as follows:
 Civil works
 Electromechanical equipment
 Hydraulic steel structures
 Grid connection facilities
 Civil work
 The civil structures that comprise a HPP scheme can be grouped as
follows:
 Head works: creates head, extracts water from the river course toward
the generating equipment and allows safe passage of flood flows.
• To raise the water level, a barrier is constructed—a dam or a weir—that
spans the cross-section of a river or a valley.
 Waterway: conveys water to powerhouse
 Powerhouse: comprises structures to accommodate electromechanical
equipment that converts water energy, first into mechanical and then
into electrical energy
 Tailrace: discharges turbine water into a receiver, a river, lake or ocean
 Auxiliary structures: protect HPP scheme from potential risks such as
turbine abrasion, sediment deposition in the waterways, and riverbed
erosion downstream of the head works.
 Dam
• A dam is a barrier built across a stream or river to obstruct, direct, retard, or
store the flow of water. As a basic element of a hydraulic scheme, a dam is used
to create a reservoir and perform the following functions:
 Store water
 Increase the amount of discharge
 Ensure sufficient discharge during dry seasons
 Develop head by raising the water level
 Divert floodwater
• Typically dams are classified according to their construction material.
• Today, the two most common construction materials are natural earth and
concrete.
• In addition, dams are classified according to their sealing system or static
function.
• Natural clay, which has high flexibility and erosion resistance, is often used to
construct the dam core and to seal the surface.
• A concrete dam can be considered if clay does not exist on site but sand and
gravel are easily available.
 Cont’d…
TYPES OF DAMS
• Dams are classified according to their:
• Function served
Storage dams: For permanent water storage
Detention dams: For flood retention
Diversion dams: The water level is raised to divert water
Debris dams: To hold off sediments
Coffer dams: To divert a river
• Statical function
Embankment dams, i.e., dams made of natural earth material
Gravity dams
Arch dams
Buttress dams
Cont’d…
• Height (Classification according to International Commission
on Large Dams (ICOLD) which can vary from country to
country
Major dams: Height > 150 m
Large dams: Height > 15 m, or 5 < H < 15 and storage
capacity of reservoir > 3,000,000 m3
Middle and small dams: Dams that do not belong in the
above class
• Construction materials
Earth dams
Concrete dams
• Sealing system
Impervious core
Surface sealing
Dam with an impervious core Dam with surface sealing
Cont’d

Reservoir
• Gravity Dams:
Force • These dams are heavy
and massive wall-like
structures of concrete in
which the whole weight
acts vertically downwards

As the entire load is transmitted on the small area of foundation, such

dams are constructed where rocks are competent and stable.
Buttress Dam:
• Buttress Dam – Is a
gravity dam reinforced by
structural supports
• Buttress - a support that
transmits a force from a
roof or wall to another
supporting structure

This type of structure can be considered even if the foundation

rocks are little weaker
Arch Dams:

• These type of dams are concrete

or masonry dams which are
curved or convex upstream in
plan

• This shape helps to transmit the

major part of the water load to
the abutments

• Arch dams are built across

narrow, deep river gorges, but
now in recent years they have
been considered even for little
wider valleys.
Earth Dams:
• They are trapezoidal in
shape
• Earth dams are constructed
where the foundation or the
underlying material or
rocks are weak to support
the masonry dam or where
the suitable competent
rocks are at greater depth.
• Earthen dams are relatively
smaller in height and broad
at the base
• They are mainly built with
clay, sand and gravel,
hence they are also known
as Earth fill dam or Rock
fill dam
 waterway
• The waterway comprises scheme components that convey water
from the intake to the powerhouse.
• The conveyance layout can include either pressure galleries or
pipes or a mixed system of free-surface canals and pressurized
pipes.
• The waterway has additional structures to support a properly
functioning HPP scheme; depending on local topographical and
geological conditions these structures include some or all of the
following:
 Sand trap (grit chamber or desander): is situated directly
downstream of the intake and its function is to insure that
sediment suspended in the water is removed before the water flow
passes through the turbine
 Cont’d…
 Headrace: the headrace conveys the water safely towards the
forebay or the surge tank with minimum head losses.
 Forebay: is structure connects the headrace with the penstock
and provides sufficient water volume for start-up processes,
thus preventing air entrainment into the penstock, which could
trigger water column collapse and associated pressure
fluctuations.
• In addition, the forebay equalizes surge waves due to load
rejection.
• Hence, required forebay volume and dimensions depend on
HPP scheme design discharge.
 Cont’d…
 Surge tank (surge chamber): controls pressure variations in the
penstock and the headrace, thus eliminating or smoothing water
hammer when variations occur due to sudden shutdown of the
flow to the powerhouse.
• The surge tank also regulates water flow to the turbine by
providing necessary retarding head.
 Pressure pipe (penstock): conveys pressurized water from the
forebay or surge tank to the turbine.
• In addition to the pressure caused by static head, the penstock
must be able to withstand the pressure rise caused by the so-called
water hammer,
• Pipe thickness is based on the internal pressure the pipe material
must withstand; higher internal pressure requires greater pipe
thickness.
Powerhouse and tailrace
• The powerhouse hosts the turbine, generator, and auxiliary
equipment.
• The layout should allow easy installation of equipment and easy
access for inspections and maintenance. Size depends on the
types, dimensions, and number of units installed.
• In general, powerhouses have three primary areas.
 Main structure, housing the generating units
 Erection bay
 Service area that includes offices, and rooms for control and testing, storage,
maintenance, auxiliary equipment, and special uses.
• Powerhouses can be constructed above or below ground.
• The crane is an important powerhouse component that is used to
assemble generators, turbines and other components. Its maximum
capacity must be equal to moving the heaviest equipment, such as
generator parts or the turbine runner.
 Cont’d…
• The crane type should be considered during the design process
based on powerhouse layout and dimensions. Three types of
powerhouses are as follows, classified by how they house the
main generating units:
 Indoor type: generator room is fully enclosed, with sufficient
height to permit transfer of equipment by means of an indoor
crane.
 Semi-outdoor type: generator room is fully enclosed but the
main hoisting and transfer equipment is a gantry on the roof of
the plant; equipment is handled through hatches.
 Outdoor type: no generator room; generators are housed in
individual cubicles or enclosures either on the deck or recessed
into the deck.
 Spillway
• When the water in the reservoir increases, the large accumulation of
water endangers the stability of the dam structure. To avoid this a
structure is provided in the body of a dam or near the dam or border
of the reservoir. This structure is called as spillway.
• A basic requirement of a spillway is to route safely the design flood
into a dam without any damage to the dam and its foundation.
• A dam spillway is classified based on its relation with a dam, that
is,
Spillways may be provided within the body of the dam.
Spillways may sometimes be provided at one side or both sides
of the dam.
Sometimes by-pass spillway is provided which is completely
separate from the dam
 Cont’d…
• A spillway is a kind of waterway and consists of an
inlet, a flow channel, and an energy dissipater.
• The spillway has the function of discharging all the
water not utilized for generation.
• Mainly used to discharge water during flood period.
• Requirements:
Provide structural stability to the dam under all
condition
Should able to pass the designed flood without raising
the reservoir level above H.F.L.
Should have an efficient operation
Should be economical
Classifications based on PURPOSE 1) Main (or service) spillway
 This are designed for frequent use in
conveying both normal and flood
releases from a reservoir to the
watercourse downstream from a dam
without significant damage to the
dam or dike.

Service spillways from top to bottom,

Pine-view Dam, Utah; Monticello
Dam, California; and Upper Stillwater
Dam, Utah
 • This are designed for infrequent
2) Auxillary Spillway use and may sustain limited
damage when used.
• This are used in combination with
service spillway and sometimes
also with flood outlets.
• It is designed to function
automatically when required
without aggravating downstream
floods.

Auxiliary spillways from

top to bottom, Stewart
Mountain Dam, Arizona;
New Waddell Dam, Arizona
 3) Emergency Spillway
• This are designed to provide a reserve protection
against overtopping of a dam and are intended for
use under extreme conditions, such as mis-operation
or malfunction of a service spillway or other
emergency conditions.

Emergency spillway ,
Folsom Dam, California
 Classifications based on CONTROL
1) Controlled Spillway
• These spillways enable storage to be maximized by
controlling water levels.
• Generally more complex and more costly to build and
maintain than uncontrolled spillways.
• It should be backed up by auxiliary spillways as the gates may
be subject to automatic operation malfunction, human error
and debris lockage
2) Uncontrolled Spillway
• Most commonly used at small dams because of their
reliability, simplicity and ability:
 to pass debris and
 to reduce the magnitude of incoming flood peaks,
 as well as being cheaper to build and maintain.
Classifications Based On Prominent Feature

OGEE CHUTE SIDE-CHANNEL

SHAFT SIPHON TUNNEL

 1) Ogee Spillway
 Ogee spillways are also called Overflow spillways
 This type of spillway allows the passage of the flood wave
over its S-shaped crest.
 Can be classified under controlled or uncontrolled.
 Widely used on Gravity dams, Arch dams, and Buttress
Dams.
EMBANKMENT DAM
3 GATED

GRAVITY DAM
 2) Chute Spillway
 Chute spillways are common and basic in design as they transfer
excess water from behind the dam down a smooth decline into
the river below.
 The spillway’s slope and it’s side are lined with concrete.
 In case of having sufficient stiff foundation conditions at the
spillway location, a chute spillway may be used instead of
overflow spillway due to economic consideration
UNGATED
3 GATED CHUTE ROCK-FILL DAM CHUTE SPILLWAY

1 UNGATED

ROCK-FILL DAM
 3) Side Channel Spillway
 If a sufficient crest length is not available for an overflow or
chute spillway in narrow valleys, excess water is removed
from the reservoir through a side channel spillway.
 The side channel through which water is discharged can also
be lined with concrete to prevent erosion and subsequent
sedimentation in dams on the course of the river.
SIDE CHANNEL GRAVITY DAM
SPILLWAY
 4) Shaft Spillway
 It discharges excess water from a reservoir through a shaft that is
constructed near the crest of the Dam with height less than that of
the crest.
 The shaft spillway is constructed when the other types of spillways
cannot be constructed due to a lack of space.
 When the shaft is completely submerged, further increased in head
will not result in appreciable increase in discharge.
 It is not suitable for large capacity and deep reservoirs because of
stability problems.
MORNING GLORY

ARCH DAM
 5) Siphon Spillway
 A siphon spillway is similar to a shaft spillway but instead is
incorporated into the dam
 The presence of a siphon spillway weakens a dam at certain points,
so the dam has to be reinforced at these weak points incurring
extra cost.
 Maintenance of this spillway is very difficult
 Siphon spillways comprise usually of five components which
include an inlet, an upper leg, a throat or control section, a lower
leg and an outlet.
 6) Conduit Spillway
 Conduit spillway or tunnel spillway is the one in which a closed
channel is used to convey the discharge around or under a dam.
 The closed channel may be in the form of a vertical or inclined
shaft, a horizontal tunnel through earth dam or a conduit
constructed with open cut and backfilled with earth materials.
 These spillway are designed to flow partly full.
 To ensure free flow in the tunnel, the ratio of flow area to the total
tunnel area is often limited to 75% and air vents are provided at
critical points along the tunnel or conduit to ensure an adequate air
supply which will avoid unsteady flow through the spillway
Advantage & disadvantage of spillway
ADVANTAGES
• Very stable. The likelihood of serious structural damage is less
than for other types of structures.
• The rectangular weir is less likely to be clogged by debris than the
openings or other structures of comparative discharge capacities.
• They are relatively easy to construct. The concrete block type can
be built with farm labor, while the reinforced concrete or steel
sheet piling type usually requires the services of a contractor.
DISADVANTAGES
• It is more costly than some other types of structures where the
required discharge capacity is less than 100 c.f.s. and the total
head or drop is greater than 10 feet.
• It is not a favorable structure where temporary spillway storage is
needed to obtain a large reduction in discharge.
• A stable grade below the structure is essential.