POWER DEVELOPMENT UNDER SRISAILAM COMPLEX

The River Krishna is one of the major river systems in peninsular

India and its basin has been and continues to be the cradle of civilization
since ancient. Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar dams constructed one
below the other on this river form two of the largest man made lakes with
combined gross storage of over 700 TMC ft. (20,000 million cubic
meters). Such a system of two large reservoirs in cascade (one below the
other) is unique. This affords development of Hydel Power in the
conventional as well as pumped storage mode.
Srisailam dam forms the upper reservoir with a gross storage of
308 TMC ft (8700 million cubic meters). This dam has been constructed
as a part of Srisailam Hydro Electric Project comprising the dam and a
power station on the right bank with installation of 7 Nos., each of 110
MW Hydel units. This power station is presently in operation and
contributes about 2300 million units of energy every year. Though
originally conceived mainly as a hydroelectric project, irrigation projects
have since been formulated and taken up for execution to draw water
from Srisailam reservoir and feed parched lands in drought prone districts
of Rayalaseema.
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, which is about 100 KM downstream of the
river from Srisailam forms the lower reservoir with a gross storage of 400
TMC ft. Taking advantage of the location of two large reservoirs one
below the other, another project has been formulated and executed for
development of peaking power by the principle of pumped storage
operation. Srisailam Left bank Power Station is an underground power
station with installation of 6 Nos., of each of 150 MW reversible type
pump turbine motor generating units. This power station facilitates
mopping up of surplus off peak thermal power in the system to supply it
during peak hours. In addition it generates cheap conventional energy
with monsoon surplus flows in the river. Stabilization of the grid and
improving voltage are the additional advantages.
Brief details of the power Project are given in the following pages.
 Srisailam Right Bank Power House (7 X 110 MW)

1. Project Works

A masonry concrete dam at Sunnipenta, (6 KM down stream from

Srisailam Temple) to a height of 145 meters (470 ft) and length 512
meters (1680 ft.) was constructed.
12 Nos., 65 ft x 55 ft., flood discharge radial gates are provided at the
crest of the spillway. Maximum capacity of flood discharge through these
gates is 13,00,000 cusecs.
Water to the Hydro Power House is taken through a tunnel of
diameter, 15M & Length 720M in the Right Flank at EL 219 M (718.54 ft).
7 Nos., 110 MW each Hydro Turbine generators are connected to this
system. During peak flood season about 18.0 MU of energy per day will
be available through this power house to Andhra Pradesh State Power
Grid.
2. Project Programme

The Project works were inaugurated by our late Prime Minister Sri.
Jawaharlal Nehru in July 1963. All the seven generating units were erected
and commissioned during the period August 1982 to March 1987. The
Power House was dedicated to Nation by our late Prime Minister Smt. Indira
Gandhi in October, 1982.
3. Project Cost

The Civil and Electrical works of the project (1st and 2nd stage works) is
estimated at Rs.567.27 Crores, as per revised estimated submitted to
Government in 04/1991. Out of this estimates cost, an amount of Rs.
120.362 Crores pertains to Power House.
4. Salient Features of Project

a) Location
State : Andhra Pradesh
District : Between Kurnool & Mahaboob Nagar
River : Krishna
Latitude : 16° - 5’ N
Longitude : 78° - 54’ E
b) Hydrology
Catchment Area : 2,06,030 km2 (7950 Sq. Miles)
Max. Flood Discharge : 10,60,830 Cusecs
Mean Annual Rain Fall
Max. : 101.6 cm (40 Inches)
Min. : 63.5 cm (25 Inches)
c) Reservoir
Full Reservoir Level : EL +269.75 m (885 ft)
Max. Water Level : EL +271.88 m (892 ft)
Gross Storage Capacity : 8.722 MCM (308 TMC)
Live Storage Capacity : 5.975 MCM (211 TMC)
Water spread area at FRL : 616.42 km2 (238 sq. miles)
d) Dam
Top of Dam : EL 275.54 m (904 ft)
Height above deepest
Foundation : 145.10 M (470 ft)
Length at top : 512 m (1680ft)
Crest Level : 253 m (830 ft)
e) Spillway
Max. Designed discharge : 13,20,000 Cusecs
No. of spill way gates and size : 12 Nos. 18.3 m x 16.8 m (60' x 30')
each
No. of River Sluices and size : 2 Nos. 12 ft x 30 ft each
Max. Discharge through River
Sluice : 35,680 cusecs
Deep bed level of River : EL +152 m (500 ft)
Minimum tailrace level : EL +163 M (535 ft)
f) Power Tunnel
Diameter : 15 m (50 ft)
Length : 740 m (2428 ft)
Height of Trash Rack : 38 m
Width at Bell mouth entrance : 18.45 m
Discharge (Max.) : 1000 Cumecs (35000 Cusecs)
Invert Level at Entrance : EL +219 m (718.54 ft)
No. of Penstocks : 7 Nos. of 6.10 m ( 20 ft ) dia each.
Diameter of surge shaft : 28 m (92 ft)
g) Power House
No. of Units : 4 Nos. under Stage – I
3 No.s under Stage - II
Unit Capacity : 110 MW each
Max. Tail Water Level : EL +194 m (635 ft) for max. flood
Condition
h) Head
Maximum (Net) : 103 m ( 344 ft )
Minimum (Net) : 73 m ( 234 ft )
Rated (Net) : 90 m ( 300 ft )
Discharge for full generation
per machine at rated head : 147.3 Cumecs ( 5200 Cusecs )
MDDL for generation : 240 m ( 800 ft )
i) Tail Race System
Width of DT Tunnel : 14.5 m
No.& dia. of Surge Shaft : 2 Nos., 8 m each
5. Power Complex Works
The Power Complex works comprise the following
1. Intake structure with an approach channel
2. Power Tunnel
3. Surge Shaft
4. Penstock Tunnels
5. Draft Tube Gates
6. Tail Race System
6. Switchgear and Feeder Bays
The Switchgear and the feeder bays are located on the top of the hill
where the ground elevation is EL 365.75 M. This Sub-station at Srisailam
Dam is connected to the Power Grid through 220KV and 132 KV
transmission lines. There are 10 Nos., 220KV feeder bays and 2 Nos., 132
KV feeder bays, which have been connected to various stations in the power
grid and contribute to the stability of grid and reliability of power supply.
The Generation of Power at Srisailam Project has saved to a major extent,
low voltage problems and contributed to system stability.
7. Benefits
Srisailam Power House has been the most reliable source of
dependable Hydro Power Generating about 3,000 Million Units on an
average annually representing about 35% of Andhra Pradesh's Total
Hydro generation of about 8,000 Million Units per year. Since
commissioning of this power house, a total of 53,906.23 MU were
generated till 31st March, 2009.
The Dates of Commissioning of Generating Units are as follows.
Unit No. Commissioning Date
1 30-08-1982
2 14-12-1982
3 19-11-1983
4 27-08-1984
5 31-03-1986
6 30-10-1986
7 15-03-1987
8. Record Achievements
Max. Peak generation : 813 MW on 1-10-2000
Max. Energy Generation in a
Single Day : 19.096 MU on 8-10-2000
Max. Energy Generation in a
Month : 564.957 MU in 10/2000
Max. Energy Generation in a year : 3797.927 MU in 1993-94

9. Staff
The Operation & Maintenance works of Power House are carried out
through the following staff.
1. Engineers : 63
2. Office Staff : 44
3. Workmen : 122
4. Security Personnel : 10
Total : 239

10. Average cost of generation for 2002-03 Rs.0.178/unit

11. The plant load factor for 2002-2003 38.143%
Generation in MU from 1982 to 2008

S. No. Year Generation in MU

1 1982-83 448.73
2 1983-84 660.684
3 1984-85 2006.193
4 1985-86 2114.618
5 1986-87 2864.361
6 1987-88 2778.711
7 1988-89 2616.517
8 1989-90 2958.357
9 1990-91 3589.985
10 1991-92 3269.134
11 1992-93 3181.622
12 1993-94 3797.927
13 1994-95 3306.198
14 1995-96 2666.498
15 1996-97 2960.552
16 1997-98 2954.999
17 1998-99 2616.887
18 1999-00 2974.244
19 2000-01 3036.631
20 2001-02 1942.246
21 2002-03 538.653
22 2003-04 307.672
23 2004-05 941.043
24 2005-06 1489.429
25 2006-07 1750.187
26 2007-08 2190.185
27 2008-09
Total sofar
 Submersion of Srisailam Hydro Electric Power Project On 15-10-1998 due to
Unprecedented Flood

The inflows into Srisailam reservoir during October, 1998 were 778
TMC ft. (highest in the past years) against a normal of 70.62 TMC ft due to
unprecedented inflows into Srisailam Reservoir which was already full,
about 6.2 Lakh Cusecs of water, was released from Srisailam Reservoir on
15.10.1998 at 01.00 hrs which was subsequently raised to 7.35 Lakh
Cusecs at 08.00 hrs on the same day. The huge release of flood water from
Srisailam Reservoir and consequently Hydraulic Jump has resulted in the
scouring away of portion of the masonry coffer dam's wall which was
constructed along with dam in 1973. At about 01.20 hrs on 15.10.1998
water in huge quantities started entering the Power House were stopped at
01.45 hrs and the station was made electrically dead preventing a major
damage to the equipment.
In spite of the best efforts of the project staff to keep the rising
water out by laying huge bunding with sand bags, the rising water could not
be controlled and the whole Power House got inundated. Hence the Power
Station had to be abandoned from 09.00Hrs. on 15.10.1998 for about a
week. Because of incessant heavy inflows the de-watering of the plant could
be commenced only on 21.10.1998 i.e., after the releases of water through
crest gates are reduced to below 4.00 Lakh cusecs and dewatering could be
completed on 4.11.98.
The turbines, Generators and connected equipment of Srisailam
Power House were originally supplied by M/s. BHEL, while the protection
panels were supplied by M/s. ABB and the unit control board relays by M/s.
GEC Alsthom. An open order has been placed on M/s. BHEL for restoration
and re-commissioning of the Power House. M/s. BHEL have in turn
engaged different agencies for each unit and carried out restoration works
under the supervision of M/s. BHEL and APSEB and expert advices from
M/s. National Hydro Power Corporation (India), M/s. SNC Lavalin, Canada
and M/s. East Midland Electricity, U.K. were taken for speedy restoration.
To carryout revamping works on Auxiliary equipment, Protection panels,
Control panels, Generating Transformers etc., various firms i.e., M/s. ABB,
M/s. GE Alsthom, M/s. Easun Reyrolls, M/s. Control & Switchgear, M/s.
Control & Schematic, M/s. WPIL, M/s. Automatic Electric were called to
site and the works carried-out on war-footage. The APSE Board constituted
a Task Force Committee with Top Officers of Board to supervise and
arrange the restoration works. The Chairman/ APSEB camped at Srisailam
and personally monitored to speed-up the restoration works. The 7 x 110
MW Generating Units of this Power House were re-commissioned
satisfactorily on the following dates after the revamping works:
1 30-01-1999
2 30-12-1998
3 12-12-1998
4 09-12-1998
5 27-11-1998
6 08-01-1999
7 03-121998
 Water Surplused over the Srisailam Dam

Sl. No. Year Quantity in Energy Equivalent

T.M.C In M.U.
1. 1984 586.790 3120.75
2. 1985 262.870 1398.03

3. 1986 177.72 945.17

4. 1987 --- ---

5. 1988 754.685 4013.67

6. 1989 470.489 2502.22

7. 1990 848.671 4513.52

8. 1991 1010.26 5372.95

9. 1992 378.767 2014.41

10. 1993 631.172 3356.79

11. 1994 1287.34 6846.52

12. 1995 --- ---

13. 1996 617.314 3283.08

14. 1997 691.975 3680.16

15. 1998 1371.762 7295.51

16. 1999 407.838 2034.507
17. 2000 127.319 732.08

18. 2001 135.228 777.56

19. 2002 --- ---

20. 2003 --- ---
21. 2004 19.3331 105.16
22. 2005 1063.4333 5795.74