Project Report

A
Project Report on
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for
the award of the diploma in
ELECTRICAL ENGG. ( IC )
By
Vikesh Yadav
Mohd Sarfaraz
Rohit Chaudhary
Poornima
Atul Kumar
Under the supervision of

Mr. Ajai Prakash Narayan ( Lecturer )
Department of Electrical Engineering

GOVT. POLYTECHNIC GONDA, U.P.
GOVT. POLYTECHNIC GONDA
BTEUP
Department of Electrical Engineering
CERTIFICATE
It is certified that Vikesh Yadav, Mohd Sarfaraz, Rohit Chaudhary,
Poornima, Atul Kumar have worked under my supervision and guidance for
the project entitled on “Hydroelectric Power Plant “ for the requirements and
award of the Diploma with specialization in “ Electrical Engineering ( IC ) “
from the Board of Technical Education Lucknow during academic year 2019 -
20. The project embodies result of original work, and studies are carried out by
the students themselves and the contents of the project do not form the basis
for the award of any other courses to the candidate or to anybody else from
this or any other institution.
Mr. A.P. Narayan
( Guide )
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to express my profound gratitude and indebtedness to Lect. A.P.

Narayan and Lect. Shashank Srivastava Department of Electrical
Engineering G.P. Gonda.
Introducing the present topic and for their inspiring guidance,
constructive criticism and valuable suggestion throughout the project
work.
Last but not least, my sincere thanks to all our friends who have patiently
extended all sorts of help for accomplishing this undertaking.
Student Name
Vikesh Yadav, Mohd Sarfaraz
Rohit Chaudhary, Poornima
Atul Kumar
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Govt. Polytechnic Gonda
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………. 01
2. HOW HYDROPOWER WORKS…………………………… 02-08
3. HOW POWER IS COMPUTED ……………………………. 09-10
4. TURBINE ………………………………………………….. 11-11
5. MODERN CONCEPTS AND FUTURE ROLE…………. 12-14
6. LOW HEAD HYDROPOWER …………………………… 15-16
7. PUMPED STORAGE ……………………………………… 17-19
8. FUTURE POTENTIAL …………………………………… 19-21
9. HYDROPOWER THE ENVIRONMENT & SOCIETY.. 21-26
10. HYDROPOWER FROM PAST TO PRESENT……….. 27-34
11. CONCLUSION …………………………………………… 35-36
GLOSSARY
DIPLOMA PROJECT REPORT - 2020
INTRODUCTION
Hydroelectric Power -- what is it?
It=s a form of energy … a renewable resource. Hydropower provides about 96

percent of the renewable energy in the United States. Other renewable
resources include geothermal, wave power, tidal power, wind power, and solar
power. Hydroelectric powerplants do not use up resources to create electricity
nor do they pollute the air, land, or water, as other powerplants may.
Hydroelectric power has played an important part in the development of this
Nation's electric power industry. Both small and large hydroelectric power
developments were instrumental in the early expansion of the electric power
industry.
Hydroelectric power comes from flowing water … winter and spring runoff
from mountain streams and clear lakes. Water, when it is falling by the force
of gravity, can be used to turn turbines and generators that produce electricity.
Hydroelectric power is important to our Nation. Growing populations and modern

technologies require vast amounts of electricity for creating, building, and
expanding. In the 1920's, hydroelectric plants supplied as much as 40 percent of
the electric energy produced. Although the amount of energy produced by this
means has steadily increased, the amount produced by other types of powerplants
has increased at a faster rate and hydroelectric power presently supplies about 10
percent of the electrical generating capacity of the United States. Hydropower is
an essential contributor in the national power grid because of its ability to respond
quickly to rapidly varying loads or system disturbances, which base load plants
ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 1

with steam systems powered by combustion or nuclear processes cannot

accommodate.
Reclamation=s 58 powerplants throughout the Western United States produce an

average of 42 billion kWh (kilowatt-hours) per year, enough to meet the
residential needs of more than 14 million people. This is the electrical energy
equivalent of about 72 million barrels of oil. Hydroelectric powerplants are the
most efficient means of producing electric energy. The efficiency of today's
hydroelectric plant is about 90 percent. Hydroelectric plants do not create air
pollution, the fuel--falling water--is not consumed, projects have long lives
relative to other forms of energy generation, and hydroelectric generators
respond quickly to changing system conditions. These favorable characteristics
continue to make hydroelectric projects attractive sources of electric power.
HOW HYDROPOWER WORKS
Hydroelectric power comes from water at work, water in motion. It can be seen as
a form of solar energy, as the sun powers the hydrologic cycle which gives the
earth its water. In the hydrologic cycle, atmospheric water reaches the earth= s
surface as precipitation. Some of this water evaporates, but much of it either
percolates into the soil or becomes surface runoff. Water from rain and melting
snow eventually reaches ponds, lakes, reservoirs, or oceans where evaporation is
constantly occurring.

Moisture percolating into the soil may become ground water (subsurface water),
some of which also enters water bodies through springs or underground streams.
Ground water may move upward through soil during dry periods and may return
to the atmosphere by evaporation.
Water vapor passes into the atmosphere by evaporation then circulates,

condenses into clouds, and some returns to earth as precipitation. Thus, the
water cycle is complete. Nature ensures that water is a renewable resource.
Generating Power
In nature, energy cannot be created or destroyed, but its form can change. In
generating electricity, no new energy is created. Actually one form of energy is
converted to another form.
To generate electricity, water must be in motion. This is kinetic (moving) energy.

When flowing water turns blades in a turbine, the form is changed to mechanical
(machine) energy. The turbine turns the generator rotor which then converts this

mechanical energy into another energy form -- electricity. Since water is the
initial source of energy, we call this hydroelectric power or hydropower for
short.
At facilities called hydroelectric powerplants, hydropower is generated. Some

powerplants are located on rivers, streams, and canals, but for a reliable water
supply, dams are needed. Dams store water for later release for such purposes as
irrigation, domestic and industrial use, and power generation. The reservoir acts
much like a battery, storing water to be released as needed to generate power.

The dam creates a Ahead@ or height from which water flows. A pipe (penstock)
carries the water from the reservoir to the turbine. The fast-moving water pushes
the turbine blades, something like a pinwheel in the wind. The waters force on the
turbine blades turns the rotor, the moving part of the electric generator. When
coils of wire on the rotor sweep past the generator=s stationary coil (stator),
electricity is produced.
This concept was discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831 when he found that
electricity could be generated by rotating magnets within copper coils.
When the water has completed its task, it flows on unchanged to serve other needs.
Transmitting Power
Once the electricity is produced, it must be delivered to where it is needed -- our

homes, schools, offices, factories, etc. Dams are often in remote locations and
power must be transmitted over some distance to its user
Vast networks of transmission lines and facilities are used to bring electricity to
us in a form we can use. All the electricity made at a powerplant comes first
through transformers which raise the voltage so it can travel long distances
through powerlines. (Voltage is the pressure that forces an electric current
through a wire.) At local substations, transformers reduce the voltage so
electricity can be divided up and directed throughout an area.
Transformers on poles (or buried underground, in some neighborhoods) further

reduce the electric power to the right voltage for appliances and use in the home.

When electricity gets to our homes, we buy it by the kilowatt-hour, and a meter
measures how much we use.
While hydroelectric powerplants are one source of electricity, other sources

include powerplants that burn fossil fuels or split atoms to create steam which in
turn is used to generate power. Gas-turbine, solar, geothermal, and wind-powered
systems are other sources. All these powerplants may use the same system of
transmission lines and stations in an area to bring power to you. By use of this
Apower grid,” electricity can be interchanged among several utility systems to
meet varying demands. So the electricity lighting your reading lamp now may be
from a hydroelectric powerplant, a wind generator, a nuclear facility, or a coal,
gas, or oil-fired powerplant … or a combination of these.

The area where you live and its energy resources are prime factors in determining
what kind of power you use. For example, in Washington State hydroelectric
powerplants provided approximately 80 percent of the electrical power during
2002. In contrast, in Ohio during the same year, almost 87 percent of the electrical
power came from coal-fired powerplants due to the area=s ample supply of coal.
Electrical utilities range from large systems serving broad regional areas to small
power companies serving individual communities. Most electric utilities are
investor-owned (private) power companies. Others are owned by towns, cities, and

rural electric associations. Surplus power produced at facilities owned by the

Federal Government is marketed to preference power customers (A customer
given preference by law in the purchase of federally generated electrical energy
which is generally an entity which is nonprofit and publicly financed.) by the
Department of Energy through its power marketing administrations.

How Power is Computed
Before a hydroelectric power site is developed, engineers compute how much

power can be produced when the facility is complete. The actual output of
energy at a dam is determined by the volume of water released (discharge) and
the vertical distance the water falls (head). So, a given amount of water falling a
given distance will produce a certain amount of energy. The head and the
discharge at the power site and the desired rotational speed of the generator
determine the type of turbine to be used.
The head produces a pressure (water pressure), and the greater the head, the
greater the pressure to drive turbines. This pressure is measured in pounds of
force (pounds per square inch). More head or faster flowing water means more
power.

To find the theoretical horsepower (the measure of mechanical energy) from a

specific site, this formula is used:
THP = (Q x H)/8.8
where: THP = theoretical horsepower
Q = flow rate in cubic feet per second (cfs)
H = head in feet
8.8 = a constant
A more complicated formula is used to refine the calculations of this available

power. The formula takes into account losses in the amount of head due to friction
in the penstock and other variations due to the efficiency levels of mechanical
devices used to harness the power.
To find how much electrical power we can expect, we must convert the
mechanical measure (horsepower) into electrical terms (watts). One horsepower is
equal to 746 watts (U.S. measure).

Turbines
While there are only two basic types of turbines (impulse and reaction), there are
many variations. The specific type of turbine to be used in a powerplant is not
selected until all operational studies and cost estimates are complete. The turbine
selected depends largely on the site conditions.
A reaction turbine is a horizontal or vertical wheel that operates with the wheel
completely submerged, a feature which reduces turbulence. In theory, the reaction
turbine works like a rotating lawn sprinkler where water at a central point is under
pressure and escapes from the ends of the blades, causing rotation. Reaction
turbines are the type most widely used.

An impulse turbine is a horizontal or vertical wheel that uses the kinetic energy of
water striking its buckets or blades to cause rotation. The wheel is covered by a
housing and the buckets or blades are shaped so they turn the flow of water about
170 degrees inside the housing. After turning the blades or buckets, the water falls
to the bottom of the wheel housing and flows out.
Modern Concepts and Future Role
Hydropower does not discharge pollutants into the environment; however, it is

not free from adverse environmental effects. Considerable efforts have been
made to reduce environmental problems associated with hydropower
operations, such as providing safe fish passage and improved water quality in
the past decade at both Federal facilities and non-Federal facilities licensed by
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Efforts to ensure the safety of dams and the use of newly available computer
technologies to optimize operations have provided additional opportunities to
improve the environment. Yet, many unanswered questions remain about how
best to maintain the economic viability of hydropower in the face of increased
demands to protect fish and other environmental resources.
Reclamation actively pursues research and development (R&D) programs

to improve the operating efficiency and the environmental performance of
hydropower facilities.
Hydropower research and development today is primarily being conducted in

the following areas:
Fish Passage, Behavior, and Response
Turbine-Related Projects
Monitoring Tool Development
Hydrology
Water Quality
Dam Safety
Operations & Maintenance
Water Resources Management

Reclamation continues to work to improve the reliability and efficiency of

generating hydropower. Today, engineers want to make the most of new and
existing facilities to increase production and efficiency. Existing hydropower
concepts and approaches include:
-- Uprating existing powerplants
-- Developing small plants (low-head hydropower)
-- Peaking with hydropower
-- Pumped storage
-- Tying hydropower to other forms of energy
Uprating
The uprating of existing hydroelectric generator and turbine units at powerplants

is one of the most immediate, cost- effective, and environmentally acceptable
means of developing additional electric power. Since 1978, Reclamation has
pursued an aggressive uprating program which has added more than 1,600,000
kW to Reclamation's capacity at an average cost of $69 per kilowatt. This
compares to an average cost for providing new peaking capacity through oil-fired
generators of more than $400 per kilowatt. Reclamation's uprating program has
essentially provided the equivalent of another major hydroelectric facility of the
approximate magnitude of Hoover Dam and Powerplant at a fraction of the cost
and impact on the environment when compared to any other means of providing
new generation capacity.

Low-head Hydropower
A low- head dam is one with a water drop of less than 65 feet and a generating
capacity less than 15,000 kW. Large, high-head dams can produce more power at
lower costs than low-head dams, but construction of large dams may be limited by
lack of suitable sites, by environmental considerations, or by economic conditions.
In contrast, there are many existing small dams and drops in elevation along canals
where small generating plants could be installed. New low-head dams could be
built to increase output as well. The key to the usefulness of such units is their
ability to generate power near where it is needed, reducing the power inevitably
lost during transmission.
Peaking with Hydropower
Demands for power vary greatly during the day and night. These demands vary
considerably from season to season, as well. For example, the highest peaks are
usually found during summer daylight hours when air conditioners are running.
Nuclear and fossil fuel plants are not efficient for producing power for the short
periods of increased demand during peak periods. Their operational
requirements and their long startup times make them more efficient for meeting
baseload needs.
Since hydroelectric generators can be started or stopped almost instantly,
hydropower is more responsive than most other energy sources for meeting peak
demands. Water can be stored overnight in a reservoir until needed during the day,
and then released through turbines to generate power to help supply the

peakload demand. This mixing of power sources offers a utility company the
flexibility to operate steam plants most efficiently as base plants while meeting
peak needs with the help of hydropower. This technique can help ensure reliable
supplies and may help eliminate brownouts and blackouts caused by partial or
total power failures.
Today, many of Reclamation=s 58 powerplants are used to meet peak electrical

energy demands, rather than operating around the clock to meet the total daily
demand. Increasing use of other energy-producing powerplants in the future will
not make hydroelectric powerplants obsolete or unnecessary. On the contrary,
hydropower can be even more important. While nuclear or fossil-fuel powerplants

can provide baseloads, hydroelectric powerplants can deal more economically with
varying peakload demands. This is a job they are well suited for.
Pumped Storage
Like peaking, pumped storage is a method of keeping water in reserve for peak
period power demands. Pumped storage is water pumped to a storage pool above
the powerplant at a time when customer demand for energy is low, such as during
the middle of the night. The water is then allowed to flow back through the
turbine- generators at times when demand is high and a heavy load is place on the
system
.

The reservoir acts much like a battery, storing power in the form of water when
demands are low and producing maximum power during daily and seasonal peak
periods. An advantage of pumped storage is that hydroelectric generating units are
able to start up quickly and make rapid adjustments in output. They operate
efficiently when used for one hour or several hours.
Because pumped storage reservoirs are relatively small, construction costs are
generally low compared with conventional hydropower facilities.
Tying Hydropower to Other Energy Forms
When we hear the term Asolar energy,” we usually think of heat from the sun=s
rays which can be put to work. But there are other forms of solar energy. Just as
hydropower is a form of solar energy, so too is windpower. In effect, the sun
causes the wind to blow by heating air masses that rise, cool, and sink to earth
again. Solar energy in some form is always at work -- in rays of sunlight, in air
currents, and in the water cycle.
Solar energy, in its various forms, has the potential of adding significant amounts
of power for our use. The solar energy that reaches our planet in a single week is
greater than that contained in all of the earth=s remaining coal, oil, and gas
resources. However, the best sites for collecting solar energy in various forms are
often far removed from people, their homes, and work places. Building thousands
of miles of new transmission lines would make development of the power too
costly.

Because of the seasonal, daily, and even hourly changes in the weather, energy
flow from the wind and sun is neither constant nor reliable. Peak production times
do not always coincide with high power demand times. To depend on the variable
wind and sun as main power sources would not be acceptable to most American
lifestyles. Imagine having to wait for the wind to blow to cook a meal or for the
sun to come out from behind a cloud to watch television!
As intermittent energy sources, solar power and wind power must be tied to major
hydroelectric power systems to be both economical and feasible. Hydropower can
serve as an instant backup and to meet peak demands.
Linking windpower and hydropower can add to the Nation=s supply of electrical
energy. Large wind machines can be tied to existing hydroelectric powerplants.
Wind power can be used, when the wind is blowing, to reduce demands on
hydropower. That would allow dams to save their water for later release to
generate power in peak periods.
The benefits of solar power and wind power are many. The most valuable
feature of all is the replenishing supply of these types of energy. As long as the
sun shines and the wind blows, these resources are truly renewable.
Future Potential
What is the full potential of hydropower to help meet the Nation=s energy
needs? The hydropower resource assessment by the Department of Energy=s
Hydropower Program has identified 5,677 sites in the United States with
acceptable undeveloped hydropower potential. These sites have a modeled

undeveloped capacity of about 30,000 MW. This represents about 40 percent of

the existing conventional hydropower capacity.
A variety of restraints exist on this development, some natural and some imposed
by our society. The natural restraints include such things as occasional unfavorable
terrain for dams. Other restraints include disagreements about who should develop
a resource or the resulting changes in environmental conditions. Often, other
developments already exist where a hydroelectric power facility would require a
dam and reservoir to be built.
Finding solutions to the problems imposed by natural restraints demands extensive

engineering efforts. Sometimes a solution is impossible, or so expensive that the
entire project becomes impractical. Solution to the societal issues is frequently
much more difficult and the costs are far greater than those imposed by nature.
Developing the full potential of hydropower will require consideration and
coordination of many varied needs.

Hydropower, the Environment, and Society
It is important to remember that people, and all their actions, are part of the
natural world. The materials used for building, energy, clothing, food, and all the
familiar parts of our day-to-day world come from natural resources.
Our surroundings are composed largely of the Abuilt environment@ -- structures

and facilities built by humans for comfort, security, and well-being. As our built
environment grows, we grow more reliant on its offerings.

To meet our needs and support our built environment, we need electricity which
can be generated by using the resources of natural fuels. Most resources are not
renewable; there is a limited supply. In obtaining resources, it is often necessary
to drill oil wells, tap natural gas supplies, or mine coal and uranium. To put
water to work on a large scale, storage dams are needed.
We know that any innovation introduced by people has an impact on the natural
environment. That impact may be desirable to some, and at the same time,
unacceptable to others. Using any source of energy has some environmental cost.
It is the degree of impact on the environment that is crucial.
Some human activities have more profound and lasting impacts than others. Techniques to mine
resources from below the earth may leave long-lasting scars on the landscape. Oil wells may

detract from the beauty of open, grassy fields. Reservoirs behind dams may cover
picturesque valleys. Once available, use of energy sources can further impact the
air, land, and water in varying degrees.
People want clean air and water and a pleasing environment. We also want
energy to heat and light our homes and run our machines. What is the solution?
The situation seems straightforward: The demand for electrical power must be
curbed or more power must be produced in environmentally acceptable ways.
The solution, however, is not so simple.
Conservation can save electricity, but at the same time our population is growing
steadily.
Growth is inevitable, and with it the increased demand for electric power.
Since natural resources will continue to be used, the wisest solution is a

careful, planned approach to their future use. All alternatives must be
examined, and the most efficient, acceptable methods must be pursued.
Hydroelectric facilities have many characteristics that favor developing new

projects and upgrading existing powerplants:
-- Hydroelectric powerplants do not use up limited nonrenewable resources to

make electricity.
-- They do not cause pollution of air, land, or water.

-- They have low failure rates, low operating costs, and are reliable.
--They can provide startup power in the event of a system wide power failure.
As an added benefit, reservoirs have scenic and recreation value for campers,
fishermen, and water sports enthusiasts. The water is a home for fish and wildlife
as well. Dams add to domestic water supplies, control water quality, provide
irrigation for agriculture, and avert flooding. Dams can actually improve
downstream conditions by allowing mud and other debris to settle out.
Existing powerplants can be uprated or new powerplants added at current dam

sites without a significant effect on the environment. New facilities can be
constructed with consideration of the environment. For instance, dams can be built
at remote locations, powerplants can be placed underground, and selective
withdrawal systems can be used to control the water temperature released from the
dam. Facilities can incorporate features that aid fish and wildlife, such as salmon
runs or resting places for migratory birds.
In reconciling our natural and our built environments there will be tradeoffs and
compromises. As we learn to live in harmony as part of the environment, we
must seek the best alternatives among all ecologic, economic, technological, and
social perspectives.
The value of water must be considered by all energy planners. Some water is now
dammed and can be put to work to make hydroelectric power. Other water is
presently going to waste. The fuel burned to replace this wasted energy is gone
forever and, so, is a loss to our Nation.

The longer we delay the balanced development of our potential for

hydropower, the more we unnecessarily use up other vital resources.


HYDROPOWER -- FROM PAST TO PRESENT
By using water for power generation, people have worked with nature to
achieve a better lifestyle. The mechanical power of falling water is an age-old
tool. As early as the 1700's, Americans recognized the advantages of
mechanical hydropower and used it extensively for milling and pumping. By the
early 1900's, hydroelectric power accounted for more than 40 percent of the
Nation=s supply of electricity. In the West and Pacific Northwest, hydropower
provided about 75 percent of all the electricity consumed in the 1940's. With the
increase in development of other forms of electric power generation,
hydropower=s percentage has slowly declined to about 10 percent. However,
many activities today still depend on hydropower.
Niagra Falls was the first of the American hydroelectric power sites developed
for major generation and is still a source of electric power today. Power from
such early plants was used initially for lighting, and when the electric motor came
into being the demand for new electrical energy started its upward spiral.
The Federal Government became involved in hydropower production because of

its commitment to water resource management in the arid West. The waterfalls of
the Reclamation dams make them significant producers of electricity.
Hydroelectric power generation has long been an integral part of Reclamation=s
operations while it is actually a byproduct of water development. In the early days,
newly created projects lacked many of the modern conveniences, one of these
being electrical power. This made it desirable to take advantage of the potential
power source in water.

Powerplants were installed at the dam sites to carry on construction camp

activities. Hydropower was put to work lifting, moving and processing materials
to build the dams and dig canals. Powerplants ran sawmills, concrete plants,
cableways, giant shovels, and draglines. Night operations were possible because
of the lights fed by hydroelectric power. When construction was complete,
hydropower drove pumps that provided drainage or conveyed water to lands at
higher elevations than could be served by gravity-flow canals.
Surplus power was sold to existing power distribution systems in the area. Local
industries, towns, and farm consumers benefited from the low-cost electricity.
Much of the construction and operating costs of dams and related facilities were
paid for by this sale of surplus power, rather than by the water users alone. This
proved to be a great savings to irrigators struggling to survive in the West.
Reclamation=s first hydroelectric powerplant was built to aid construction of the

Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River about 75 miles northeast of Phoenix,
Arizona. Small hydroelectric generators, installed prior to construction, provided
energy for construction and for equipment to lift stone blocks into place. Surplus
power was sold to the community, and citizens were quick to support expansion of
the dam=s hydroelectric capacity. A 4,500-kW powerplant was constructed and, in
1909, five generators were in operation, providing power to pump irrigation water
and furnishing electricity to the Phoenix area.

Power development, a byproduct of water development, had a tremendous impact

on the area=s economy and living conditions. Power was sold to farms, cities, and
industries. Wells pumped by electricity meant more irrigated land for agriculture,
and pumping also lowered water tables in those areas with waterlogging and
alkaline soil problems. By 1916, nine pumping plants were in operation irrigating
more than 10,000 acres. In addition, Reclamation supplied all of the residential
and commercial power needs of Phoenix. Cheap hydropower, in abundant supply,
attracted industrial development as well. A private company was able to build a
large smelter and mill nearby to process low-grade copper ore, using hydroelectric
power.
The Theodore Roosevelt Powerplant was one of the first large power facilities
constructed by the Federal Government. Its capacity has since been increased from
4,500 kW to more than 36,000 kW.
Power, first developed for building Theodore Roosevelt Dam and for pumping
irrigation water, also helped pay for construction, enhanced the lives of farmers
and city dwellers, and attracted new industry to the Phoenix area.
During World War I, Reclamation projects continued to provide water and

hydroelectric power to Western farms and ranches. This helped feed and clothe
the Nation, and the power revenues were a welcome source of income to the
Federal Government.
The depression of the 1930's, coupled with widespread floods and drought in the
West, spurred building of great multipurpose Reclamation projects such as Grand
Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, Hoover Dam on the lower Colorado River,

and the Central Valley Project in California. This was the Abig dam@ period,
and the low-cost hydropower produced by those dams had a profound effect on
urban and industrial growth.
World War II -- and the Nation= s need for hydroelectric power soared. At the
outbreak of the war, the Axis Nations had three times more available power than
the United States. The demand for power was identified in this 1942 statement on
AThe War Program of the Department of the Interior@:
AThe war budget of $56 billion will require 154 billion kWh of electric
energy annually for the manufacture of airplanes, tanks, guns, warships,
and fighting material, and to equip and serve the men of the Army, Navy,
and Marine Corps.@
Each dollar spent for wartime industry required about 2-3/4 kWh of electric
power. The demand exceeded the total production capacity of all existing electric
utilities in the United States. In 1942, 8.5 billion kWh of electric power was
required to produce enough aluminum to meet the President=s goal of 60,000 new
planes.
Hydropower provided one of the best ways for rapidly expanding the country=s
energy output. Addition of more powerplant units at dams throughout the West
made it possible to expand energy production, and construction pushed ahead to
speed up the availability of power. In 1941, Reclamation produced more than
five billion kWh, resulting in a 25 percent increase in aluminum production. By
1944, Reclamation quadrupled its hydroelectric power output.

From 1940 through 1945, Reclamation powerplants produced 47 billion kWh

of electricity, enough to make:
69,000 airplanes
79,000 machine guns
5,000 ships
5,000 tanks
7,000,000 aircraft bombs, and
31,000,000 shells
During the war, Reclamation was the major producer of power in areas where
needed resources were located -- the West. The supply of low-cost electricity
attracted large defense industries to the area. Shipyards, steel mills, chemical
companies, oil refineries, and automotive and aircraft factories . . . all needed vast
amounts of electrical power. Atomic energy installations were located at Hanford,
Washington, to make use of hydropower from Grand Coulee.
While power output of Reclamation projects energized the war industry, it

was also used to process food, light military posts, and meet needs of the
civilian population in many areas.

With the end of the war, powerplants were put to use in rapidly developing
peacetime industries. Hydropower has been vital for the West=s industries which
use mineral resources or farm products as raw materials. Many industries have
depended wholly on Federal hydropower. In fact, periodic low flows on the
Columbia River have disrupted manufacturing in that region.
Farming was tremendously important to America during the war and continues to
be today.
Hydropower directly benefits rural areas in three ways:
-- It produces revenue which contributes toward repayment of irrigation

facilities, easing the water users= financial burden.
-- It makes irrigation of lands at higher elevations possible through

pumping facilities.
-- It makes power available for use on the farm for domestic purposes.
Reclamation delivers 10 trillion gallons of water to more than 31 million people

each year. This includes providing one out of five Western farmers (140,000) with
irrigation water for 10 million farmland acres that produce 60% of the nation's
vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts.

Some of the major hydroelectric powerplants built by Reclamation are located at:
-- Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington (the

largest single electrical generating complex in the United States)
-- Hoover Dam on the Colorado River in Arizona-Nevada
-- Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River in Arizona
-- Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River in California
-- Yellowtail Dam on the Bighorn River in Montana

Grand Coulee has a capacity of more than 6.8 million kW of power.

Hydropower generated at Grand Coulee furnishes a large share of the power
requirements in the Pacific Northwest.
Reclamation is one of the largest operators of Federal power-generating stations.

The agency uses some of the power it produces to run its facilities, such as
pumping plants. Excess Reclamation hydropower is marketed by either the
Bonneville Power Administration or the Western Area Power Administration and
is sold first to preferred customers, such as rural electric power co-cooperatives,
public utility districts, municipalities, and state and Federal agencies. Any
remaining power may be sold to private electric utilities. Reclamation generates
enough hydropower to meet the needs of millions of people and power revenues
exceed $900 million a year. Power revenues are returned to the Federal Treasury
to repay the cost of constructing, operating, and maintaining projects.

CONCLUSION
Reclamation is helping to meet the needs of our country, and one of the most
pressing needs is the growing demand for electric power. Reclamation
powerplants annually generate more than 42 billion kWh of hydroelectric energy,
which is enough to meet the annual residential needs of 14 million people or the
energy equivalent of more than 80 million barrels of crude oil.
The deregulation of wholesale electricity sales and the imposition of

requirements for open transmission access are resulting in dramatic changes in
the business of electric power production in the United States. This
restructuring increases the importance of clean, reliable energy sources such as
hydropower.
Hydropower is important from an operational standpoint as it needs no "ramp-up"

time, as many combustion technologies do. Hydropower can increase or decrease
the amount of power it is supplying to the system almost instantly to meet shifting
demand. With this important load-following capability, peaking capacity and
voltage stability attributes, hydropower plays a significant part in ensuring reliable
electricity service and in meeting customer needs in a market driven industry. In
addition, hydroelectric pumped storage facilities are the only significant way
currently available to store electricity.
Hydropower=s ability to provide peaking power, load following, and frequency

control helps protect against system failures that could lead to the damage of
equipment and even brown or blackouts. Hydropower, besides being emissions-
free and renewable has the above operating benefits that provide enhanced value
to the electric system in the form of efficiency, security, and most important,

reliability. The electric benefits provided by hydroelectric resources are of vital

importance to the success of our National experiment to deregulate the electric
industry.
Water is one of our most valuable resources, and hydropower makes use of this
renewable treasure. As a National leader in managing hydropower, Reclamation is
helping the Nation meet its present and future energy needs in a manner that
protects the environment by improving hydropower projects and operating them
more effectively.

GLOSSARY
Alternating
An electric current changing regularly from one
Current
direction to the opposite.
Ampere The common unit of measurement of electrical current.
Baseload The minimum constant amount of load connected to the

power system over a given time period, usually on a
monthly, seasonal, or yearly basis.
Baseload Plant A plant, usually housing high- efficiency steam-electric

units, which is normally operated to take all or part of
the minimum load of a system, and which consequently
produces electricity at an essentially constant rate and
runs continuously. These units are operated to maximize
system mechanical and thermal efficiency and minimize
system operating costs.
Bus (buswork) A conductor, or group of conductors, that serve as a

common connection for two or more electrical
circuits. In powerplants, buswork comprises the three
rigid single-phase connectors that interconnect the
generator and the step-up transformer(s).
Capability The maximum load that a generating unit, generating

station, or other electrical apparatus can carry under

specified given period of time without exceeding approved limits

conditions for a of temperature and stress.
Capacity The amount of electric power delivered or required

for which a generator, turbine, transformer,
transmission circuit, station, or system is rated by the
manufacturer.
Circuit A conductor or a system of conductors through

which electric current flows.
Current (Electric) A flow of electrons in an electrical conductor. The

strength or rate of movement of the electricity is
measured in amperes.
Dam A massive wall or structure built across a valley or river

for storing water.

Direct Current Electric current going in one direction only.
Distribution The portion of an electric system that is dedicated to

System delivering electric energy to an end user. The
distribution system "steps down" power from high-
voltage transmission lines to a level that can be used in
homes and businesses.
Energy The capacity for doing work as measured by the

capability of doing work (potential energy) or the
conversion of this capability to motion (kinetic energy).
Energy has several forms, some of which are easily
convertible and can be changed to another form useful
for work. Most of the world's convertible energy comes
from fossil fuels that are burned to produce heat that is
then used as a transfer medium to mechanical or other
means in order to accomplish tasks. Electrical energy is
usually measured in kilowatt hours and represents power
(kilowatts) operating for some time period (hours), while
heat energy is usually measured in British thermal units.
Generation The process of producing electric energy by

(Electricity) transforming other forms of energy; also, the amount
of electric energy produced, expressed in watthours
(Wh).

Generator A machine that converts mechanical energy into

electrical energy.
Head The difference in elevation between the headwater

surface above and the tailwater surface below a
hydroelectric powerplant under specified conditions.
Horsepower A unit of rate of doing work equal to 33,000 foot

pounds per minute or 745.8 watts (Brit.), 746 watts
(USA), or 736 watts (Europe).
Hydroelectric Electric current produced from water power.

Power
Hydroelectric A building in which turbines are operated, to drive

Powerplant generators, by the energy of natural or artificial
waterfalls.

Kilowatt (kW) Unit of electric power equal to 1,000 watts or

about 1.34 horsepower. For example, it's the
amount of electric energy required to light ten 100-
watt light bulbs.
Kilowatt-Hour The unit of electrical energy commonly used in

(kWh) marketing electric power; the energy produced by 1
kilowatt acting for one hour. Ten 100-watt light bulbs
burning for one hour would consume one kilowatt hour
of electricity.
Kinetic Energy Energy which a moving body has because of its motion,
dependent on its mass and the rate at which it is moving.
Load (Electric) The amount of electric power delivered or required at

any specific point or points on a system. The
requirement originates at the energy-consuming
equipment of the consumers.
Megawatt A unit of power equal to one million watts. For

example, it's the amount of electric energy required to
light 10,000 100-watt bulbs.
Ohm The unit of measurement of electrical resistance. The

resistance of a circuit in which a potential difference of
one volt produces a current of one ampere.
Peakload

The greatest amount of power given out or taken in by

a machine or power distribution system in a given time.
Power Mechanical or electrical force or energy. The rate at

which work is done by an electric current or
mechanical force, generally measured in watts or
horsepower.
Pumped-Storage A plant that usually generates electric energy during

Hydroelectric peak-load periods by using water previously pumped
Plant into an elevated storage reservoir during off-peak
periods when excess generating capacity is available to
do so. When additional generating capacity is needed,
the water can be released from the reservoir through a
conduit to turbine generators located in a power plant at
a lower level.
Rated Capacity That capacity which a hydro generator can deliver

without exceeding mechanical safety factors or a
nominal temperature rise. In general this is also the
nameplate rating except where turbine power under
maximum head is insufficient to deliver the nameplate
rating of the generator.

Reservoir An artificial lake into which water flows and is stored

for future use.
Turbine A machine for generating rotary mechanical power from

the energy of a stream of fluid (such as water, steam, or
hot gas). Turbines convert the kinetic energy of fluids to
mechanical energy through the principles of impulse and
reaction, or a mixture of the two.
Volt (V) The unit of electromotive force or potential difference

that will cause a current of one ampere to flow through
a conductor with a resistance of one ohm.
Watt (W) The unit used to measure production/usage rate of all

types of energy; the unit for power. The rate of energy
transfer equivalent to one ampere flowing under a
pressure of one volt at unity power factor.
Watthour (Wh) The unit of energy equal to the work done by one watt in
one hour.

Project Report

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Project Report

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Project Report

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A

HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT

Under the supervision of

Department of Electrical Engineering

Mr. A.P. Narayan

I wish to express my profound gratitude and indebtedness to Lect. A.P.

Introducing the present topic and for their inspiring guidance,

constructive criticism and valuable suggestion throughout the project

extended all sorts of help for accomplishing this undertaking.

Dept. of Electrical Engineering

2. HOW HYDROPOWER WORKS…………………………… 02-08

3. HOW POWER IS COMPUTED ……………………………. 09-10

4. TURBINE ………………………………………………….. 11-11

5. MODERN CONCEPTS AND FUTURE ROLE…………. 12-14

6. LOW HEAD HYDROPOWER …………………………… 15-16

7. PUMPED STORAGE ……………………………………… 17-19

8. FUTURE POTENTIAL …………………………………… 19-21

9. HYDROPOWER THE ENVIRONMENT & SOCIETY.. 21-26

10. HYDROPOWER FROM PAST TO PRESENT……….. 27-34

11. CONCLUSION …………………………………………… 35-36

Hydroelectric Power -- what is it?

It=s a form of energy … a renewable resource. Hydropower provides about 96

Hydroelectric power is important to our Nation. Growing populations and modern

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 1

with steam systems powered by combustion or nuclear processes cannot

Reclamation=s 58 powerplants throughout the Western United States produce an

HOW HYDROPOWER WORKS

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 2

Water vapor passes into the atmosphere by evaporation then circulates,

To generate electricity, water must be in motion. This is kinetic (moving) energy.

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 3

At facilities called hydroelectric powerplants, hydropower is generated. Some

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 4

Once the electricity is produced, it must be delivered to where it is needed -- our

Transformers on poles (or buried underground, in some neighborhoods) further

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 5

While hydroelectric powerplants are one source of electricity, other sources

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 6

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 7

rural electric associations. Surplus power produced at facilities owned by the

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 8

How Power is Computed

Before a hydroelectric power site is developed, engineers compute how much

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 9

To find the theoretical horsepower (the measure of mechanical energy) from a

where: THP = theoretical horsepower

Q = flow rate in cubic feet per second (cfs)

A more complicated formula is used to refine the calculations of this available

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 10

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 11

Modern Concepts and Future Role

Hydropower does not discharge pollutants into the environment; however, it is

ELECTRICAL ENGG. DEPARTMENT, G.P. GONDA PAGE NO. 12

Reclamation actively pursues research and development (R&D) programs

Hydropower research and development today is primarily being conducted in

Fish Passage, Behavior, and Response

Monitoring Tool Development

Operations & Maintenance