Hydropower Project

1.0 Introduction
Electricity - most people don't understand what it is. They just
turn on the light switch or start the appliance or push the button
and something works. It's only when there is no electric power
available that we start to consider the importance of it in our daily
personal and working lives. Without it, we would be burning wood
and coal to heat our homes and businesses and using oil and
candles to light our way in the dark. Only since the invention of
the electric generator have humans been able to advance in
every aspect of modern life. In fact, modern living is defined by
electric
power.
Electricity is a manufactured product. It is not something you
pump out of the ground or mine or collect from the sun or wind.
Electric power is manufactured from a rotating machine that we
call an electrical generator. After it is generated, it is then
delivered through copper wires to where it is utilized.
Power is a basic part of nature and it is one of our most widely
used forms of energy.We get power, which is a secondary energy
source, from the conversion of other sources of energy, like coal,
natural gas, oil, water, nuclear power and other natural sources,
which are called primary sources. Beginning with Benjamin
Franklin's experiment with a kite one stormy night in Philadelphia,
the principles of power gradually became understood. In the mid1800s, Thomas Edison has invented electric light bulb. Edison's
invention used power to bring indoor lighting to our homes.

2.0 Sources of Energy

Sources of electricity are everywhere in the world. Worldwide,

there is a range of energy resources available to generate
electricity. These energy resources fall into two main categories,
often called renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Each
of these resources can be used as a source to generate electricity,
which is a very useful way of transferring energy from one place
to another such as to the home or to industry. Renewable and
nonrenewable energy sources can be used to produce
secondary energy sources including electricity and hydrogen.
a) Renewable energy: An energy source that can be easily
replenished

Solar

energy from the sun, which can be turned into electricity

and heat.
Wind
Geothermal energy from heat inside the Earth
Biomass from plants, which includes firewood from trees,
ethanol from corn, and biodiesel from vegetable oil
Hydropower from hydro turbines at a dam
b) Nonrenewable Energy: An energy source that we are using up
and cannot recreate
Oil
Natural gas
Coal. They're called fossil fuels because they were formed over
millions and millions of years by the action of heat from the
Earth's core and pressure from rock and soil on the remains (or
"fossils") of dead plants and creatures like microscopic diatoms.
Another nonrenewable energy source is the element uranium,
whose atoms we split (through a process called nuclear fission) to
create heat and ultimately electricity.

3.0 Hydropower Energy

3.1 History of Hydropower
Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of energy. It was used
thousands of years ago to turn a paddle wheel for purposes such
as grinding grain. Hydropower has been used since ancient times
to grind flour and perform others tasks.Because the source of
hydroelectric power is water; hydroelectric power plants must be
located on a water
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source. Therefore, it wasn't until the technology to transmit

electricity over long distances was developed that hydropower
became widely used.
Water Wheels and mills were found in most of the early cultures.
Water wheels were mostly used to grind grains in ancient India
and water powered mills was also used to saw timber and stone in
Imperial Rome. Today, hydropower is considered as renewable
energy and is used to produce electricity.
Hydropower is the most important and widely-used renewable
source of energy.

Hydropower represents 20% of total electricity production. China

is the largest producer of hydroelectricity, followed by Canada,
Brazil, and the United States.
Untapped hydro resources are still abundant in Latin America,
Central Africa, India and China. Worldwide, an installed capacity of
777 GWe supplied 2998 TWh of hydroelectricity in 2006. This was
approximately 20% of the world's electricity, and accounted for
about 88% of electricity from renewable sources. The first hydro
plant was built at Niagara Falls in 1879.
3.2 What is Hydropower?
Hydro means water. Hydropower is the energy we make with
moving water. Moving water has a lot of energy. We use that
energy to make electricity.
Gravitythe force of attraction between all objectsmakes the
water
move. Gravity pulls the water from high ground to low ground.
The rain that
falls in the mountains flows down the valleys to the oceans.
The water cycle will keep going forever. The water on earth will
always be
there. We won't run out of it. That's why we call hydropower a
renewable
energy source. Moving water can be used to make electricity.
First, a dam is built across a river. This stops the water and makes
a big lake behind the dam. This lake is called a reservoir.

When gates in the dam are opened, water flows down big pipes
called
penstocks and turns giant wheels, called turbines. The turbines
power
generators to make electricity.
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by
hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of
the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most
widely used form of renewable energy.
The basic concept is that moving water turns a turbine, which in
turn spins a generator to produce electricity. In a typical hydro
system, water drops from the upstream to create flows that drives
turbine. Turbines are connected to electricity generator working
as wind turbines. The more pressure creates more power.

3.3 Generation Methods

There are four basic ways by which hydroelectric power is
generated from water.
Dams: This method extracts the potential energy of water
collected in dams. Water turbines and generators are driven to
extract such energy. The amount of power extracted depends
upon the volume of water as well as upon the difference between
the height of the water source and the water outflow. Such
difference in height is known as head and the potential energy of
the water is directly proportional to the head.

Pumped Storage: Under this method, electricity is generated by

moving water between reservoirs located at different heights. This
method is useful for supplying electricity on occasions of high
peak demands. When the demand is high, water is released from
a higher to a lower reservoir by running a turbine and in times of
low demand, water from lower reservoirs are pumped up into
higher reservoirs.
Run-Of-The-River: As opposed to pumped storage, run-of-the-river
electricity stations are not designed to store water and they have
a much smaller reservoir capacity than pumped storage stations.
The rest of the mechanism, using elevation and drop of water
sources, is similar to pumped storages.

Tidal Power Generation: Power plants generating tidal power

harness the energy generated by daily rise and fall of water due
to the tidal phenomenon
Type of hydropower plant
Capacity wise there are four types of hydropower projects:
Large- large hydroelectric power stations, facilities from over a
few hundred megawatts to more than 10 GW is generally
considered large hydroelectric facilities.
Small- small hydro project is a generating capacity of up to 10
megawatts (MW).
Micro-Micro hydro is a term used for hydroelectric power
installations that typically produce up to 100 KW of power.
Pico-Pico hydro is a term used for hydroelectric power
generation of under 5 KW.
4.0 How Hydropower Works
Hydroelectric energy is produced by the force of falling water. The
capacity to produce this energy is dependent on both the
available flow and the height from which it falls. Building up
behind a high dam, water accumulates potential energy.
This is transformed into mechanical energy when the water
rushes down the sluice and strikes the rotary blades of turbine.
The turbine's rotation spins electromagnets which generate
current in stationary coils of wire. Finally, the current is put
through a transformer where the voltage is increased for long
distance transmission over power lines.
This method extracts the potential energy of water collected in
dams. Water
turbines and generators are driven to extract such energy. The
amount of power extracted depends upon the volume of water as
well as upon the difference between the height of the water
source and the water outflow. Such difference in height is known
as head and the potential energy of the water is directly
proportional to the head. To obtain very high head, water for a
hydraulic turbine may be run through a large pipe called a
penstock.

When the water reaches the end of the penstock, it turns a water
wheel or "turbine" at enormous speeds. The turbine rotates, via a
connected shaft to an electrical generator, and this generator
creates electricity. It is the turbine and generator working in
combination that converts "mechanical energy" into "electric
energy".
The current is then passed onto the transformer, converting it to a
small current at a high voltage, and through the transmission
lines to substations where the voltage will be reduced and the
electricity distributed to customers. High voltage is needed
because a large amount of energy is needed to transport
electricity over long
distances.
4.1 Hydroelectric power plant components:
1. Dam: Holds back water, forming a reservoir. This reservoir may
be used for recreational purposes, like Lake Roosevelt is to the
Grand Coulee Dam.
2. Intake: Gates on the dam that allows the water into the
penstock, a thin passage that carries the water to the turbine. It is
within the penstock that water builds pressure.
3. Turbine: the force of falling water causes the turbine's large
blades to turn, which turns an attached generator.
4. Transformer: converts the current from the generator into more
useable voltages.
5. Transmission lines: conducts electricity from the plant for
distribution.
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4.1.1 Inside Hydropower Plant

4.1.2 Inside Hydropower Generator

1. Water flows through the dam and turns a large wheel called a
turbine. The turbine turns a shaft which rotates a series of
magnets past copper coils and a generator to produce electricity.
The process produces clean renewable energy.
2. The Kaplan Head is the hydraulic associated with adjustable
blades on the turbine.

Adjustable blades operate efficiently despite variations in water

flow and energy demands.
3. The rotor is a series of magnets. It's the rotating portion of the
generator where the magnetic field is created.
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4. The stator is the stationary part of the generator made of coils

of copper wire.
Electricity is produced as the rotors spin past the stationary
wiring.
5. The shaft connects the turbine to the rotor section of the
generator. All three elements, the turbine, shaft, and rotor turn at
the same speed of 90 revolutions per minute.
6. The wicket gates are a series of 20 adjustable vanes,
resembling vertical blinds. They control the volume of water
flowing through the turbine.
7. The 172 ton hydraulic turbine resembles a large water wheel.
The turbine converts the energy of falling water into mechanical
energy to drive the generator.
Hydropower Generator

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4.2 Factors affecting on electricity generation

The amount of electricity a hydroelectric plant generates depends
on several factors. The two main ones include:
Amount of hydraulic head: hydraulic head refers to the distance
between the water surface and the turbines. The greater the
distance from the water surface to the turbine, the more
electricity that can be generated. Generally, the distance the
water falls correlates with the height of the dam. Because

potential energy is dependent on height, the difference in

distance between the water surface and turbine is an important
factor in how much electricity can be produced.
Volume of water: more falling water will generate more power.
Thus, large rivers have the potential to produce more electricity.
Again, the volume of water has a correlation to potential energy.
As the volume of water increases, so does the mass of the water,
increasing the amount of potential energy.
4.3 Facts of Hydroelectric Power
The following are some well known facts about hydroelectric
energy.
Hydroelectricity was generated for the first time in the year
1882. The world's first hydroelectricity station was situated in
Wisconsin. This power station used water from the Fox River to
generate electricity.
One of the most interesting hydroelectric power facts for kids
and adults alike is that China is the generator of the largest
amount of hydroelectricity, more than any other country in the
world! China has also built hydroelectric power stations in many
other countries.
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One very encouraging hydroelectricity fact is that many

countries around the world use hydroelectric power on a daily
basis. Prominent among them are Brazil, Russia, Canada,
Tanzania, North Korea, Iceland and New Zealand.
Hydroelectric power stations can successfully function for a
very long time.
Most state-of-the-art hydroelectric power stations are capable
of recovering their set up cost within eight years of starting their
operations.
The hydroelectric dams provide flood control along with
electricity.
Hydro-power is the worlds biggest renewable energy source.
Hover dam (which was constructed in 1936) is even visible
from space.
About 20% of worlds electricity needs are met through
hydroelectric power generation.

China is the leading producer of electricity. United States is at

fourth position.
Australia has a hydroelectric power station working since 1885.
5.0 Advantage and Disadvantage of Hydropower Energy
A) Advantages to hydroelectric power:
Fuel is not burned so there is minimal pollution.
Water to run the power plant is provided free by nature.
Hydropower plays a major role in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
Relatively low operations and maintenance costs.
The technology is reliable and proven over time.
It's renewable - rainfall renews the water in the reservoir, so the
fuel is almost always there.
Water sports, aquaculture, tourism etc are some of the other
benefits.
It is generated from a clean source.
Once the dam is built, the energy is virtually free.
No waste or pollution produced.
Much more reliable than wind, solar or wave power.
Water can be stored above the dam ready to cope with peaks in
demand.
Hydro-electric power stations can increase to full power very
quickly, unlike other power stations.
Electricity can be generated constantly.
Reservoirs of dams can be used irrigation, flood control and
recreation
B) Disadvantages to hydroelectric power:
High investment costs
Hydrology dependent (precipitation)
In some cases, inundation of land and wildlife habitat
In some cases, loss or modification of fish habitat
Fish entrainment or passage restriction
In some cases, changes in reservoir and stream water quality
In some cases, displacement of local populations
Hydropower plants can negatively influence water quality and
flow.
The water that over flows from the dam causes major floods and
the residents living
in that path are in mortal peril.

Public

opposition to building dams may slow down development

6.0 How is power measured?
Power is measured in units of power called watts. It was named to
honor James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine. One watt is a
very small amount of power. It would require nearly 750 watts to
equal one horsepower. A kilowatt represents 1,000 watts. A
kilowatt-hour (kWh) is equal to the energy of 1,000 watts working
for one hour. The amount of power a power plant generates or a
customer uses over a period of time is measured in kilowatt-hours
(kWh). Kilowatt-hours are 16
determined by multiplying the number of kW required by the
number of hours of use. For example, if you use a 40-watt light
bulb 5 hours a day, you have used 200
watts of power, or .2 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy.
7.0 Worlds largest hydropower producer

Ten of the largest hydroelectric producers as at 2009

8.0 Hydropower Stations in India
There is abundance of Hydro power potential in India. As CEA only
37328.40 MW has been harnessed so far. The percentage of
Hydro Power capacity in overall energy proportion is merely
24.7%. As per Sushil Shinde, Minister of power, Government of
India, hydro proportion compare to other sources of energy is not
going to change in near future. Development of hydro power
resources is important for energy
security of the country. It takes about 10 years for developing a
large size hydro project from planning to commissioning. Central
Electricity Authority (CEA) has, therefore, prepared Hydro
Development Plan for 12th Plan (2012-17) covering planning of
hydro power projects during 11th & 12th Plan period.
NHPC Limited (Formerly known as National Hydroelectric Power
Corporation Ltd.), A Govt. of India Enterprise, was incorporated in
the year 1975 with an objective to plan, promote and organise an
integrated and efficient development of hydroelectric power in all
aspects. As on date NHPC Limited has become the largest
organisation for hydropower development in India.
At present the total number of large hydro power station in India
is 173 (capacity above 25 MW). List of top ten largest
hydroelectric power stations in India is as
following:

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9.0 References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricity
http://www.crem-ltd.com/renewables_hydro.html
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html
http://www.energysavers.gov/renewable_energy/hydropower/inde
x.cfm/
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hydroelectric-energy-advantagesanddisadvantages.
html
http://www.electricityforum.com/source-electricity.html
http://www.electricityforum.com/hydroelectricity.html
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/hydro.htm#how
http://fwee.org/gen.html
http://www.odec.ca/projects/2006/wong6j2/hydroelectric.html
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm
http//:greenenergysources.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricity
http://www.nhpcindia.com/English/Scripts/project_introduction.asp
x
http://hydropowerstation.com/?tag=khopoli-hydro-electricpower