1.

Introduction
We are studying mechanical engineering, it is very helpful and essential to visit the hydropower
plant while studying Hydraulic Machine course. This helps us to understand the theory parts of
the course as well as broaden our knowledge.

1.1 Background
Hydropower plant is conventional renewable source of energy, clean, free from pollution and
Generally has a good environmental effect. Chilime Hydropower plant, a peaking run-of-type
plant owned by Chilime Hydropower company Limited is located at 133 km North of the
Kathmandu at the right bank of the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa District. The plant, with the
installed capacity of 22.56 MW, is delivering the power of 20 MW as per Power Purchase
Agreement (PPA) with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) since 24th August 2003. The Plant is
designed to generate 137GWh energy per annum. The annual energy generation from the plant is
about 150 GWh which is more than designed one.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) holds majority ownership with 51% share holding.
Remaining 49% shareholding is from general public including 10% equity ownership of local
people.

After the successful operation of the Chilime Hydropower (22.1 MW) project, four more projects
are under construction by Chilime Hydropower company Limited, the projects are Sanjen Upper
(14.8 MW), Sanjen (42.5 MW), Madhya Bhotekoshi (102 MW) and Rasuwagadhi (38.50 MW).

The salient feature of Chilime Hydropower plant is as follows:

General:

Type Run off River with Peaking Pondage

Turbine discharge 8.25 m3/sec

Gross head 351.5 m

Net head 336.85 m

Installed capacity 22.1 MW (2 x 11.05 MW)

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Average Annual energy 137.9 GWh (137 Million Units)

Deemed energy 132.917 GWh (132 Million Units)

Intake size 2 x 5.50 m x 1.2 m

Diversion Weir (L x H) 13.0 m x 3.25 m

Sluiceway Width 3.0 m

Desanding basin:

Type Dufour (double chamber)

Dimensions (L x B x H) 60 m x 7.5 m x 3.75 m

Syphon (L x D) 58.0 m x 2.2 m (steel pipe)

Power canal (L x B x H) 606.0 m x 2.2 m x 2.2 m

Feeder canal from Bemdang Khola 82.15 m

Peaking Pondage from Storage Capacity 53,032 m3

Pressure Conduit (L) 414.0 m

Headrace tunnel (L x B x H) 2826.5 m x 2.2 m x 2.2 m

Underground Surge Tank (D x H) 6.5 m x 30 m

Underground penstock (L x D) 635.5 m x 1.64 m to 2.17 m

Transformer Cavern (L x W x H) 67.0 m x 10.0 m x 7.5 m

Switchgear Room (L x W x H) 14.0 m x 12.0 m x 8.5 m

Powerhouse Cavern (L x W x H) 40.0 to 50.0 m x16.0 m x 16.5 m

Tailrace Tunnel (L x W x H) 243.0 m x 3.0 m x 3.0 m

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Turbine (type and output) Horizontal, Pelton (2x 11.28 MW) digital governor

Generators (type, capacity and voltage) Brushless Excitation, 13 MVA, 11 kV

Transformer (type, capacity and voltage) Single Phase, 4.25 MVA x 7 Nos.

Switchgear type Gas Insulated Metalclad (GIS System)

Transmission Line (L x V and circuit) 38 km x 66 kV Single Circuit (Wolf Conductor)

1.2 Objectives
Main objectives of the Chilime hydropower station visit are listed below:

 To visit the different places of hydropower plant (downstream, intake, upstream).

 To get the knowledge of hydropower station parameters.
 To understand the working mechanism of different parts.

2. Findings
I have visited and studied about the following mechanical as well as other components during
trip in the Chilime hydropower plant.

Upstream

The upstream or dam site of Chilime Hydropower Project is located in Chilime, Rasuwa. The
water flow from Chilime Khola diverted by means of Diversion Weir of crest length 13 m and
crest level 1740.25 m. Then water inters to under sluice gate of 3 m x3 m and sea lever of 1737.5
m and to intake, where there is trash rack and gravel track gate, trash rack (5.5 m x 1.2 m), intake
gate size(2.4m x2m) and gate sea level is 1738m. After that water from Chilime Khola and
Bendang Khola are mixed and then flows to dufour double chamber type desanding basin (60m
x7.5m x3.75m).

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 Figure 1 : Diversion Weir, Chilime HPP
Intake

The intake is located in Chilime, Kavre. There is small reservoir with maximum daily pondage
capacity is 53032 cubic meters. The steel syphon of length 58m and diameter of 2.2 m from
desanding is allowing water to flow under the Bendang Khola to reservoir. The headrace tunnel
of 2826m x 2.2m x2.2m starts from the end of the reservoir, there is also trash rack present
which further blocks the trash.

Figure 2: Reservoir, Chilime HPP

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Penstock and canal

The headrace tunnel of 2826m x 2.2m x2.2m starts from the end of the reservoir and after this
there is underground Surge Tank of 6.5 m in diameter and 30m in height. Underground Penstock
pipe of 635.5m long and varying diameter from1.54m to 2.17m starts after surge tank to
Powerhouse. The penstock pipe is divided into two parts for two units, designed discharge of
each unit is 3.57 m3/s but as it is a dry season discharge during our visit discharge was only 1.8
m3/s. As the plant is high head spherical valve is used and control mechanism is PLC
(programmable logic controller).

Turbine and Governor

The net head of the plant is 336.85m and discharge is 3.75 m3/s, we can say this is high head and
low discharge so Pelton runner are used. Since this is a peaking run of river type plant there are 2
units so that they can operate at least one unit in dry season , two turbines are used. Each runner
has 20 bucket, 2205 mm in outer diameter and 1705 mm PCD (pitch circle diameter) .Chemical
Composition of the runner is Ni-Cr 13/4. They have one spare runner as well so that they can
replace while encountered any problem like erosion hence loss in efficiency. For Pelton runner
main erosion is due to sediment erosion in Nepal. Turbines are oriented horizontally and water
flows to tail race through tailrace tunnel of 243m long and 3m width and 3m high after doing
work. The turbines were eroded mainly due sediment erosion, which reduce the life time of the
turbine. Digital Governor are used to control the speed of the runner which is the latest
technology.

Figure 3: Powerhouse, Chilime HPP

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Generator and transmission

The shaft from the turbine is directly coupled to the generator shaft. In between them, bearing
was positioned. The generator type of three phase Y SHR 13/14/H is used, The generator had 7
pair of poles. The rated generation voltage was 1100 volts and rated current is 682 A with its
power factor 0.85. Total 2 generators were present, one coupled to each turbine. The magnets
used in the generators were electro-magnet; therefore they needed to be excited at the beginning.
This was done by exciter that supplied DC current to the electromagnet. The voltage generated
from the generator is low to transmit for long distance, so this cannot be transmitted directly.
Before transmission, the current produced was supplied to bus bars where step-up transformers
increased the voltage for transmission. 36km x 66000 Volts were supplied to Balaju Kathmandu.

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3. Conclusion
After visiting the Chilime hydropower plant I learnt different things about hydropower plant and
it has broadened my knowledge about the mechanical components of the power plant as well as
electrical components.

Chilime hydropower in Nepal commissioned in 2003 A.D. with economical and technical
assistance of NEA, employee (NEA and Company) and general public. This is a peaking run of
river type plant so divided into two units, and two Pelton runners are used as it is high head. The
hydraulic parameter of the plants is head 336.85 mm and discharge 3.75 cubic m/sec per unit. It
has installed capacity 11.28MW per unit.

Reference
Neopane Hari Prasad, “Lecture Notes on Hydraulic Machine” Kathmandu University,
Department of Mechanical Engineering – 2010

Chilime Hydropower Company Limited, “http//www.chilime.com.np”

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 Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 3

2. Findings................................................................................................................................... 3

3. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 7

Reference .................................................................................................................................... 7

List of Figure

Figure 1 : Diversion Weir, Chilime HPP ........................................................................................ 4

Figure 2: Reservoir, Chilime HPP .................................................................................................. 4
Figure 3: Powerhouse, Chilime HPP .............................................................................................. 5

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