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BEG453 CI: Hydropower Engineering

Basis of Evaluation
Scoring System • Attendance = 2 Marks
• Theory : 80 Marks • Class Discipline = 3 Marks
• Assessment: 20 Marks • Tutorials = 5 Marks
• Practical : 25 Marks • Test-I= 5 Marks
• Test-II = 5 Marks
• Practical= 10 Marks
Reference Books • Objective exam = 15 Marks
• MM Dandekar and K.N. Sharma, water power engineering
• M.M Grishin, Hydraulic structures, Mir Publisher, Moscow
• R.S. Varsheny, Hydropower structures, Nem Chand and bros,
• Mr. Sanjeeb Baral, Hydropower Engineering
• Mr. Raghu Nath Prajapati, Hydropower Engineering
• SK Garg, Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic Structures
• EMIL MOSONYI, Water Power Development
• Hydropower Design Guidelines of ESHA part-1/part-2
• Headwork Design Guidelines, Water Conveyance System Design Guidelines and
Powerhouse Design Guidelines of DoED
• Internet downloaded materials

1. Introduction 4 hours
1.1. Introduction to Power, their types and Comparison

1.2. Power situation in Nepal and world: Historical

Background and development

1.3. Introduction to Power system

1.4. Types and Classification of Hydropower Plants

as Low head, medium head and High head

1.5. Run off the river, storage and pump storage plants

Madhya Bhote
Sunkoshi HP-10.05MW Budhi Gandaki
Koshi HP 102 MW
HP 1200 MW

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1.1. Introduction to Power , their types and Comparison

(Basic Definitions and uses )
Hydropower = Hydro + Power
= Water + Energy/Time = energy production rate from water energy (KE & PE)
So, Hydropower is the energy supply rate extracted from water
• In modern age, Hydropower is used to produce electricity which is also
known as hydro- electricity
• while in ancient time, energy of water or hydropower is used for grinding
grains and lifting water using water mills
Energy ( J ) Work done Force ( N )  Displacement m 
Power ( watt )     1W  1J / S  1Nm / s
Time( S ) Time Time ( S )

Energy is required to perform any types of work for everybody

Energy in the form of Electricity is commonly termed as power and used widely all
over the world as it is easily transportable at high speed and safely convertible in to
different form of energy efficiently as per requirement.
Electricity is taken as basic commodity as it is essential for running communications
and electronics equipments
Uses of Electricity: Domestic use (cooking, heating, cooling, lighting), Transportation
use (cable car, rope way, railway /train, trolley bus etc), Commercial activities
(shopping complex, theatres, and cinema halls) and Industrial use (production of
goods, commodities, processing and refining etc)

Common units of Energy and Power measurements used in

hydropower Engineering
Energy Power
Value Name Symbol Value Name Symbol
101 j Deca joule Daj 101 w Deca watt dw
102 j Hecta joule Hj 102 w Hecta watt hw
103j Killo joule Kj 103 w Killo watt kw
106j Mega joule MJ 106 w Mega watt Mw
109j Giga joule GJ 109 w Giga watt Gw
1012j Tera joule TJ 1012 w Tera watt Tw
1015j Penta joule PJ 1015 w Penta watt Pw
1018j Exa joule EJ 1018w Exa watt Ew
1021j Zetta joule ZJ 1021 w Zetta watt Zw
• 1 HP = 735.5 W in Metric (MKS) system mostly used in academic exercises
• 1 HP = 746 W in FPS system not more commonly used in academic exercise
1 unit of electricity = 1 KWh = is the energy obtained from a heater (or other
electrical appliances) of 1 KW capacity in 1 hour.
1 KWh  1KW 1hour  1000W 1hr  1000J / s  3600s  36 105 J

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Major Sources of Power /energy in Nepal and world

The main sources of Energy for Earth is Sun from which we get light and heat energy in
the form of radiation. These solar energy are converted into different form of energy like
chemical ( food grains, plant tissues etc.) circulation of water (hydrological cycle) with
kinetic energy, potential energy etc.
Fuels: anything which is used for production of E nergy. In the world, it can be broadly classified into
a) Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum products diesel, petrol, LPG, agriculture residue, animal dung etc. ), b)
Atomic/Nuclear and c) Renewable (hydro, solar, wind, Tidal, Geo-thermal etc)) .
The Fossil fuels and Nuclear energy are non renewable sources which go on depleting day bye day on
its use and do not replenish by nature in short time. Fossil fuels need to burn for getting energy
exhausting dust, ashes as well as green house gasses like CO 2 , CO, N2O etc . The price of the fossil fuels
will increase day bye day due to high demand in future as well as due to non renewable nature.
Atomic/Nuclear energy are energy obtained by fission (atomic dis integration) of radio-active materials
like Uranium, Plutonium. The radiation produce d in the nuclea r plant should not e xposed to the
atmosphere so need high sophisticated technology for successful operations and maintenance. The
Genetic changes i.e. change in chromosomes or muta tion occurs resulting change in heredity
characteristics if radiation exposed to the atmosphere.
Renewable sources of energy are generally renewed or reple nished by nature itself in short pe riod
and do not deplete d for ever. Renewable e nergy sources also do not produce any dust and green
house gasses on its use. So, they are also known as Green E nergy or Clean energy also. Hence clean
energy are generally cheap in operation cost but need high investment cost for infrastructure
development to harness such energy. They are sustainable as well as reliable in future too.
Hence, Now days, world is trying to exploit re newable sources of e nergy as far as possible applying
modern technology to fulfill the ever growing demand of energy in future.

Power situation in world and Nepal

Total Energy Production in World Total Energy Production in Nepal

Energy Average Energy Average

Year Fiscal Year
(TWh) Power (TW) (MGJ) Power (MW)
1980 83045 9.480 1994/95 283.23 8981.04
1990 102569 11.709 1999/00 314.29 10636.13
2000 117687 13.435 2004/05 367.21 11644.07
2004 130524 14.900 2008/09 397.1 12591.96
2008 143851 16.421 2010/11 429.6 13622.53
2015 152,903.10 17.45 2014/15 496.1 15730.50
2016 154,196.36 17.60 2015/16 497.8 15786.20
2017 157,135.26 17.94 2016/17 544.2 17257.53
2018 161568.20 18.45 2017/18 568.24 18086.29
2019 163718.78 18.69 2018/19 590.58 18797.49
Source: IEA/OECD 2020 Key world Energy
Statistics Source: WECS and MoF
As per Econom ic survey report of MoF published in 2076/77 or 2019/20,
• Each year the energy consumption in world is increasing due to increase of
population and economic activities

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Source: BP Statiscal review of World Energy June 2020 from web site
https://www.bp.com/.../bp/pdf/energy.../statistical-review-2020bp-statistical-review-of-w...
by E Outlook - ‎2020

Energy Production by fuel type (Mtoe)

Natural Nuclear Renewabl
Year Oil Coal Hydro Total
gas energy e
2014 4251.6 3081.5 3911.2 575.5 884.3 316.6 13020.7
2015 4341 3146.7 3784.7 582.7 883.2 366.7 13105 Fossil Fuel i.e. the fuels made by decay of plant
2016 4557.3 3073.2 3706 591.2 913.3 417.4 13258.5 and animal cells or living things. It need
2017 4621.9 3156 3731.5 596.4 918.6 486.8 13511.2
combustion and produce dust and other green
2018 4572.7 3311.8 3792.6 577.1 891.9 616.9 13763.0
2019 4610.4 3378.5 3770.4 595.2 899.5 692.2 13946.2
house gasses

Fossil (%) Nuclear (%) Renewable (%) Fossil fuels contribution in 2019 is about 84.32%
100

Environmental pollution released from fossil fuels

Percentage (%)

leads natural disasters

Environment is in stress due to pollution
10 produced from Fossil fuels and especially
responsible for global warming on earth

Nuclear energy are also dangerous for human

1 health and environment if nuclear radiation
Year 1 1990 2 2000 32008 42015 5 2016 6 2017 7 2018 8 2019 exposed to the atmosphere, it can create mutation
Fossil (%) 81.29 80.29 81.39 86 85.5 85.18 84.84 84.32 i.e. change in chromosomes and thus heredity of
Nuclear (%) 5.96 6.68 5.76 4.44 4.46 4.41 4.19 4.27 living things and also have chronic effect for long
Renewable time.
(%)
12.75 13.03 12.85 9.57 10.04 10.4 10.96 11.41
Total (TWh) 102569117687143851 152903.154196.157135.161568.163718. Green Energy production need to be increased in
world for betterment of all liv ing beings in future
Energy Sources in the World by Fuel Type Source: BP Statiscal review of World Energy June
2020

Sources of Energy in Nepal

Yearly Energy Supply (Production) by type in MGJ = 10 15 J in one year

Type 2068/69 2069/70 2070/71 2071/72 2072/73 2073/74 2074/75 2075/76

Year 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19

(I)Traditional 297.5 339.1 380.0 385.1 390.3 394.2 396.69 402.05

a) Fuel wood 265.4 302.6 344.9 349.6 354.3 357.8 360.30 365.16
b) Agri. Residue 13.1 14.9 17.0 17.3 17.5 17.7 17.80 18.05
c) Animal dung 19.0 21.6 18.0 18.3 18.5 18.7 18.59 18.84

(ii) Commercial 71.0 78.4 82.9 98.6 95.1 137.6 155.57 172.30

a) Coal 14.7 17.6 13.5 19.7 22.7 28.1 31.90 40.62

b) Petroleum 45.8 50.0 53.5 62.1 53.9 88.3 100.02 110.26
c) Electricity 10.5 10.9 15.9 16.8 18.5 21.2 23.64 21.42
(iii)Renew able
4.6 7.0 12.3 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.41 12.50
(others)
Total 373.1 424.6 475.2 496.1 497.8 544.2 564.67 586.86

(source: Econom ic Survey report 2076/77 (2019/20 AD) published by MOF )

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TOTAL POWER SITUATION IN NEPAL As per ADB study in

Energy Supply/consumption by Source in 2018/19 2017
Most of the Energy is
Electricity used for residential
3.65%
use (83.4%) (cooking,
Renewable heating, lighting,
Coal 2.13%
6.92% cooling etc)
The Energy use in
industrial activities is
Petroleium (5.8%) comparatively
18.79% low w here the
Fuel wood economic return is
62.22% high and w ill be very
high in development of
Animal dung economic activities
3.21%
under the process of
Agri. Residue making new
3.08%
Industrialized
Prosperous Nepal
Fuel w ood from forest is major sources of energy-deforestation-environment
problem, Petroleum-hard currency-dependent to other country- not reliable,
Alternatives???-----Hydropower-renewable-environment friendly-white coal

1.2. Power situation in Nepal and world: Historical

Background and development
Historical Background of Hydropower Development

 The Pharping hydropower station was developed with the technical and
financial aid of British Government at the cost of NRs 7,13,373.07 within 17
months in 1911 (BS 1968 Jestha 9 date of completion) .
 It was made during the ruling of the prime minister of Chandra Samsher JB
Rana to enlighten Rana’s family plalace
 The power house with the installed capacity of 500 kW was running
successfully till 1981 but after then, the water used for the plant was
diverted for drinking purpose and the plant was shut down. Even now, this
plant can be restarted if the supply of water is made possible (NEA, 2003a).

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1.3. Hydropower Development Situation in World

Total Hydropower Development Situation in World
Hydro electricity production from
150 countries in 2019 is 1308 GW
(including 185 GW pum p storage)
In 2019, total 4306 TWh hydro-
electricity produced w hich is 2.63 %
of total energy production in the
w orld,
Asia Pacific countries produce 487
GW about 37.2% of the global
hydroelectricity production
China is the Largest Hydroelectricity
producer 356 GW (1302 TWh in
2019)
Source :https://www.hydropower.org/country-
profiles/china

Source: IAEA Report on Hydropower and the World's Energy Future By 2040, annual Energy
and World Energy resources Hydropower 2020 published by produced from hydro i.e.
World Energy council hydro-electricity
Hydropow er: About 100 GW capacity hydropow er 6150 billion kw h =6150TWh
projects are under construction

East
Asia
Pacif ic

Europe
North and
Central
America South
America
South and
Central Africa
Asia

Hydropower capacity
(GW) and Energy
generation (TWh) in
2019 by region

Source:
https://www.hydropo wer.
Source: org/resources/status-
Key World Energy reportHydropower Status
Statistics 2020 Report 2020
(IAEA)

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Source:
Key World Energy
Statistics 2020
(IAEA)

Electricity used per capita as indicator of Development

High Energy Consumption per capita indicates High dev elopment and v ice v ersa

 Developed country high consumption of electricity

 High per capita consumption of electricity, high living standard, high GDP
 *OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Member Countries
(30) South Korea and the United States are specifically highlighted in the chart above

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PER CAPITA ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION

AN INDICATOR OF DEVELOPMENT Electricity per
capita consumption
Per Capita Electricity consumption in 2019 of a country is also
Source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/per-capita- an indicator of
electricity-consumption?tab=table/ Development of the
18000 country
Electricity percapita consumption (KWh)

16000
Per capita
14000
consumption in 2019
12000
of
10000
8000 Japan = 7446 Kwh
6000 South Korea =10458 Kwh
4000
North Korea =615 Kwh
2000 Per capita electricity
0 consumption of Nepal
World
Bangl Pakist Srilan Canad South in 2020 = 267
China India Nepal USA Avera
adesh an ka a Korea Kwh/capita
ge
Series1 488 5297 972 267 658 742 16648 10458 12235 3081 Nepalese people
consumes electricity
About 93% of the population of Nepal get access to Electricity about 11.5 times less
By 2023, Government has targeted to serve 100% of the than the world
people w ith reliable (grid connected) electricity average

Hydropower Development Status in Nepal

S.N. Name of Power proj ect Installed Capacity (MW)
A Total Hydro electricity Grid Connected 577.394
Total Hydro electricity isolated 4.536
Total Hydro-electricity (NEA) 581.930
Total Hydro IPP 696.168
Total Hydro-Nepal 1278.098
B Thermal
1 Hetauda- Disel 14.4
2 Duhabi multifuel 39.0
C Total Thermal Electricity 53.4
Grand Total 1331.498
Solar (NEA) 1.350

Source: NEA annual report 2019/20

Major Hydropow er Projects of NEA under construction = 943.1 MW
S.N. Name of Proj ect Installed Capacity (MW) Inv estor
1 Upper Tamakoshi 456.0 NEA
2 Tanahu Hydro 140.0 NEA/JICA
3 Raughat Khola HPP 40.0 NEA
4 Upper Sanjen 14.6 NEA/CHILIME
5 Sanjen 42.5 NEA/CHILIME
6 Rasuwagadhi 111.0
NEA/CHILIME
7 Madhya Bhotekosi 102.0
NEA/CHILIME
8 Upper trishuli 3B 37.0
NEA

IPP- f rom 1992 onwards after introduction of BOOT principles in Hydropower Development Policy 1992

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Electricity Supply situation in Nepal

Source: 10 Yr 10000 MW Task force Report 2009 (BS 2065) and NEA annual report 2019/20
S.N. Description Installed Production in Production in Dry Remarks
Capacity W et season season (minimum
(MW ) (maximum MW) MW )
A Production of Electricity
1 Non Reservoir Project
Including 4.536 MW in
475.93 450 190.37
NEA power projects isolated mode also
Independent Power Producers 696.168 680 278.47
(IPP or Private Companies)
Sub Total 1172.098 1130 468.84
2 Reservoir Project
NEA power projects 106.000 40.0 106
Independent Power Producers
(IPP) 0.0 0 0
Sub Total 106.0 40.0 106.0
Total Hydropower 1,278.098 1170.0 574.84
3 Thermal Power
NEA power projects 53.4 20.0 50.0
Total 1,331.498 1190.0 524.84
B Import of electricity
1 River Agreement
Max 20 MW and
Tanakpur 20 20 12.5 7,00,00,000 KWh annually
Kosi 10 10 5
2 Import/Export 50 50 50
Sub Total 80.0 80 67.5
Grand Total Supply/
1411.498 1270 692.34
production
D Demand (2019/20) 1407.91 1375
E Surplus/Deficit -137.91 -682.66
3 Commercial agreement 500.0 350.0 500.0

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Energy Produced in Nepal (NEA+ IPP) = 2548+2190 =4738 GWh

Energy Purchased from India = 2813 GWh i.e about 37.25% of total available energy 7551GWh

Source: NEA Annual Report 2019/20

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UTILIZATION OF HYDRO-ELECTRICITY
Residential sector for lighting, running domestic appliances like
radios, TVs irons to modern, equipment like rice cookers, geezers,
computers, modern audio- visuals, refrigerators, air conditioners,
vacuum cleaners
Industrial sector for running machines to produce or process goods
and commodities, heating, cooling etc
Commercial sectors for cooking , heating , lighting , water pumping
and running other electrical appliances in offices, shopping complex,
entertainment centers
Transport sector for motive power, cable car, rope ways, trolleybus,
heating and lighting
Agriculture sector in lift irrigation pumping water, food processing,
cold store etc
Others- for communication system, medical clinics and hospitals etc

Utilization of Electricity (GWh) in Nepal

Domestic 2,666.0
Transport Community Electricity consumption in 2019/20
0.08% sales Bulk
2.21% supply to ( Non-Commercial
Temple India) Non domestic 186.0
Temporary supply 2.33%
0.05%
0.13% 0.55% Commercial 466.0
Entertainment Industrial
0.09%
2,422.0
Street light
1.25% Water supply
Water supply Irrigation Irrigation 176.0
2.78%
Street light 79.0
Domestic Temporary supply
42.05% 3.0
Transport 5.0
Industrial
38.20% Temple 8.0
Community sales
140.0
Bulk supply to (
India) 35.0
Non domestic 148.0
Non-Commercial
Commercial 2.93% Entertainment 6.0
7.35%
Grand Total 6340

About 93% of the total population in Nepal has access to the Electricity. (Economic survey
report 2020/21 published by MoF) Almost all of the energy are from Hydro-power and
energy supply 7551 GWh in 2019 including 2582 GWh purchase from India and 2590 GWh
from NEA owned power plant and 2190 GWh from IPP of Nepal. The Transmission and
distribution System loss =20.163% in 2019 (Source : Annual Report of NEA 2019/20)

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Load forecast for Integrated Nepal Power System (INPS)

Annual average rate of power and energy increase percentage is nearly 10%
Source: NEA Annual report 2015/16

Potential of Hydropower
World’s theoretical potential of hydropower 5610 GW

World’s total technically feasible hydro potential 4365 GW (14 370 TWh/year)

World’s total economically feasible hydro potential 2455 GW (8082 TWh/year)

World’s developed hydropower projects 1308 GW (4306 TWh/year)

Major hydropow er potential development are in Africa, Asia and Latin Am erica
Technically feasible Economically feasible
potential: potential:

Africa 1750 TWh/year 1000 TWh/year

Asia 6800 TWh/year 3600 TWh/year
North + Central America 1660 TWh/year 1000 TWh/year
South America 2665 TWh/year 1600 TWh/year

Total 12835 TWh/year 7200 TWh/year

Source: Hydropower & Dams, World Atlas and Industry Guide, 2000 in IAEA Report
on Hydropow er and the World's Energy Future IHA, ICOLD, IAHTP, CHA et.al. 2000

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Potential of Hydropower in Nepal

Nepal’s total theoretical hydro potential 83 GW (about 1.5% of World’s 5610 GW )
Nepal’s total technically feasible hydro potential 45 GW
Nepal’s total economically feasible hydro potential 42 GW
Nepal’s hydropower projects developed 1.2781 GW(about 3% of 42 GW)

1.5% of world’s total theoretical hydropower potential is in Nepal’s land (147516 Km 2) of only
0.10% of the world total (148940000 Km 2). This shows that hydropower potential per unit land
area in Nepal is about 14.93 times higher than that of the world average. (H.M. Shrestha, 1985,
p.34).
Theoretical potential of Hydropow er in Nepal

The Karnali and Mahakali river systems represent approx imately 43 percent
theoretical and 55 percent of the technical/economical potential hydropow er of Nepal

Hydropower Potential of Nepal

Technically Feasible Hydropow er Potential

Economically Feasible Hydropow er Potential

Source: Energy Synopsis of Nepal WECS 2010 sited from Dr. Hariman Shrestha's doctoral
thesis prepared in 1966 (Shrestha, H.M., 1966).
Explain How hydropower development in western Part of Nepal can be a tool
for minimizing unbalance of regional development in Nepal

13

Upper
Karnali (900)
Large Projects Greater than 300 MW
Advantage and Disadvantage of Hydropower
Advantages
• Renewable natural resources
(white coal) and non
consumptive use of water
• Running (operation) cost is low
because of free raw materials i.e.
water for hydropower production
• Quick response to the power
system for supply during peak
load
• Clean energy i.e. no pollution in
production/consumption though
there are few environmental
impacts during development
phase, they are manageable
6/12/2021
Upper
Tamakoshi
(456)
Disadvantages
• High Investment cost (NRs 16 to
20 crore investment per MW)
• High gestation period (long time
period starting from investment
needs to wait to have return or
revenue )
• Highly dependent in nature and
highly uncertain in power
production (high variations in
river flow thus power production
too highly uncertain)
• Load centers are generally far
from production site and hence
loss in transmission lines might be
high or considerable (un avoidable
loss) in long term analyses
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Introduction to Power system of Nepal

Transmission lines
33 KV and 11 KV
230 KV, 132 KV, 66 KV, 33 KV

230 V and 400 V

6.6 KV to 11 KV 11 KV and 3 KV

Production/Generation Transmission/evacuation Distribution

Thermal 53.4 MW but production limited to Step up transformer Step down transformer
20 MW
Hydro 1278.1 MW including ROR 1172.1 Transmission voltage Distribution voltage
MW and storage 106 MW (production of 33/66/132/230/400 KV 3.3/6.6/11/22/33 KV
1270 MW in wet and 692.34 MW in dry) low losses at high voltage
Imported (upto max 570.5 MW in dry
season i.e. Poush month)
Solar very few only for lighting (about 1.5 Double circuit or single Supply voltage 230 V in single phase and
MW) circuit 400 V in three phase Frequency 50 HZ
Nuclear power not developed DC at 400 KV if distance is Isolated system or Grid system (having
greater than 600 km 2 or more than 2 power plants

1.4. TYPES OF HYDROPOWER PROJECTS

Basis Capacity Head (as per ESHA Water use
Guidelines)
Types Pico <10 KW Low 2 to 15 m Run-off-river
Micro 10 KW <100 KW Medium 16 m to 70 m Peaking
(Pondage) Run off
river (PROR)
Mini 100 KW <500 KW High 71 m to 500 m Reservoir/Storage

Small 500 KW <5 MW Very high >500 m Pumped Storage

Medium 5 MW <300 MW Tidal

Big >300 MW Dandekar book

The head given above are just
tentative based on ESHA
guidelines but it may differ from
book to book and country to
country based on their practice
P.N. Modi and Seth Book
Low head Less than 15 m
Low head Less than 30 m
Medium head 15 to 70 m
Medium head 30 to 250 m
High Head 71 to 250 m
High Head above 250 m
Very High Head above 250 m

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Depending upon the head available to the power

plant, the different types of turbines are used

Propeller turbine: Low head and high

discharge turbine (2-15 m head)

The turbine alignment

shall be either vertical,
horizontal or inclined as
w ell.

Kaplan turbine – used in the low head to medium head hydropower

project (2 m to 70 m head)
The water pressure head and kinetic energy of flowing water is used to
rotate the turbine.
Kaplan and Propeller turbines are also known as axial flow turbines
In calculating, net head H = Hg-∆H,‎ In‎ measuring‎ Hg‎ i.e‎
gross head, the height difference of headw ater level at
head w orks and tail race w ater level for Reactive
(Propeller or Kaplan or Francis )Turbines in pow erhouse

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Fra ncis Turbine are used in Medium head to the high head power projects (30 m
to 500 m hea d)
The pressure energy as well as kinetic energy of the water is used to rotate the
turbi ne. The casing of the turbine is of spiral casing made of steel plate and need
to be of s ufficiently thick to bear water pressure.
Fra ncis Turbines are also known as Radial flow turbines a l so known as medium
head and medium flow turbines

Pel ton Turbines used in High to very high head hydropower project (300 m-2000 m
hea d)
The wa ter nozzle jet with high velocity is formed before s triking the turbine runner
bl a de. Hence the KE of water i s used to rotate the turbine by s triking the nozzle jet.
Pel ton turbines are known as High head low discharge turbine
Pel ton Turbines are also known as Impulse Turbine whi l e Propeller, Kaplan a nd
Fra ncis turbines a re known as Reactive Turbines
In net head calculation for Pelton turbines used in powerhouse, The gross head is
the difference of elevation of head water level and elevation of axis of rotation
and hence H and then power production may vary depending upon alignment
(vertical or horizontal) if the elevation of axis of rotation of the turbine is kept
different in different alignment.

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Different Types of hydropower based on Layout

Storage (Reservoir) type

with Headrace Tunnel
with the option of
Surface/underground
powerhouse

Different Types of hydropower based on Layout

Barrage are
provided at the PROR type w ith
headwork site Headrace Tunnel
w ith the
underground
pow erhouse

High dam is
provided at the
headwork site

Storage
(Reservoir)
type w ith
pow erhouse
at Dam toe

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Different Types of hydropower based on Layout

Head works
ROR type w eir
PROR type Barrage
Storage type High dam
Water Conveyance
Headrace channel Head
race tunnel or
combination of both
Powerhouse
w ith the underground
pow erhouse

1.5 Types of Hydropower Project based on Water Use

Runoff River (RoR) Hydropower Project
Power plant withdraws water as per
available in the river. No high dam
were constructed to store water for
longer time. weir or low height dam
is constructed at head work site (very
small pond shall be formed in front o f
intake which can store water not
more than two hours)
The energy production from ROR type
project decreases significantly during
low flow season due to lowering o f
discharge or stream flow in the river
RoR type HPP are suitable where the
fluctuation of flow in dry season and
wet season flow are small like in
rivers coming from Tibet at border. Examples of RoR hydropow er projects in
Such RoR schemes, It has minimum Nepal: Khimti, Khudi, Trishuli etc
environment impact where flow Most of the hydropow er projects developed
regime do not alter the at the in Nepal are of RoR type
downstream.

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PROR Hydropower project

Characteristics of PRoR Project

A pond of small to medium size at the head work site to regulate flow to
the plant taking care of our to hour fluctuation of load (power demand)
on the plant throughout the day or week
The pond stores river water during non peak load hours of a day and the
stored water is withdrawn to produce power during peak load hours.
The PROR power plants may operates at full capacity for all hours
during high flow or rainy season but it produces power at full capacity at
peak load hours only in during low flow season.
The power plant may shut down or operate at lower capacity during the
peak off hours in dry season.
Examples of PROR projects: Marshyangdi 69 MW, Middle Marshyangdi
70 MW and Kaligandaki A 144 MW are PROR project in Nepal.
Barrage are constructed at the head work site to create the small pond
or reservoir to store water having capacity to store water of maximum
two weeks in dry season

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Storage/Reservoir Hydropower Project

A big reservoir is created at

the headw ork site by dam
construction in river.
The reservoir provides
seasonal storage of w ater
(stores w ater in rainy season
to supply in dry season) Reservoir projects provide betters utilization of
water resources in addition to the flood control in
Example: Kulekhani I-60 MW dow nstream.
and Kulekhani II-32 MW
It has considerably large impacts on environment
i.e. inundation of land

Pumped storage Project

• All or portion of the wa ter used in power production is pumped back to the head
wa ter pond and s tored for later use at the time of peak load.
• This type of the power plant essentially consists of a tail water pond and head
wa ter pond.
• During peak load wa ter is drawn from the head water ponds through the penstock
to operate hydro electric generating units.
• The water is collected in to tail water pond and during the off peak hours, pumps
a re opera ted to pump the water ba ck from the tail water pond to the head wa ter
pond.
• Excess power from thermal or nuclear or hydropower (R0R) types during off peak
hours (i.e. ni ght ti me) a re used for operating the pumps to pump the wa ter from
tai l pond to the head pond.
• For head up to 120 m special Francis turbine has been developed for the pump
stora ge plants. The runners of the turbines a re so shaped tha t they can be used
both a s turbine as well as pumps. Such turbines a re known as reversible turbines.
• For hi gh head more than 120 m, multista ge centrifugal pumps are used for
pumping water a nd high head Francis Turbines are installed i n power production.
• No pump stora ge hydropower plants a re made in Nepal , but such power plants has
been developed in Thailand, Spain and other developed countries

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The 635-MW La Muela Pumped-Storage

Plant in Spain

Tidal Plants : hydropower using tide water of ocean

Tidal Range

12 hr 25 min 12 hr 25 min

• Sea water rises or falls twice a day, each full cycle occupying about 12
hours 25 minutes interval. The tidal range or the difference between the
high tide and low tide level is utilized to generate power.
• This is accomplished constructing a basin separated from the sea by a wall
or a barrier and installing a turbine in opening through this wall or barrier.
• During high tide water passes from the sea to the basin thus running the
turbine and generating power. During low tide, water from the basin flows
back to the sea which can also be utilized to generate power by providing
another set of turbine operating in opposite flow direction.
• Example France: Rance power plant, tidal range 11 m, 9 units of 38 MW
each with total capacity of 342 MW., Sihwa Tidal Power plant in South
korea 254 MW producing 5527 GWh in a year

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Constrain of Hydropower Development

Challenges (Constrains)

Lack of political stability

unfavorable and unstable since from 1990, lack of clear vision in leaders, focused only on the ir own
benefits, Slow pace in Panchyat and Rana regimes, lack of technology transfer, Disorde r of laws and
regulations, violence and insecurity at local level, high corruption. This res ulted retardation of investment
and development activities in hydropower
Lack of Technology and Skilled man power
it does not have its own te chnology and sufficient skilled man powe r for electrome chanical machines
manufacturing and design, lack of confidence due to little experience and knowledge in design and
construction of la rge scale greate r than 50 MW Lack of technology and technical equipments for quality
monitoring and standard specifications and norms, Lack of hydro-mechanical and electrical equipments
production and maintenance facilities
Lack of Investment
considerable investment i.e. Rs 15~20 corore for 1 MW , high gestation time pe riod (4-5 yrs), high pay back
(recovery) period 8-10 yrs, Not more beneficial (IRR generally less than 20%) compared to other business
Lack of infrastructures
attractive hydropower projects are located in remote areas lack of access road, transmission lines, basic
health facilities and other essential skilled manpower and construction mate rials with equipments
availability. lack of integrated infrastructure developments policies
Risk imposed by Global Warming and Climate Change
The global warming (0.06 0 C/year ~ 0.08 0 C/year in Nepal~Himalayas) has resulted increase of atmospheric
temperature resulting the fast rate of snowme lt-de pletion of snow storage-low flow decrease-increase of
gaps in extreme events and frequency- Potential GLOF events increase

Opportunities of Development
Clean and renewable Energy
more attractive sources of energy, technology of its production and use has been already
developed and affordable. easy to handle and transport from its production to the load
center. Water resources can be taken as white coal and policies has been introduced to
exploit the white coal in worldwide for supply of necessary energy (IAEA energy for future
world)

Market available
China and India are in developing phase at high growth rate and have high energy demand,
hydropower can export to reduce trade gap. Electricity produced can also be used for
domestic use in promotion of industrial activities replacing the petroleum fuels that has to
be imported paying hard currency.
Cheap labor force availability
Nepal has developed lot of engineering institutes and technical centers after the restoration
of Democracy in 1989 (BS 2046). The institutions have produced lot of skilled and semi
skilled man powers. These human resources are available at cheap rate compared to that of
the man power from developed countries
Favorable geological and topographical conditions
The steep river topography with good geological conditions are the favorable and essentials
for development of hydropower projects at low cost of investment. The perennial rivers
with considerable low flow with less sediment production from high Himalayas are available

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