INTRODUCTION

It is the technique of using dam water falling from a

height to turn the turbines of a generator. The mechanical
energy is converted into electrical form and fed into the
national grid system. The following diagram shows an outline
of a hydroelectric power station.

The location of a hydroelectric power station must be

analyzed by an expert to determine the effective head for
maximum efficiency. Hydraulic systems are also used to utilize
the concept on slower and slow moving water streams.

One advantage of hydropower is that the water is

available for other use after generation. A river with high
water flow and head is a better source of hydropower.

Flow rate means the speed at which water passes a

particular point in the river per second. The head refers to the
vertical distance from the top of the slope to the power
station.

A dam with a large drop is constructed to raise the

potential energy of water. The intake is placed at the bottom
where the pressure is highest. Water then flows by gravity
through the penstock. At this level, kinetic energy is sufficient
to turn the turbines.

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4 . Surge Chamber
A surge chamber or surge
t ank is a cylindrical tank which is
o pen at the top to control the
p ressure in penstock. It is
c onnected to the penstock and as
c lose as possible to the power
h ouse.

5 . Hydraulic Turbines
Hydraulic turbine, a device
w hich can convert the hydraulic
e nergy into the mechanical energy
w hich again converted into the
e lectrical energy by coupling the
s haft of turbine to the generator.

6 . Power House
Power house is a building
p rovided to protect the hydraulic
a nd electrical equipment. Generally,
t he whole equipment is supported
b y the foundation or substructure
l aid for the power house.

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7 . Draft Tube
If reaction turbines are
u sed, then draft tube is a necessary
c omponent which connects turbine
o utlet to the tailrace. The draft tube
c ontains gradually increasing
d iameter so that the water
d ischarged into the tailrace with safe
v elocity. At the end of draft tube,
o utlet gates are provided which can
b e closed during repair works.

8 . Tailrace
Tailrace is the flow of water
f rom turbines to the stream. It is
g ood if the power house is located
n earer to the stream. But, if it is
l ocated far away from the stream
t hen it is necessary to build a
c hannel for carrying water into the
s tream.

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H OW HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY WORKS -

Hydroelectric power plants convert the potential

d ifference of water into electricity by transferring it
b etween two points at different heights or elevations.

To do this, a flow of water is forced through a

h ydraulic circuit that connects two points at different
h eights called a draft, in which water gains speed as
p otential energy is partly transformed into kinetic energy.
T he turbine transforms this kinetic energy into
m echanical energy, which the generator then transforms
i nto electricity.

Lastly, the flow of water leaves the turbine and is

r eleased back into the river, almost without speed, and
w ith the potential energy that corresponds to the height
o f the outlet.

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B IGGEST HYDROELECTRIC POWER
P LANTS IN INDIA -

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D ISADVANTAGES OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT -

1. Impact on Fish
To create a hydro plant, a running water source must be dammed.
This prevents fish from reaching their breeding ground, which in
turn affects any animal that relies on those fish for food. As the
water stops flowing, riverside habitats begin to disappear. This
can even remove animals from accessing water.

2. Limited Plant Locations

While hydropower is renewable, there are limited places in the
world that are suitable for plant construction. On top of this,
some of these places are not close to major cities that could fully
benefit from the energy.

3. Higher initial Cost

While no power plant is easy to build, hydro plants do require
you to build a dam to stop running water. As a result, they cost
more than similarly sized fossil fuel plants. Although, they will
not need to worry about purchasing fuel later on. So it does even
out over the long-term.

4. Carbon and Methane Emissions

While the actual electricity generation in the plant does not
produce emissions, there are emissions from the reservoirs they
create. Plants that are at the bottom of a reservoir begin to
decompose. And when plants die, they release large quantities of
carbon and methane.

5. Susceptible to Droughts
While Hydropower is the most reliable renewable energy
available, it is dependent on the amount of water in any given
location. Thus, the performance of a hydro plant could be
significantly affected by a drought. And as climate change
continues to heat up or planet, this could become more common.

6. Flood Risk
When dams are built at higher elevations, they pose a serious
risk to any town nearby that is below it. While these dams are
built very strong, there are still risks. The biggest dam failure in
history is the Banqiao Dam failure. Due to excess rainfall from a
typhoon, the dam collapsed. This resulted in the deaths of
171,000 people.
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