Chapter 5

Introduction to Hydropower
 Content

5.1. Introduction
5.2. Hydropower Basics
5.3. Classification of Hydropower Plants
5.4. Estimation of Hydropower Potential
5.5. Estimation of Hydropower Demand
5.6. Hydropower System Components
– Intake Structures, Conveyance System, Hydraulic
Turbine, Surge Tank, Powerhouse, Draft Tube,
Trailrace, Power Transmission …
5.1. Introduction

Types of electric power plants

Electric power can be generated from:

- Thermal (coal fired, gas, diesel ...)
- Nuclear
- Wind Mill
- Solar/Photovoltaic Cells
- Biomass
- Geothermal
- Hydro (the oldest and the cheapest method
of power generation)
5.1. Introduction

Changes in the Global Energy Mix

5.1. Introduction
5.1. Introduction

Hydropower

Hydro is derived from Greek word “Hudor” meaning

water.

• Hydropower - is the energy we make with moving

water.

• We use water energy to make electricity.

5.1. Introduction
Ethiopian hydroelectric dam chronology

1932 Akaki (Akaki River) 6 MW

1953 Tis Abay I (Abay River) 11.5 MW
1960 Koka (Awash River) 42.3 MW
1966 Awash II (Awash River) 32 MW
1971 Awash III (Awash River) 32 MW
1973 Fincha (Fincha River) 100 MW

12,625.8 MW
1989 Melka Wakena (Wabe Shebele River) 153 MW
1990 Sor 5 MW
2001 Tis Abay II (Abay River) 75 MW
2004 Gibe I (Omo River) 184 MW
2009 Tekeze (Tekeze River) 310 MW
2009 Gibe II (Omo River) 420 MW
2010 Tana Beles (Belesa River) 435 MW
2013 Gibe III (Omo River) 1870 MW
------ Renaissance Dam (Abay River) 5150 MW
2018 Genale Dawa – III (Genale River) 1640 MW
------- Koysha (Omo River) 2160 MW
5.2. Hydropower Basics
Hydrological Cycle
5.2. Hydropower Basics
Hydroelectric power generation components
5.2. Hydropower Basics
5.2. Hydropower Basics

The main components of a

hydropower plant are
- Intake Structure
- Forebay
- Surge Chamber
- Penstock
- Turbine
- Powerhouse
- Generator
- Transformer
- Tailrace
- Transmission Lines
5.2. Hydropower Basics

Water is flowing to the powerhouse at a considerable distance from the

dam through a canal, tunnel, or penstock. With favorable topography it is
possible to realize a high head even with a low dam. With this
arrangement, head variations in the reservoir may be small compared
with the total head, and the turbine can operate near optimum head
(peak efficiency) at all times.
5.2. Hydropower Basics
Types of Development:

• Run-of-River Development – using the natural flow of a river (it

has short penstock)
• Diversion and Canal Development – the water diverted from the
natural channel into a canal (it has a long penstock)
• Storage Regulation Development – an extensive impoundment
(augmentation) it regulates the seasonal fluctuation of energy
demand.
• Pumped/Storage Development – water pumped from the lower
reservoir to the higher reservoir using pump.
• Tidal Power Development – this is due to the back and forth
movement of water as a result of tidal action.
• Single-purpose Development – only for one purpose (electricity
development)
• Multipurpose Development – more than one purpose
5.2. Hydropower Basics
Hydropower Equation:

P    Rh
Where:
P – hydroelectric power in kW
 - unit weight of water in KN/m3
 - overall efficiency
R - discharge through the power plant in m3/s
h - static head of water in m
5.2. Hydropower Basics
Example 5.1.
A hydropower station has a gross head of 50 meter. If the
optimum discharge is 300 m3/s, compute the power generation?
Take the overall efficiency is 85%.
Solution
Given
- unit weight of water = 9.81 kN/m3
 - overall efficiency = 0.85
R - discharge through the power plant = 300 m3/s
h - static head of water = 50 m
By substituting into the equation gives

P    Rh
= 125,077.50 kW
≈ 125 MW
5.2. Hydropower Basics

Advantages and disadvantages of Hydropower

Advantages Disadvantages
Running, operating and maintenance Potential depends on location
cost is low
Ability to quickly and readily vary the Require large initial investments
amount of power generated

Utilizes a renewable energy source as a Long transmission lines

fuel (water)
Generation process is environmentally Social and environmental impacts for
clean large schemes (danger of collapse of a
dam)
Reliable more than wind and solar Long gestation period
Long lifetime Movement of fish affected
5.2. Hydropower Basics

Data required to analysis the hydroelectric power:

Hydrological data:
• historical stream flow (development + operation)
• evaporation from the reservoir
• leakage through and around the dam

Physical Characteristics
• elevation-area-volume relationship (for impounding system)
• minimum and maximum allowable reservoir elevation
• elevation-discharge curves (for run of system)
• tailwater rating curves
5.2. Hydropower Basics

Data required to analysis the hydroelectric power ....

Relevant data about the physical characteristics of power plants:

• Installed capacity, which represents the upper limit
of power that can be generated by the plant
• Plant factor, which represents the peak and firm
energy production of the plant
• Maximum and minimum discharge
• Head range that the plant operation
• Turbine characteristics, including shape of
efficiency curve
5.3. Classification of Hydropower Plants
Based on hydraulic features
• Conventional hydro plants (use normal available hydraulic energy)
• Pumped storage plants (concept of recycling of the same water)
• Tidal power plants (using tidal energy e.g. La Rance France))
• Depression power plants (diverting sea water to the depression land) e.g.
Quattara depression in Egypt

Based on Operation
• Base load plant - A power station
operating continuously at a
constant or nearly constant power
and which operates at relating high
load factors.
• Peak load plant (like pumped
storage plant) - a power station
that is primarily designed for the
purpose of operating to supply the
peak load of a power system.
5.3. Classification of Hydropower Plants
Based on storage and pondage
• Storage plant (when the flow is uneven over a year)
• Without storage (by using a natural flow)

Based on plant capacity

- Micro plants < 5 MW
- Medium capacity 5 to 100 MW
- High capacity 101 to 1000 MW
- Super plants > 1000 MW

Based on head
- Low head plants < 15 m
- Medium head plants 15 to 70 m
- High head plants 71 to 250 m
- Very high head plants > 250 m
5.3. Classification of Hydropower Plants

Important
Low Head Medium Head High Head
Features
Discharge Large Moderate Small
Storage No Daily or weekly Seasonal or
annual
Type Kaplan, high Francis, Kaplan Pelton, low speed
speed Francis Francis
Turbines

Size Large Medium Small

Setting Horizontal or Vertical Horizontal
Vertical
Relative
high Moderate Low
Production cost
5.4. Estimating Hydropower Potential

Two methods are used to estimate the hydropower potential at

a given site:
1. Flow Duration Curve Method (FDCM) and
2. Sequential Stream Flow Routing (SSFR) method.

FDCM
The net head for various discharges is estimated. Using
the data of the usable range of FDC and head vs.
discharge data, a head-duration curve is developed. The
hydropower equation is used to estimate the power
generated at many points on the FDC and a power
duration curve is developed.
5.4. Estimating Hydropower Potential
Flow Duration Curve (FDC)
Flow duration curve analysis looks at the cumulative frequency
of historic flow data over a specified period. A flow duration
curve relates flow values to the percent of time those values
have been met or exceeded.
5.4. Estimating Hydropower Potential

Example 5.2

A run-of-river power plant is proposed at the site for which

the monthly flow data are presented in Table shown in the
next slide.

The head available at the site is about 10m and plant

efficiency is about 70%. Assume that the turbine discharge
capacity is 500 m3/sec.

Plot the power–duration curve and find the firm energy that
is expected with 90% probability of exceedance.
5.4. Estimating Hydropower Potential
Table: Monthly stream flow data (m3/sec)

Month 2021 2022 2023

January 105 440 102
February 108 275 860
March 645 337 640
April 1000 515 690
May 1308 1968 1330
June 419 1965 930
July 89 360 155
August 28 71 92
September 32 50 50
October 40 95 88
November 80 100 305
December 210 88 300
5.4. Estimating Hydropower Potential
Solution
Monthly stream flow data in descending order (m3/sec)

Rank Sorted stream flows Probability of Exceedance

1 1968 0.03
2 1965 0.05
3 1330 0.08
4 1308 0.11
5 1000 0.14
... ... ...
32 50 0.86
33 50 0.89
34 40 0.92
35 32 0.95
36 28 0.97
5.4. Estimating Hydropower Potential
Flow Duration Curve (FDC)
2000
1800
Discharge (m3/sec) 1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent of time exceeded or equaled

Pmax = ηγQh
= 0.7 × 9.81× 500 ×10 = 34,335 kW
5.4. Estimating Hydropower Potential

2967 kW

Power-duration curve

The firm energy with 90% reliability is then estimated as 2967 kW

using the numbers in Table or from the power-duration curve.
5.4. Estimating Hydropower Potential
Impact of storage on FDC
5.5. Power Demand
The Load Duration Curve (LDC)

• Daily Load Curve – a curve showing the variation of

demand within a day
• Load factor – the ratio of mean load to the peak
load or the ratio energy consumed during 24hrs to
its maximum demand
• Capacity factor (plant use factor) – the ratio of the
average output of the plant for a given period of
time to the plant capacity. (It is generally between
25 to 75%)
• Utilization factor – the ratio of water actually utilized
for power production to that available in the river
(varies between 40 to 90%).
• Diversity factor – the ratio of sum of individual
maximum demands to the simultaneous maximum
demand (sometime the value is greater than 100%)
5.5. Power Demand
The Load Duration Curve (LDC)
• A very convenient and simple way to construct annual
load duration curves are from the daily load curves. This
is conducted by arranging the various demands of load
in descending order along with the time during which it
occurred.
• If a plot of loads and the percentage of time during
which these loads or higher occurred in prepared, then
this would be a Load Duration Curve.
- Load duration curves may be constructed for any
duration of time.
- The area under load-duration curve represents the
total energy production for the duration
- Annual load factor is the ratio of area under the
curve to the area of the rectangular corresponding
to the maximum demand occurring the course of
year.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.1. Intakes Structures
Location
Intake locates at the entrance of canal or
tunnel or pipes

It fulfils the following:

- Control the flow of water into the
conveyance system by gate or a valve
- Smooth, easy and turbulence free
entry of water (bell-shaped entry)
- Stopping coarse river-borne trash
matter entering into the conveyance
passage (trashracks...)
- Not allowing heavy sediment loads
(silt trap and silt excluders)
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.1. Intakes Structures
Types
Depends on the type of power plant as well as the
layout
1. Run-of-river intake
It is an integral part of powerhouse
2. Canal Intake
• similar to run-of-river system
• silt trap and excluder are necessary
• 900 to 1100 to the main flow
direction (for sediment control point
of view)
• on curved reaches, preferably intake
locates on concave side
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.1. Intakes Structures

3. Dam Intakes
• usually in the body of the dam
• mostly inlet section is rectangular and a gradual
transition is provided to the circular penstock
• it can be inclined or vertical
• when intake inclined, the area of the inlet can be
found
Area of Penstock
Area of inlet   Sec 
Coefficient of contraction
where ϴ is the angle that the axis of inclined
penstock makes to the water surface. The value of
contraction can be assumed as 0.6 for high heads
and 0.7 for low heads.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.1. Intakes Structures

4. Tower Intakes
• normally on hill sides, when it is not convenient to
provide the simple intake directly on the upstream
face of the dam
• the tower may be connected with the main dam
through a bridge
• flow into the tower controlled by a number of gates to
close and open the ports at various levels
• towers should be strong enough to withstand
hydrostatic forces as well as earthquake, wind etc
forces
5. Shaft Intakes
• it is vertical or nearly vertical shaft
• consists: entrance structures having trashracks and inlet
mouth, intake gate and access tunnel
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.1. Intakes Structures
The Trash Rack
• For preventing the trash from getting entry into the entrance
flume, bars at certain spacing are placed in slanting position
(an angle of 500 to 800 with the horizontal)
• Fine screen is not recommended due to high initial and
maintenance cost, again due to high head loss
Spacing of Bars
Depends upon factor such as types of turbine, its dimension and
the peripheral speed of the runner.
• For example, for high discharge, low head Kaplan turbine,
the pacing of the bars can be 25 cm or 1/30th of the runner
diameter.
• For Francis turbine, clear spacing of bars equal to the
distance between the runner vanes. Unsupported length of
the bar must to be greater than 70 times the bar thickness.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.1. Intakes Structures
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.2. Conveyance System

Depending upon the

topography of the terrain,
the conveyance system can
take the shape of tunnels,
canals, flumes, or pipes
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.2. Conveyance System
A. Power Canals
- Power canal is appropriate conveyance when the topography of terrain is
moderate with gentle slope.
- the head-race canals are designed to carry the stated maximum discharge
under uniform flow conditions when the intake is controlled.
- the tail-race canals are also designed similarly, the controlling level being
that of the stream into which it discharge.
Lining of canals
The purpose is to reduce the Manning’s coefficient, n. The lining materials can
be:
- Simple stone paving
- Masonry and brick lining
- Concrete lining and pre-cast tile lining
- Shotcrete (cement-gun concrete) lining
- Asphalt or bitumen lining
- Bentonite lining
- Plastic lining
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.2. Conveyance System

A. Power Canals
Design Criteria
i. The discharge capacity
It can be fixed with the help of flow duration curve for the available discharge
or stored volume, the pondage or balancing storage required to suit the load
demand and the functioning of the power stations.
ii. Surges
• it is a hydraulic transients wherein the flow and the pressure changes
resulted variation of water level, hence sufficient free board should be
provided
• if topography permits, suitable spillover or balancing reservoir should be
provided to act as an open surge basin at forebay.
iii. Maximum permissible velocity: with the consideration of erosion
iii. Minimum permissible velocity: silt deposition criteria
iv. Side slope
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.2. Conveyance System

B. Tunnels
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.2. Conveyance System

B. Tunnels

Advantages:
• Provides very often a direct and a short route for water passage and
thereby considerable economy in project costs.
• Natural landscape is not disturbed
• Techniques of drilling and blasting makes the work easier
Function
• It can be water-carrying or service tunnels
• Pressure tunnel carry water to the powerhouse and tail-race tunnel
carry away from the powerhouse (free-flow tunnels)
• Service tunnel (cable, ventilation and access or approach tunnels)
• Cable tunnel is convey cables from the underground powerhouse to
the switchyard.
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.2. Conveyance System

B. Tunnels
Classification:
On the basis of the shape, alignment and design aspects

Shape:
• Circular or non-circular in shape
 circular tunnel structurally more suitable (more stable when the
internal water pressure is high.
 non-circular tunnels usually have flat floor, near vertical or gently
flaring walls and an arching roof (horse-shoe shape is most popular
and convenient to construct)
Lining
Lining is a protective layers of concrete, RCC or steel on the inner surface
• Tunnels can be lined or unlined (good sound rock can be left unlined)
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.2. Conveyance System

C. Penstocks
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.2. Conveyance System

C. Penstock
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.2. Conveyance System

C. Penstock
• The penstock is a pipe that carries water from the head pond or
the forebay to the turbines.
• The optimum penstock is as short, straight, and steep as practical
and has a continuous downward gradient.

Specification to be decided
• Route (slope, geological
conditions etc)
• Material to be used
• Diameter
• Thickness
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.2. Conveyance System
C. Penstock

Penstock Route
Some of the major factors that must be considered in selecting a penstock
route:

• Accessibility - the route should be accessible to personnel and

equipment required for pipe installation, inspection, and
maintenance.
• Soil Conditions - soft or unstable soils, or other characteristics
that would interfere with penstock installation or damage the
penstock.
• Natural or man-made obstructions - include trees, roadways,
buildings, stream crossings, and other features that require
special care.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.2. Conveyance System

C. Penstock
• Gradient - the penstock is best routed to take advantage of the natural downward
gradient. If the line cannot be located so as to have a constant downward
gradient, an air relief valve or equivalent device is required at every local high
point, and a drain valve is required at every local low point.
• Above-or below-ground installation - A buried penstock has certain advantages
over an above-ground installation. Anchoring and supporting the pipe are
simplified, ultraviolet radiation effects on PVC pipe are eliminated, and the
effects of weather (thermal expansion, freezing) are reduced. In addition, physical
damage to the pipe from falling rocks and trees or other sources is also
prevented. On the other hand, an above-ground pipe will have a lower
construction cost, may allow for more direct routing (fewer bends), and is readily
accessible for inspection or repair. Another alternative is to have a combination of
above-and belowground installation.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.2. Conveyance System
C. Penstock

Material
The most common penstock materials include:
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
• Steel
• Polyethylene
• Fiber reinforced
• Asbestos cement
For each of these materials, you must consider a number of factors:
• Cost
• Availability
• Physical properties (friction, strength, chemistry)
• Joining methods and installation limitations.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.2. Conveyance System
C. Penstock

Valves
Various types of valves can be used.

Valves are used at the intake of penstock, upward slope, turbine isolation
etc...
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.2. Conveyance System

C. Penstock

Hydrostatic Thrust

To resist this thrust, you will

either have to use restrained
joints (glued PVC or welded
steel) or push on or unrestrained
joints with thrust blocks. Above-
ground penstocks must always
use restrained joints. Buried,
unrestrained joints must include
thrust blocks.
Thrust block
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

• The device which converts hydraulic energy into mechanical energy or vice versa is
known as Hydraulic Machines.

• The hydraulic machines

which convert hydraulic
energy into mechanical
energy are known as
Turbines and that convert
mechanical energy into
hydraulic energy is known
as Pumps.
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

The American engineer James B. Francis designed the first radial-infow

hydraulic turbine which became widely used, gave excellent results and was
highly regarded. In its original form it was used for heads of between 10 and
100m.

The Pelton wheel turbine, named after its American inventor Lester A. Pelton,
was brought into use in the second half of the nineteenth century. This is an
impulse turbine in which water is piped at high pressure to a nozzle where it
expands completely to atmospheric pressure.

The increasing need for more power during the early years of the twentieth
century also led to the invention of a turbine suitable for small heads of
water, i.e. 3m to 9 m, in river locations where a dam could be built. It was in
1913 that Viktor Kaplan revealed his idea of the propeller (or Kaplan) turbine.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

Where Ωsp is rotational speed in rad, P is power delivered by the

shaft, HE is the net head at the turbine entry and Ω the rotational
speed in rad/sec.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

Classification of Turbines

Operating ranges of hydraulic turbines

Francis Kaplan
Pelton turbine
turbine turbine
Specific speed (rad) 0.05 - 0.4 0.4 - 2.2 1.8 - 5.0
Head (m) 100 - 1770 20 - 900 6 - 70
Maximum power (MW) 500 800 300
Optimum efficiency, % 90 95 94
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine
Classification of Turbines

Summery of Hydraulic Turbine

Turbine
Type of Direction Specific
Head Discharge
energy of flow Speed
Name Type
Pelton Tangential
Impulse Kinetic High Low Low
Wheel to runner
Radial flow
Francis
Kinetic + Medium Medium Medium
Turbine Reaction
Pressure Mixed Flow
Turbine
Kaplan
Low High Axial Flow High
Turbine
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

Pelton wheel working principle

5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

Breaking jet:
Even after the amount of water
striking the buckets is
completely stopped, the runner
goes on rotating for a very long
time due to inertia. To stop the
runner in a short time, a small
nozzle is provided which directs
the jet of water on the back of
bucket with which the rotation
of the runner is reversed. This
jet is called as breaking jet.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

Selection of type of Turbines

Site conditions
• Larger head and low discharge – Pelton Wheel
• Medium head and medium discharge - Francis
• Low head and larger discharge – Kaplan
Specific Speed
• The higher specific speed turbine requires the smaller
generator, higher efficiency and economical powerhouse.
Efficiency
• Efficiency is best at the design head
• Francis turbine has higher fall of efficiency as compared to
Pelton and Kaplan.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

Selection of type of Turbines

Load
- Load is vary with time
- Francis turbine provides better efficiency in a variable load operation.
Cavitation
- Occurs when local pressure is reduced to the vapour pressure as a
result of increase in velocity or an ambient drop in pressure.
- High-speed turbines are not used for high-heads
- Francis turbine has less cavitation coefficient than for Kaplan
turbines.
Transportation Cost
- Runner is one of the costliest and the most critical part
- The runner of Francis turbine is the biggest one (require high
transportation cost.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.3. Hydraulic Turbine

Selection of type of Turbines

Maintenance
• Guide vanes/nozzles and runner blades are vulnerable to
damage by cavitation and silt necessitating regular repair.
• Francis and large Kaplan turbines can permit, by design,
replacement of all runner blades without dismantling
generator.
• Pelton turbines have the merit of replacing spear and
nozzle quickly.

Sediment Content
• Francis turbine is not suitable for sediment laden water
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.4. Surge Tank
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.4. Surge Tank
• It is an artificial reservoir introduced along the pressure
conduit system at a suitable point upstream and/or
downstream of a hydropower station.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.4. Surge Tank
Function of surge tanks:

 to absorb the water hammer or elastic shocks waves coming

from the penstock or tunnel on closure or opening of the
valve or turbine gates
 to provide a free reservoir surface close to the turbine
 to furnish the additional water required by the turbine
 to temporarily store water during load rejection
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.4. Surge Tank
Location of the surge tank:

• It is located as close to the powerhouse as possible

• The ideal location is at the turbine inlet but it is not possible in medium
head developments.
• Generally it is located at the junction of tunnel and penstock to limit its
height
• The location may be the best at the point where the ground drops
rapidly to the powerhouse.
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.5. Powerhouse
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.5. Powerhouse

• The purpose of a powerhouse is to house the turbine-generator set

and electrical components suitably in a structural complex.
• The powerhouse protects the equipment from the elements, limits
access for safety and security, and provides space to maintain and
service the mechanical and electrical equipment.
• The powerhouse should be constructed to fit the equipment.
Consequently, the equipment should be selected before the
powerhouse is planned.
• Some powerhouse details will be supplied by the turbine-generator
manufacturer.
• The location of the powerhouse depends on the local site conditions.
• Generally, it is located adjacent to the stream it should be above the
high water mark of the stream or flooding will result during runoff.
• The physical orientation of the powerhouse should be set to keep the
penstock straight.
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.6. Draft Tube

5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.6. Draft Tubes

It is a conduit connecting the exit from the runner to the

tailrace to improve efficiency of the plant.

Draft tube has two functions

 It allows the setting of the pressure turbine and the
connecting machinery above the tail-water level
under high-water or flood conditions of river with
sacrificing the level difference
 To recover large part of the velocity head of water
leaving the turbine and utilize it by increasing the
total pressure difference on the runner.
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.6. Draft Tubes

Types of draft tubes

Straight Conical
It resembles frustum of a cone.

Hydraucone Type
It is a modification of conical tube by placing a
horizontal baffle under the exit end of the pipe

Elbow Type
It is efficient type of draft tube and is generally
preferred in the power plants where vertical draft
tube involves excessive excavation.
5.6. Hydropower System Components

5.6.7. Tailrace
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.7. Tailrace

A tailrace is a canal or conduit that carries water from the

powerhouse to the next desired location (usually back into the
stream).
Size of the Tailrace
• The tailrace should be large enough to carry the design flow.
• The power canal and tailrace will have the same cross-sectional
area. Note that the slope for the tailrace must also be equal or
greater than that of the power canal.
Tailrace Intake
• Generally, the tailrace will start below the powerhouse and is an
integral part of the powerhouse design.
• If a draft tube is used, a pool of water must be maintained in the
intake. The pool should also be drainable and cleanable.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.8. Power Transmission
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.8. Power Transmission

Electric power transmission can also be carried out

using underground cables. But, construction of an underground
transmission line generally costs 4 to 10 times than an equivalent
distance overhead line.
5.6. Hydropower System Components
5.6.8. Power Transmission

Different Types of Transmission Systems

Single phase AC system
single phase, two wires
single phase, two wires with midpoint earthed
single phase, three wires
Two phase AC system
two-phase, three wires
two-phase, four wires
Three phase AC system
three-phase, three wires
three-phase, four wires
DC system
DC two wires
DC two wires with midpoint earthed
DC three wires