Hydroelectric Power Plants: Tecnologia de Centrals - Grau Enginyeria en Energia - EEBE (UPC)

Tecnologia de Centrals
4. Hydroelectric power plants

Part 2
Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC)

4 Hydroelectric power plants
Embalse de Baserca
Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 2
Contents
• Overview: Electricity from hydraulic energy

• Examples of hydroelectric plants
• Components of a hydroelectric power plant
• Use of the hydraulic energy resource
• Environmental impact
• Hydroelectricity in Spain

Hydraulic energy:
Origin: NATURAL WATER CYCLE
Introduction Energy Source: THE SUN
Water acquires potential energy under the action of the

energy received from the Sun
Introduction
Ways of exploiting hydraulic energy

Final E.
MECHANICAL Water mills

ENERGY Water wheels
Primary E.
POTENTIAL
ENERGY
Final E.
ELECTRICAL Hydroelectric
ENERGY plants

Introduction
World Data
Increasing
https://ourworldindata.org/energy

Introduction
Europe Data
Increasing

Introduction
Spain Data
Stable

Introduction. Generation.
4197 TWh
2192 TWh
Renewable electricity generation by source

https://www.iea.org/statistics/
Introduction. Generation. Share
38%
3.3%
23%
10.2%
16.3%
4.4%
Wi
nd
Electricity generation by source

https://www.iea.org/statistics/
Examples of hydroelectric plants
• Run-off water has a given

potential mechanical energy
(depending on the terrain height
above the sea level) which is
partly converted into kinetic
energy and partly dissipated in
surmounting obstacles in its

path.
• Final kinetic energy depends on
the slope and roughness of the
river bed.

• If roughness is low, the same flow rate can circulate with a lesser
slope.
• The mechanical energy of this almost horizontal flow of
water can be used.
• For this the water flow can be derived through a lateral channel,
reaching a large height difference between this channel and the
river.
Peruvian Andes 2004

• If the difference in height between the channel

and the river is large, it is feasible to use the
water potential energy to move a hydraulic
turbine when returning the water flow to the river
bed.

• The difference in level can also be obtained by rising the

up-flow water level by means of a dam or a weir.
• Between the two solutions (derivation channel and dam)
there are mixed solutions that are often used.
Run-of-the-river plants
Small (< 15 MW) power plant of
Licq-Athérey (Pyrénées-
Atlantiques, France).
By Tangopaso – Wikipedia Mini power plant on the Urumea

river (150 kWe) 15
Run-of-the-river plants
Water wheel
The Warwick Castle water-powered generator house, used for the

generation of electricity for the castle from 1894 until 1940
By DeFacto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68487918

Itaipú Dam
Run-of-the-river plants • The dam is 7235 m long
and 196 high.
• 20 generators of 700 MW
power.
• Total power is 14 GW.
• Electricity is 55% cheaper
when made by the Itaipú
Dam than the other types

of power plants in the
area.
• Annual generation:
90 – 100 TWh
The Itaipú Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River located on

the border between Brazil and Paraguay.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itaipu_Dam
Reservoir plants. Regulation plants
Three Gorges Dam in China
• Situated on Yangtze river, the
longest in Asia and the third-
longest in the world (6300 km)
• Gravity dam, 185 m high, 2300
m length.
• Its construction caused the

sinking of 19 cities and more than
300 villages.
More information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam

See an animation of plant construction in
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2002/graficos/nov/s2/presa.html

Pe = 22500 MW Annual Ee = 95-100 TWh

34 Francis turbines; Generators: 32 x 700 MW + 2 x 50 MW
Calvingao at English Wikipedia

P um ped-storage plants
By Sirbatch at English Q52, CC BY-SA 3.0,

Small hydroelectric plants
The definition of “small SPAIN Real Decreto 2366/1994
hydro-plant” as compared Minicentral: Installed capacity less than10 MW
to a large hydro plant
varies from country to Under “Régimen Específic” of the Electricity Sector
country. The name given to
these plants varies as well.

Components of a hydroelectric power plant
• General layout.
• Dams
• Water conduction components
• Power house

General layout
Derivation plants
It can be distinguished
between:
• Plants with the
power house located

at the base of the
dam
• Derivation plants

General layout
Derivation plants
In this case,
the head is
nearly
constant

General layout
Chief Joseph Dam (Bridgeport, Washington, USA), is a major run-of-

the-river station without a sizeable reservoir.
By U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
General layout
The main part of the equipment in a hydropower plant corresponds to
civil engineering constructions
• Constructions and equipment to store and canalize water
– Reservoir
– Weir (milldam), dam and spillways
– Intake, load chamber (forbay)
– Channels, tunnels and galleries
– Penstock (forced pipeline)

– Balance chimneys
– Valves and gates
• Buildings, equipment, systems, etc. to obtain electricity
– Hydraulic turbines
– Alternators
– Transformers
– Electrical Systems
– Control Panel
Dams
Weir (mill dam) and dam
Weir, mill dam or derivation dam: low dam built transversely to

the river flow direction that does not produce a noticeable elevation
of the water level. It is used to deviate part of the flow towards the
collecting point
Dam or Reservoir dam: Wall which breaks the river flow and
causes a considerable elevation of the water level, creating an
artificial lake or reservoir
Most dams have a dual function and are classified accordingly to

the predominant function

Dams Reservoir dam
(presa de regulació)
• Rises the river water
level.
• Allows the control of
the flow rate.
POND
Derivation dam
Rises the water level and creates
WEIR a pond
Weir (dic, assut; dique)

DERIVATION (TO
THE PLANT) Small dam

Xerta Power Plant (Tarragona)
Dams
Ebro river
• Installed capacity 18.000 kW
• 4 Turbines semi Kaplan
• Synchronous Generators
• Estimated yearly production 93.55 Gwh
DERIVATION
POWER HOUSE
WEIR (ASSUT)

Dams
• A gravity dam is constructed from concrete or stone blocks.
• It is designed to hold back water by primarily using the weight of the
material alone to resist the horizontal pressure of water pushing against it.
• Usually each section of the dam is stable and independent of any other dam
section.
The Cornalvo Dam is a Roman

gravity dam in Badajoz province,
Extremadura, dating to the 1st-2nd
Bratsk Hydroelectric Power
century AD.
Station, concrete gravity dam
Dams
Spillways
(sobreeixidor, abocador; aliviadero, vertedero)
• It is a safety element to evacuate water that exceeds the

dam capacity.
• They are not always part of a dam.
Surface spillway
•Service Spillway: normally it is part of the dam, placed in
the crest of the dam. Large overflow capacity.

•Channel Spillways: openings at the side of the upper
edge of the dam.
Tunnel Spillways: Not part of the dam
Emergency Spillways: Free spillways placed on the top of

the dam.
Dams
Spillways
Service
(gated)
spillway
Emergency spillway

Dams
Spillways
Siphon spillway
Plug-hole or
“Morning Glory”
spillway 35
Three Gorges:
China
Dams
• Water must not fall over the

basement of the dam.
• Flow-dynamics of the spillways
located at the top of the dam
must be carefully studied.
• Slides are often used
Spillways
Itaipú: Paraguay/Brasil border
Dams
Dam:
Type: gravity dam
Length: 461 m
Height:
Above foundation 79 m
Above riverbed 65 m
Hydroelectric plant:
Installed power: 384 MW

Annual electricity
generation: ~ 740 GWh
Front view of the Mequinenza dam (Ebro, Aragon)

De Gmfbdn - Trabajo propio, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Dams
Intake
Spillways
Tunnel
Hoover Dam
(Arizona, Nevada)
Arch
Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria gravity
en Energia dam
--- EEBE(UPC) 38
Dams
Discharge outlets
• Dam bottom outlets: One or more pipes that cross the dam and are
used to empty it
• Half-depth outlets: Elements that control the level of the dam and
back-up surface spillways
Fish stairway (ladder,

pass)
(pas de peixos; escalera de
peces)
A structure that allows fishes to

continue their migration in
rivers where their population
must be maintained.
Water conduction components
Intake and channel
CHANNEL: Conducts water to the intake chamber. Three types exist:
• Open-air channel
• Excavated channel
• Pressurized pipeline
INTAKE: Designed to reduce the head losses in the beginning of the

channel. Pressurized pipeline
Open

Generació Termofluidodinàmica II

Intake Siphon intake
Siphon
Water intake to the derivation

channel

Channel and forebay (load chamber)
Load chamber
Balances the flow

rate and pressure of
the penstock with
the flow rate and
level of the cannel
Examples for small plants
Usually in the open air

Transport water from reservoir or
Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia ---pond 42
to the penstock
EEBE(UPC)
Channels They must overcome
Tunnels
orographic accidents Bridges

Penstock (canonada forçada)

It conducts water to the turbine.
It must withstand the water pressure and in

addition the water-hammer overpressure wave
Penstock (canonada forçada)

Penstocks can be installed
above or under the ground.
Important structural elements:

• Expansion joints
• Support pillars

G

Balance chimney
(xemeneia d’equilibri)
Designed to avoid a water

hammer pressure wave
produced when the regulation
valve of the turbine is closed or
opened.

Debe aguantar la presión del agua y la
sobrepresión del golpe de ariete

Balance chimneys
• Water hammer or Hydraulic
shock (cop d’ariet; golpe de
ariete o pulso de Zhukowski)
• Over pressure due to the

inertia of water

Power house
It is where electricity
is produced
Hydro plant Tambre III

(A Coruña) Discharge channel (for water
return to the river) and
transforming station
Discharge
channel
Hydraulic turbines
Cavitation in turbines
• Water in turbines is subjected
to rapid changes of pressure
that cause the formation of
cavities (bubbles) where
pressure is lower. When
moving to a higher pressure
area these bubbles rapidly

implode (collapse) producing
a shock wave.
• Cavitation is an important cause of wear in turbines. Cavitation
bubbles that implode on a metal surface cause cyclic stress through
repeated implosion. This results in surface fatigue of the metal
causing a type of wear also called "cavitation".

G
Use of the hydraulic energy resource
Head Constant
Produced Energy
Flow Variable
HYDROLOGIC DATA
Run-of-the-
river Plant • Average flow
• Cumulative flow curve
• Net head
Head Variable • Relationship head - flow

Produced Energy
Flow Regulated
Reservoir
Plant

Flow Duration Curve
• The flow duration curve (FDC) indicates flow available for power generation
as percentage of time during the year.
• It is used to dimension the installed power based on the available energy
resource. 2006
Year 2005 2018 2019 Average
Month Fl (l/s) Fl (l/s) Fl (l/) Fl (l/s) Fl (l/s) Fl (l/s)
1 2176.7 2243.1 …. 2156.1 2123.6 2179.0
2 2486.9 2521.2 2517.7 2484.7 2520.6

3 3488.2 3494.5 … 3520.7 3531.6 3500.9
4 4742.4 4747.1 4723.9 4721.3 4780.9
5 4962.3 4826.7 … 4906.3 4992.8 4887.7 Flow (l/s) (2005-2019)
6 4270.3 4284.2 4194.0 4242.4 4273.9 5000
7 2636.2 2639.0 … 2589.0 2505.3 2585.7 4000

3000
8 2283.6 2300.8 2288.2 2182.9 2279.0 2000
9 1449.6 1314.7 … 1439.8 1375.4 1401.0 1000

0
10 528.3 535.6 535.0 534.0 530.9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Month
11 821.4 912.6 …. 827.8 890.9 876.3
12 1088.4
Tecnologia1075.1 1101.7
de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria 1054.6
en Energia 1082.3
--- EEBE(UPC) 51
Order by flow Fraction of the
12 months with
Average this flow or
Month Fl (l/s) Rank Acum more
5 4887.7 1 8.3% 5000 33% of the time the
4 4780.9 2 16.7% 4750
4500 flow is 3500 l/s or
6 4273.9 3 25.0% 4250
higher
4000
3 3500.9 4 33.3% 3750
7 2585.7 5 41.7% 3500

3250
OR if 3500 l/s or
2 2520.6 6 50.0% higher are
3000
2750
8 2279.0 7 58.3% Flow (l/s) 2500 required, only
1 2179.0 8 66.7%
2250
2000
33% of time it
9 1401.0 9 75.0% 1750 will be achieved
1500
12 1082.3 10 83.3% 1250
1000
11 876.3 11 91.7% 750
500
10 530.9 12 100.0% 250
0
0,0% 8,3% 16,7% 25,0% 33,3% 41,7% 50,0% 58,3% 66,7% 75,0% 83,3% 91,7% 100,0%
Accumulated %
Cumulative flow curve

G

𝑄𝑄(𝑚𝑚3 /𝑠𝑠)
Cumulative flow curve
Qi
Fraction of time that flow

is larger than Qi
Average flow
If it is not measured by means of flow-measurement stations, it
can be approximated calculating the run off from rain.
1000 A S Qavg : average flow (m3/s)

Q avg = = A S 3.17 10-5 A: Average annual precipitation (mm)
365 × 24 × 3600 S: Basin surface (km2)

Run-off (escorrentia) Run-off
• Quantity of water that
circulates in the surface
o a basin towards the
river bed.
• It can be approximated
as the amount of rain.
By definition a hydrographic basin is an area that does not receive surface water
from other areas. But underground connections can exist (this is not usual).
Nevertheless, not all the water from rain remains on the terrain:
Water used by vegetal mass for

Transpiration its development
Evapotranspiration
Evaporation Water evaporated directly from
soil and vegetation
Example 𝑄𝑄(𝑚𝑚3 /𝑠𝑠)
Run-of the river
𝑄𝑄(𝑚𝑚3 /𝑠𝑠)
Energy delivered annually can be

calculated by numerically
integrating the useful area

Example:
Use of the hydraulic energy
resources of Duero basin

I
Environmental impact
Environmental issues
• Demographic (forced migration) and socio-economic impact
• Large impact on ecosystems
• Impact on fish migration paths

• Erosion of the ground upstream
• Reduction of sediment supplies downstream (reduction of
deltas surface)
• Potential greenhouse emissions (CO2 and CH4 emissions
from the decomposition of retained biomass )

Source: Foro Nuclear
Hydroelectricity in Spain (Energía 2015)

Cuadro 7.8 CENTRALES HIDROELÉCTRICAS PENINSULARES DE MÁS DE 100 MW EN ESPAÑA
Potencia Tipo de
Central(*) Municipio Río Provinica
central kW Bombeo
José María Oriol Alcántara Tajo Cáceres 963,920
Villarino Villarino de los Aires Tormes Salamanca 880,880 MIXTO
Source: Foro Nuclear Aldeadávila I

La Muela-Cortes
Aldeadávila de la Ribera
Cortes de Pallás
Duero
Júcar
Salamanca
Valencia
820,440
659,360 PURO
Cedillo Cedillo Tajo Cáceres 510,710
Estany Gento-Sallente Torre Capdella (La) Flamisell Lleida 446,000 PURO
Aldeadávila II Aldeadávila de la Ribera Duero Salamanca 432,060 MIXTO
(Energía 2015)
Tajo de la Encantada Ardales Guadalhorce Málaga 379,770 PURO
Aguayo San Miguel de Aguayo Torina-Aguayo Cantabria 361,900 PURO
Puente Bibey Manzaneda Bibey Orense 324,910
Mequinenza Mequinenza Ebro Zaragoza 324,000
Belesar Chantada Miño Lugo 313,720
Conso Villarino de Conso Camba Orense 297,800 MIXTO
Cortes II Cortes de Pallás Júcar Valencia 291,980
Saucelle II Saucelle Duero Salamanca 276,040
San Esteban Nogueira de Ramuín Sil Orense 264,840
Riba-Roja Riba-Roja d'Ebre Ebro Tarragona 262,800
Saucelle I Saucelle Duero Salamanca 254,420
Valdecañas Valdecañas de Tajo Tajo Cáceres 249,000 MIXTO
Bolarque II Almonacid de Zorita Tajo Guadalajara 238,890 PURO
Soutelo Vilariño de Conso Cenza Orense 229,740 MIXTO
Moralets Montanuy Noguera Ribagorzana-Llauset Huesca 220,980 PURO
Guillena Guillena Rivera de Huelva Sevilla 210,000 PURO

Azután Alcolea del Tajo Tajo Toledo 198,010
San Esteban II Nogueira de Ramuín Sil Orense 190,000
Los Peares Castro Carballedo Miño Lugo 188,910
Ricobayo I Muelas del Pan Esla Zamora 180,470
Salime Grandas De Salime Navia Asturias 163,530
Ricobayo II Muelas del Pan Esla Zamora 158,000
Frieira Padrenda Miño Orense 162,490
Castrelo Castrelo de Miño Miño Orense 137,510
Cornatel Rubiá (Rubiana) Sil Orense 132,000
Torrejón Toril Tajo-Tiétar Cáceres 130,860 MIXTO
Tanes Sobrescobio Nalón Asturias 129,500 MIXTO
Cofrentes Cofrentes Júcar Valencia 124,200
Villalcampo II Villalcampo Duero Zamora 123,260
Tavascán Superior Lladorre Tavascán-Lladorre-Vallfarrera Lleida 120,440
Gabriel y Galán Guijo de Granadilla Alagón Cáceres 114,810 MIXTO
Castro II Villardegua de la Ribera (Fonfría) Duero Zamora 113,420
Canelles Os de Balaguer Noguera Ribagorzana Lleida 108,000
Villalcampo I Villalcampo Duero Zamora 101,640
TOTAL CENTRALES HIDROELÉCTRICAS PENINSULARES >100 MW 11,791,210
Tecnologia de centrals
(*) Ordenadas --- decreciente
en sentido Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC)
de potencia
Fuente: UNESA
Embalse de Los Peares, Galicia, España

Central hidroeléctrica de 188,9 MW

Hydroelectric Power Plants: Tecnologia de Centrals - Grau Enginyeria en Energia - EEBE (UPC)

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Tecnologia de Centrals

4. Hydroelectric power plants

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC)

• Overview: Electricity from hydraulic energy

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 3

Water acquires potential energy under the action of the

Ways of exploiting hydraulic energy

MECHANICAL Water mills

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 5

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 6

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 7

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 8

Renewable electricity generation by source

Electricity generation by source

• Run-off water has a given

surmounting obstacles in its

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 11

Peruvian Andes 2004

• If the difference in height between the channel

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 13

• The difference in level can also be obtained by rising the

By Tangopaso – Wikipedia Mini power plant on the Urumea

The Warwick Castle water-powered generator house, used for the

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 16

Dam than the other types

The Itaipú Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River located on

• Its construction caused the

More information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 19

Pe = 22500 MW Annual Ee = 95-100 TWh

Calvingao at English Wikipedia

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 21

By Sirbatch at English Q52, CC BY-SA 3.0,

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 23

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 24

power house located

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 25

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 26

Chief Joseph Dam (Bridgeport, Washington, USA), is a major run-of-

– Penstock (forced pipeline)

Weir, mill dam or derivation dam: low dam built transversely to

Most dams have a dual function and are classified accordingly to

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 29

Weir (dic, assut; dique)

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 30

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 31

The Cornalvo Dam is a Roman

• It is a safety element to evacuate water that exceeds the

the crest of the dam. Large overflow capacity.

Tunnel Spillways: Not part of the dam

Emergency Spillways: Free spillways placed on the top of

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 34

• Water must not fall over the

• Slides are often used

Installed power: 384 MW

Front view of the Mequinenza dam (Ebro, Aragon)

Fish stairway (ladder,

A structure that allows fishes to

INTAKE: Designed to reduce the head losses in the beginning of the

Tecnologia de centrals --- Grau Enginyeria en Energia --- EEBE(UPC) 40

Water conduction components

Water intake to the derivation