Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department

Clim Jobert L. Regio MEEN 40053: Solar Energy and Wind Energy Utilization

BSME 4 – 3 Engr. Armingol Morales

Midterm Exam
I. DEFINE / EXPLAIN
a) Reservoir
Reservoirs are an open-air storage area (usually formed by masonry or
earthwork) where water is collected and kept in quantity so that it may be drawn off
for use. Reservoirs are an important feature of many water supply systems around the
world.
b) Dam
Dams are a type of retaining structure, which are structures built to create
large standing bodies of water known as reservoirs. These reservoirs can be used for
irrigation, electrical generation, or water supply. These structures are built on top of
riverbeds and hold back water, raising the water level. Dikes can be built along with
the dam to increase the dams effectiveness by preventing water from leaving the
reservoir through secondary routes
c) Penstock
Penstocks are like large pipes laid with some slope which carries water from
intake structure or reservoir to the turbines. They run with some pressure so, sudden
closing or opening of penstock gates can cause water hammer effect to the penstocks.
So, these are designed to resist the water hammer effect apart from this
penstock is similar to normal pipe. To overcome this pressure, heavy wall is provided
for short length penstock and surge tank is provided in case of long length penstocks.
Steel or Reinforced concrete is used for making penstocks. If the length is
small, separate penstock is used for each turbine similarly if the length is big single
large penstock is used and at the end it is separated into branches.
d) Surge Chamber
A surge chamber or surge tank is a cylindrical tank which is open at the top to
control the pressure in penstock. It is connected to the penstock and as close as
possible to the power house. Whenever the power house rejected the water load
coming from penstock the water level in the surge tank rises and control the pressure
in penstock.
Similarly, when the huge demand is needed in power house surge tank
accelerates the water flow into the power house and then water level reduces. When
the discharge is steady in the power house, water level in the surge tank becomes
constant.
e) Head Water
Head is the height difference between where the water enters into the hydro
system and where it leaves it, measured in meters. Typically, this could be the height
of a weir at the turbine entrance or if the site is undeveloped it would be between
where the hydro intake screen would be and where the water discharges from the
turbine and returns to the watercourse.
f) Tail Race
Tailrace is the flow of water from turbines to the stream. It is good if the
power house is located nearer to the stream. But, if it is located far away from the
stream then it is necessary to build a channel for carrying water into the stream.
Otherwise the water flow may damage the plant in many ways like lowering
turbine efficiency, cavitation, damage to turbine blades etc.
This is because of silting or scouring caused by unnecessary flow of water
from power house. Hence, proper design of tailrace should be more important.
g) Draft Tube
If reaction turbines are used, then draft tube is a necessary component
which connects turbine outlet to the tailrace. The draft tube contains gradually
increasing diameter so that the water discharged into the tailrace with safe
velocity. At the end of draft tube, outlet gates are provided which can be closed
during repair works.
 h) Hydraulic Turbine
Hydraulic turbine, a device which can convert the hydraulic energy into the
mechanical energy which again converted into the electrical energy by coupling the
shaft of turbine to the generator.
The mechanism in this case is, whenever the water coming from penstock
strike the circular blades or runner with high pressure it will rotate the shaft provided
at the center and it causes generator to produce electrical power.
i) Generator
In this generating unit, water rushes through the penstock and into the scroll
case. It turns the turbine blades and is then drawn to the turbine axis to exit through
the underneath draft tube. The mechanical energy produced by the tremendous force
that rushing water exerts on the turbine is transmitted to the generator, which then
converts it into electrical energy.
j) Water Power
Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, is a renewable source of energy that
generates power by using a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a
river or other body of water. Hydropower relies on the endless, constantly recharging
system of the water cycle to produce electricity, using a fuel—water—that is not
reduced or eliminated in the process.
II. PROBLEM SOLVING
 3
m
1) A hydro-electric plant discharge water at rate of 0.75 and enters the turbine at
s
0.35 mps with a pressure of 275 KPa. Runner inside diameter is 550 mm. Speed at
320 rpm and the turbine efficiency is 88%. Find the turbine speed factor.

2) An impulse turbine has a diameter of 60 in, speed of 350 rpm, bucket angle with 160
degrees, coefficient of velocity is 0.98, relative speed of 0.45; a generator of 0.90; k =
0.90 and a et diameter from no22/c of 6 in. Compute the power input in Hp.

3) A windmill with a 6m radius roter is to be installed where atmospheric pressure

conditions prevail at 101.325 KPa and 21 degrees Celsius. It was observed that wind
m
is blowing steadily at an average velocity of 20 . Assuming that the conversion
s
 efficiency is somewhere between 20% to 25%. Determine the maximum available
power from the windmill.

w
4) A solar collecting panel 20m2 in area receives solar energy at the rate of 750 . It is
m2
estimated that 35% of the incident energy is lost to surroundings. Water enters the
kg
panel at steady flow rate of 0.05 at 15 degrees Celsius. Calculate the temperature
s

of water leaving the collecting panel change in elevation ex water in 2 meters.