POWER POTENTIAL

Power Potential can be defined as the probable quantum of electrical energy that can be expected to be produced at the
site of hydropower generation, based on
1. the characteristics of streamflow and head available at the site in the years of different degrees of reliability, during
different periods of the year, etc.  and
2. The generation capacity (kW) to be provided at the powerhouse in order to meet the assessed energy to be generated
(kWh).
 
POWER POTENTIAL is a function of head and discharge quantity of water and is determined as follows:-
 
                     P=9.81 Q H η
 
Where, P=Power output in kW
             Q=discharge in cumecs
             H= net head in m
             η= overall efficiency of turbine, generator and gear box
 
In terms of metric H.P. 
        P=9.81 Q H η/0.735 = 13.33 Q H η
       
The criteria for evaluation of power potential are as follows :-
1. Applicable efficiency including part load efficiencies of turbine, generators  and gear box
2. Accurate assessment of rated head.
 3. Minimum discharge as environmental flows to be released into stream/river at the location of diversion structure
and deducted from the water availability
4. Provision of silt discharges and other losses in the water conductor system
5. Other uses of the water such as irrigation, water supply, navigation, etc to be met and to be deducted from the
water availability.
6. LOAD SURVEY must be conducted before power potential studies in order to have correct assessment of local
needs for off grid projects and correct assessment of power evacuation needs for grid connected projects
7. Other Hydrological and field investigations.
8. Cost of generation
 
IMPORTANCE OF POWER POTENTIAL STUDIES
Power potential assessment is the primary study to be conducted for planning of hydroelectric projects.
The planning that results for power potential studies are design and layout of the project, quantity estimation, cost
estimation and other financial aspects.
IMPORTANT HEADS
 
1. GROSS HEAD :- Gross head is the difference of water elevations at the point of diversion of the water for the hydel scheme
and the point of return of water back to the river
Gross head can also be defined as the difference in elevation of water levels behind the forebay/dam and the water level
in the tail race.
This can be assessed by simple surveying techniques.
2. OPERATING HEAD :- Operating head is the simultaneous difference in the elevations of water surface at the forebay and the
tail race, making the allowance for approach and exit velocity heads.
3. DESIGN HEAD :- It is the net head under which the turbine reaches peak efficiency at synchronous speed. Generally it is WAL-
MWL. NWL-MWL is 125% of design head.
 Normally , the design head is the weighted average head.
It is used to determine the basic dimensions of the turbine.
4. NET HEAD /EFFECTIVE HEAD :- Net head is the gross head less all hydraulic losses except those that are chargeable to the
turbine. The intake water conductor system and the penstock losses are deducted from the gross head to obtain the ne head.
The losses in the scroll case and the draft tube are chargeable to the turbine and are not used in the computation of the net
head.
The effective head is the net head applied to the turbine and is the difference of heads at the entry and exit points of the
turbine including the respective velocity and pressure heads at both the places.
5. RATED HEAD :-It is the head at which the turbine operating at full gate opening produces a power output equal to that
specified in the name plate of the turbine. The rated head must be equal to design head in order to have maximum efficiency
of the plant capacity.
 
 
** Head is the difference between the max.pond level and the tail water level for reaction turbines  and the centre line of the
turbine for impulse turbine.
1. Total      installed capacity      :- It is the total capacity in kilowatts or million kilowatts of all the      turbine-generator
units installed in a power house.
2. Dependable      capacity :- It      is the load carrying capability of a powerhouse based on the load      characteristics for
a certain period of time. It depends on the load      factor, capability and the load applied to the powerhouse.'
 
3. Load factor=
         Average load (for a certain period of time) 
The peak        load for that given time period
Based on the time period,        load factors are classified as annual, daily and monthly load factors.
 If the area under the load        curve is plotted, it gives the energy consumed  in kWh. Therefore, the annual load       
factor is defined as the ratio of the annual energy consumed to the peak        demand assumed to continue for the
one year period.
Annual Load factor=
           Total yearly electrical units(kwh) produced
Maximum          power demand x 365 x24
The maximum load determines        the capacity of the units, and the load factor gives an idea of the        degree of
utilisation of the capacity.
POWER POTENTIAL AND INSTALLATION
 
For large projects where sufficient data is available, generating capacities are planned for flows available for 90% of the time.
For the case of SHPs where sufficient data is not available, normal exercises conducted for assessing generating capacities
cannot be done.
The SHPs are therefore planned for generating capacity that is available for only 50% of the time.
This means that the flows that are available for  50% of the year are utilised to the full capacity.
In other words, the generation from the installed capacity is utilised fully for at least 6 months of the year.
If the required flow data is available for only 2 or 3 years, 50 % availability and 75% availability cannot be assessed properly.
But the data is available they can be assessed properly.
The flows available for 50% availability in 50 % availability years may be taken up for utilization.
But for economic viability(cost of generation) the 75% year availability period is chosen.
The discharge should be taken after allowing the water for desilting
The head will not vary much for run-of-river/Type 1 Schemes and it should be taken wrt the normal tail water level but never
upto the HFL.
The load factor for this criteria may fall upto 70 % compared to the 75% year availability period.
But if it is below 70% it results in high installation value.
 The value P calculated must be rounded off judiciously, mostly ot the next higher value so as to get standardized rating. The
rated discharge must also be adjusted accordingly/increased slightly.
If 10% overload capacity is provided for the generating units, the water conducting systems must also be adjusted slightly.