Week 13 to15: Hydroelectric Power Plant

I. Introduction
Hydroelectric Power Plant is a facility at which electric energy is produced by hydroelectric
generators.

II. Objectives
After completion of the course the student should be able to:

1. Objective 1
2. Objective 3

III. Hydroelectric Power Plant (Topic)

Basic Parts of High Head Hydro-Electric Power Plant
take note that this lessons are taken from the reviewer of Power Plant Engineering by Roger S.
Capote and Joel A. Mandawe
Reservoir stores the water coming from the upper river or water falls

Head Water is the water in the reservoir

Spillway is a weir in the reservoir which discharges excess water so that the head of the plant will be
maintained.

Dam is the concrete structure that encloses the reservoir.

Silt Sluice is a chamber which collects the mud and through which the mud is discharged.

Valve is a device that opens or closes the entrance of the water into the penstock.

Trash Rack is a screen which prevents the leaves, branches and other water contaminants to enter into
the penstock.

Penstock is the channel that leads the water from the reservoir to the turbine.

Surge Chamber is a standpipe connected to the atmosphere and attached to the penstock so that the
water will be atmospheric pressure.

Generator is a device that converts the mechanical energy of thr turbine into electric energy.

Hydraulic Turbine is a device that converts the energy of water into mechanical energy.

Tail Race is a channel which leads the water from the turbine to the tail water

Tail water is the water that is discharged from the turbine

Draft tube is a device that connects the turbine outlet to the tail water so that the turbine can be set
above the tail water level.

PERFORMANCE OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT:

1. Gross Head, hg

Gross head is the difference between head water and tailwater elevations.

h g=h hw −htw

where:

hg = gross head

hhw = head water elevation

htw = tailwater elevation

2. Friction Head Loss, hf

Friction head loss is the head lost by the flow in a stream or conduit due to frictional disturbances set up
by the moving fluid and its containing conduit and by intermolecular friction.

a. Using Darcy’s Equation

fLV 2
hf=
2 gD

b. Using Morse equation:

2 fL V 2
hf=
gD

Where:

hf = friction head ( in m )

f = coefficient of friction

L = total length in m

g = 9.81 m/s2

D = inside diameter ( in m )

Note: Friction head loss is usually expressed as a percentage of the gross head

3. Net head or Effective head, h :

Net head or effective head is the difference between the gross head and the friction head loss.
h=h g−h f
4. Penstock efficiency, e p
Penstock efficiency is the ratio of the net head to the gross head.
h
e p=
hg
5. Volume flow rate of water, Q
The volume flow rate of water is the product of the velocity and the cross-sectional area.
Q= ΔV
6. Water Power, Pw
Water power is the power generated from an elevated water supply by the use hydraulic
turbines.
Pw =γ Qh
Where:
 𝛾 = specific weight of water
𝛾 = 9.81 kN/m 3
7. Turbine efficiency, e t
Turbine efficiency Is the ratio of the turbine power output to the water power output.
Turbine power
Et =
Water power
Pt
et = or pt =δ Qh et
Pw

8. Electrical or Generator Efficiency, e gen

Electrical or Generator Efficiency is the ratio of the generator output to the turbine power
output.
Generator Output
eg
Turbine Output

e Pgen or Pgen =Pt e gen=δQ h e t e gen

gen=
Pt

9. Generator Speed, N

120 f
N=
P

Where:

N = angular frequency, rpm

f = frequency ( usually 60 hertz )

P = No. of poles ( even number)

10. Hydraulic efficiency, e h

Hydraulic efficiency is the ratio of the utilized head to the net head.

hw
e h=
h
where:
h w =utilized head
h = net head

11. Head of impulse Turbine ( Pelton )

 Impulse Turbine is a power-generation prime mover in which fluid under pressure enters a
stationary nozzle where its pressure (potential) energy is converted to velocity ( kinetic ) energy
and absorbed by the rotor.
P V2
h= +
Y 2g
12. Head of reaction Turbine ( Francis and Kaplan )
Reaction Turbine is a power-generation prime mover utilizing the steady flow principle of fluid
acceleration where nozzles are mounted on the moving element.

P V −V B 2 2

h= + z + A
δ 2g

13. Peripheral Coefficient, Ɵ

Peripheral Coefficient is the ratio of the peripheral velocity (V p) to the velocity of the jet (Vj).

Vp
∅=
Vj

πDN
∅=
√ 2 gh

Where:
D = diameter of runner
N = angular speed
h = net head

14. Specific Speed of hydraulic turbine, Ns

Specific speed is a number used to predict the performance of the hydraulic turbines.
a. in English units:
N √ HP
Ns=
h5 /4
Where:
N = angular speed, rpm
h = net head, ft
b. In SI units:
0.2623 √ kW
Ns=
h 5/ 4

Where:
N = angular speed, rpm
h = net head, m
 15. Total efficiency, e total :
e net =e h e m e v

Where:
e h=hydraulic efficiency
e m=mechanical efficiency
e v =volumetric efficiency

16. Turbine type recommendation based on head

Net Head Type of Turbine

Up to 70 ft Propeller Type
70 ft to 110 ft Propeller or Francis Type
110 ft to 800 ft Francis Type
800 ft to 1300 ft Francis Type or impulse Type
1300 ft and above Impulse type

Sample Problems:

1.0 A hydraulic turbine receives water from a reservoir at an elevation of 100 m above it. What
is the minimum water flow in kg/s to produce a steady turbine output of 50 MW.

Given: Required:

Head = 100 m mass flow rate of water in kg/s

Power = 50 MW

Solution:

Mass flow rate = Density x volume flow rate

m = 1000Q

Solving for Q :

Pw = 𝛶Qh

50,000 kJ/s = ( 9.81m/s2)( Q kg/s) (100m )

Q = 50.968 kg/s answer

 2.0 A hydro-electric plant discharges water at the rate of 0.75 m 3/s and enters the turbine at
0.35 mps with a pressure of 275 kPa. Runner inside diameter is 550 mm, speed is 520 3pm
and the turbine efficiency is 98%. Find the turbine speed factor.

Given: Required:

Flow = 0.75 m3/s turbine speed factor (peripheral coefficient)

Velocity = 0.35mps

pressure = 275 kPa

D = 0.55m

N = 520 turbine efficiency = 88%

Solution:

πDN
∅=
√ 2 gh
Solving for h:

P V2
h= +
γ 2g
2
275 (0.35)
h= + =28.039 m
9.81 2(9.81)

πDN
Substituting values to the formula ∅=
√ 2 gh

π (0.55)(520/60)
∅= =0.638 answer
(28.039)

3.0 A Pelton wheel is to be designed to run at 300 rpm under an effective head of 150 m. the
ration of the nozzle diameter to the diameter of the pitch circle is 1/12. Assuming efficiency
of 84%, what is the size of the wheel in m. Assume a speed ratio of 0.45

Given: Required:

N = 300 rpm size of the wheel (D) in m.

h = 150 m

Nozzle efficiency = 84%

Nozzle dia./pitch circle dia. = 1/12

Solution:

πDN
∅=
√ 2 gh
π ( D)(300 /60)
0.45=
√2(9.81)(150¿) ¿
D = 1.55m answer

4.0 A hydroelectric generating station is supplied from a reservoir of capacity 6,000,000 m 3 at a

head of 170m. Assume hydraulic efficiency of 80% and electrical efficiency of 90%. The fall in
the reservoir level after a load of 15 MW has been supplied for 3 hrs., if the atrea of the
reservoir is 2.5 km3 is closest to:

Given: Required:

V = 6,000,000 m3 Altitude of the reservoir..

Head = 170 m

Hydraulic eff. = 80%

Electrical eff. = 90%

Time = 3 hrs.

Load 15 MW

Area of reservoir = 2.5 km2

Solution:

Volume = Area X Height

Using the formula for water power

Pw =γQh

15,000kW = 9.81 Q (170m)(0.80)(0.90)

Q = 12.492 m3/s
In 3 hrs. time

Volume = (12.492m3/s)( 3,600 sec./hr)(3 hrs.) = 134.914 m3

Solving for the altitude h,

134, 914 m3 = 2.5 x 106 m2 x h

h = 0.05396m or 5.395cm answer

5.0 A pelton type turbine was installed 30 m below the head gate of the penstock. The head loss
due to friction is 15% of the given elevation. The length of the penstock is 80 m and the
coefficient of friction is 0.00093. Determine the power output in kW.

Given: Required:

Gross head = 30 m Power output in kW

Friction Head loss = 15% of given elevation

Solution:

Solving for Effective head:

h = 30 – 0.15(30)

= 25.5 m

Solving for flow Q:

Velocity V = √ 2 gh

m
V = √ 2( 9.81)(25.5)=22.368
s

a. Using Morse equation:

2 fL V 2
hf=
gD

and hf = 0.15(30) = 4.5m

2(0.00093)(80)(22.368)2
4.5=
(9.81) D
D = 1.686 m

Q = Area x Velocity

π
Q= [ 4 ]
( 1.6862 ) ( 22.368 )=49.94 m3 /s

Solving for power, Pw =γQh

Power = 9.81(49.94)(25.5) = 12,492.74 kW answer

6.0 A double overhung impulse turbine of 85% efficiency is direct connected to a 30,000 kW
generator of 95% efficiency. Elevation of headwater level is 2730 ft. above sea level,
elevation of tailwater level is 1260 ft. above sea level, turbine setting is 12 ft., velocity of
flow in penstock is equal to 0.025√ 2 gh , loss of head due to friction is 2% of gross head.
Compute the flow through the turbine in ft 3/s.

Given: Required:

Power = 30,000 kW Flow through the turbine, ft3/s.

Elevation of head water level = 2730 ft.

Elevation of tailwater level = 1260 ft.

Solution:

Turbine output = 𝛾 Q h et

h = 2730 – 1260 – 0.02(1427 – 1260) – V2/2g – 12

V = 0.025√ 2 gh

V = 0.025√ 2(32.2)(2730−1260)

V = 7.692ft/s

h = 2730 – 1260 – 0.02(2730 – 1260) – (7.692) 2/2(32.2) – 12 = 1427.681 ft.

 lb
62.4 Q(1427.681 ft)( 0.85)
30,000 kW ft 3
=
kw ft −lb
0.746 (0.95) 550
hp hp−s

Q = 307. 46ft3/s
then the flow through each turbine: Q 1 and Q2
Q1 = Q2 = 307. 46/2 = 153.73 ft3/s answer