PENSTOCK

SIZING
PROCEDURE,
JOINT, VALVE
GROUP 6
PENSTOCK
A penstock is a group of pipes that transport pressurised water from
a reservoir (dam) to the turbines installed in a hydro-electric power
plant.
PENSTOCK SIZING PROCEDURE
The penstock is the pipe which conveys water under pressure to the turbine.
The major components of the penstock assembly are given in Figure.
 PENSTOCK SIZING PROCEDURE

The penstock often constitutes a major expense in the total cost and it is therefore
worthwhile optimizing the design. The trade-off is between head loss and capital cost.The
efficiency of the penstock is connected to the velocity of the water passing through the pipe.
The higher the velocity, the more friction losses appear. Since the diameter of a pipe has a
large influence on the velocity, the diameter of the pipe must be carefully chosen by
considering its cost/performance ratio. Simply, smaller diameter pipes tend to be cheaper
but will contribute to high head loss. The basic relation between flow and pipe diameter is
obtained by the continuity equation:
The major components of the
penstock
EXPANSION JOINT

Expansion joints are used to

absorb thermal expansion. They
can also be used to absorb
contraction in cryogenic lines and
to reduce vibration in piping
systems.
The major components of the
penstock
PENSTOCK GATE

A penstock or sluice gate is a type

of valve for controlling water or
sewerage. Penstocks are, in
essence, a sliding door that can be
operated by hand or by means of
an actuator.
The major components of the
penstock
VENT PIPE
. a pipe above a waste pipe or soil pipe that
allows gas to escape from the system.
POWER HOUSE
the power house is constructed on one flank of
the dam,part of the dam being used as a
spillway over which excess water is discharged
in times of floods.
The major components of the
penstock
PIPE JOINT

Pipes are connected with the help of

joints. A variety of joints are used in
an assembly of pipes. Connecting two
or more pipes together. Various types
of joints could be used in a pipe as
per the requirement joint are also
used for multi pipe connection and
are an important component of the
plumbing system.
The major components of the
penstock
VALVE

A valve is a device or natural object

that regulates, directs or controls the
flow of a fluid (gases, liquids,
fluidized solids, or slurries) by
opening, closing, or partially
obstructing various passageways.
Valves are technically fittings, but are
usually discussed as a separate
category.
The major components of the
penstock
ANCHOR BLOCK

Anchor blocks are a type of blocks

that are used in many different types
of construction. The block is usually
intended to provide some type of
means of fastening other materials
together while still preserving the
overall integrity of the construction.
Types of Materials used for
Penstock
The following materials can be considered for
use as penstock pipes in micro-hydro schemes:
• Mild steel
• Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC)
• High density polyethylene (HDPE)
• Medium density polyethylene (MDPE)
Types of Materials used for
Penstock
• Spun ductile iron
• Prestressed concrete
• Wood stave
• Glass reinforced plastic, etc.
Mild steel, uPVC, HDPE and MDPE are the
most common materials used.
Penstock Jointing
Pipes are generally supplied in standard lengths and have to
be joined together on site. Methods of pipe
jointing fall roughly into four categories:
• Flanged
• Spigot and socket
• Mechanical
• Welded
Valves
Valves control the water flow through the penstock. It is
advisable to place a valve at the entry to the
turbine, to allow uncoupling of the turbine with the penstock.
A valve is not usually necessary at the top
of the penstock, because water can be diverted from the
penstock in other ways such as by diverting
from the channel by closing the mouth of the penstock with
a flat board faced with rubber or by opening
a sluice in the forebay tank.
Valves
z
Valves

Some types of valves that exist and are commonly used include: z

Gate valve-is the most common valve for water supply systems.
It represents a linear-motion isolation valve and has a function
to stop or allow the flow. Gate valves got their name from the
closure element sliding into the flow stream to provide shutoff
and, therefore, acting like a gate.
Butterfly valve-are a family of quarter-turn rotational motion
valves that are used in pipelines to shut-off flow. It is often said
that butterfly valves can be used to regulate the flow.
Valves
z
Globe valve-Globe valves, so-called because of their outside shape, are
widely used in plant piping. They are suitable for manual and automatic
operation. Unlike the gate valve, globe valve can be used for regulating
flow or pressures as well as complete shutoff of flow.
Ball Valve-use a metal ball with a hole bored through the center,
sandwiched between two seats to control flow. Used in many hydrocarbon
process applications, ball valves are capable of throttling gases and vapors
and are especially useful for low flow situations.
Pilot valve- is an add-on to the in-line valve. It enables a small force to
operate the larger valve like in a hydraulic piston. The pressure inside the
temperature sensor and coil enables the main valve to operate. The control
is mechanical.
PENSTOCK
SIZING
Selecting the pipe diameter
The two main constraints on the
choice of pipe diameter are (a)
the price, and (b) the head loss.
The overall aim will be to find the
pipe of smallest diameter
(cheapest) which provides an
acceptable level of head loss.
Selecting the pipe diameter

The major source of head loss is friction between the moving

water and inside surface of the pipe. A second cause is
turbulence. Both contribute to heat dissipation. Turbulence
losses occur whenever the smooth passage of the flow is
interfered with, usually at the following places: the penstock
inlet, bends,valves and changes in pipe diameter. In long
penstocks, these losses may be insignificant, but in short
penstocks they may be greater than the friction loss.
Selecting the pipe diameter

In choosing a pipe diameter, the objective is to restrict the total head loss to between
2% and 10% ofthe gross head. A reasonable target to aim for is 5%. For very long,
high head penstocks, up to 30%head loss may be considered, especially in conjunction
with multi-jet pelton wheels. Selecting the pipe diameter is an iterative process, it
involves starting with first estimate of what mightbe a suitable diameter, based on
the sizes that are available and then adjusting that estimate depending upon head
loss and the price. The procedures for calculating a) the friction loss (pipe wall losses)
and b) turbulence loss are described below. Note that if this calculation is only meant
to be a rough estimate, then you may ignore the turbulence losses unless the
penstock is very short.
Calculation of friction loss (pipe wall losses)
Calculation of turbulence losses
The magnitude of the turbulence losses depends upon the various changes which
occur in the
penstock geometry and the speed with which the flow hits those changes. The
overall head loss due to
turbulence is generally expressed as:

Where vi is the velocity of the flow after it has encountered a feature with
turbulence loss coefficient Ki.
Σ denotes “sum of” and this will be the sum of all Kn components that
cause turbulence, g is gravitational
acceleration constant (9.81m/s2)
Pipe thickness and applicable surge
pressures
The penstock pipe wall has to be thick enough to withstand the maximum water pressure that might
occur. This means not only coping with the normal operating pressures but also surge pressures. Surge
pressures are caused by sudden changes in flow velocity. They are generally short lived, but they can be
very large. They occur whenever the valve at the base of the penstock is opened or closed or of there is
accidental blockage by debris. It is recommended that all applicable pressures are discussed with the
penstock supplier to ensure that the pipe does not deteriorate due to sudden unexpected pressures, as
such pipe with
THANK YOU!
Do you have any
questions?
We hope you learned something new.