Lecture # 5

HYDROPOWER:
Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, is a renewable source of energy that generates power by using a dam or
diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or other body of water.

 Source: Energy from flowing or falling water.

 Technology: Hydropower plants use water flow to generate electricity.
 Applications: Electricity generation, irrigation, flood control.
 Advantages: Renewable, high energy output, low emissions.
 Challenges: Disruptive to ecosystems, requires large infrastructure, can be affected by drought.

Hydrology: Hydrology deals with the occurrence, calculation and distribution of water of the earth and
earth’s atmosphere.
• Run-off • Stream Flow • Hydrograph • Flow duration curve • Mass curve • Storage • Pondage

Classification of Hydro-Electric Plants: Hydrology

 Based on water flow regulation
1. Run off river plants without pondage
2. Run off river plant with pondage
3. Reservoir plants
 According to load
1. Base load plants
2. Peak load plants
3. Pumped storage plant
 According to head
1. Low head plants
2. Medium head plants
3. High head plants

Hydraulic Turbines: The hydraulic turbine is a mechanical device that converts the potential energy
contained in an elevated body of water into rotational mechanical energy.

 Pelton Turbine
 Francis Turbine
 Propeller Turbine
 Kaplan Turbine

Diagrams: 1. Hydroelectric Power Plant Layout 2. Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT:
Nuclear power reactors use heat produced during atomic fission to boil water and produce pressurized steam.
The steam is routed through the reactor steam system to spin large turbines blades that drive magnetic
generators to produce electricity.

 Source: Energy from nuclear fission.

 Technology: Nuclear reactors generate heat to produce electricity.
 Applications: Electricity generation, naval propulsion.
 Advantages: High energy output, low carbon emissions, reliable.
 Challenges: Nuclear waste, safety concerns, high regulatory requirements.

Diagram:
 Nuclear Power Plant Layout

Reactor:
Nuclear reactors are machines that contain and control nuclear chain reactions while releasing heat at
a controlled rate.

 Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor

 Magnox Reactor
 Pressurized Water Reactor
 Boiling Water Reactor
 Liquid Metal Fueled Reactor