HEAD MEASUREMENT IN

MHP
Most important factor in hydropower
design.
Need Accuracy of 3%.
Minimum three separate
measurements should be taken for
each site.
Of the three, at least two should be
involve quite different methods of
measurement.

Methods
of
measurement

head

Water filled tube

Water filled tube and pressure gauge
Spirit level and plank
Altimeter
Sighting meters
Sighting with spirit level
Builders level
Map

Head Measurement Comaprision of Techniques

Comments
S.N.

Method

Water filled Tubes

and rods

Water filled Tubes

and pressure gauge

Spirit level and

planks

Altimeter

Weight

Light

Expense

Advantage

Low

Simple

Light

Low

Fast, Simple, Penstock

length aslo measure
together

Light

Low

Simple

Light

Limitation

Long winded for high

heads

Unsutiable for long

gentle slope

High

usefule in medium and

high head

not good for low head

Site clerance required

for visibility

Abney Levels

Light

Moderate

Fast, Simple, Penstock

length aslo measure
together

Spirit level Auto

Level

Moderate

Low

Good for all site

Dumpy
Levels/Theodolite

Heavy

High but
available on
rent basis

Maps

Light

Low

Accuracy

Precaution

Approx5%

Repeat
Measurement

<5% if
gauge
calibrated

Repeat
Measurement

5%

Gross error
30%
possible,
2% at high
head

5%

Repeat
Measurement

Calibration and
temperature
correction required

Experiences
rquired

2.50%

High accuracy

Site clerance required

for visibility

Very good

Need error
calculation and
adjustments

Quick finding in desk

High heads only

Moderate

Loacting the site in

map properly

Simple power equation to find

required head
Hg = P/5Q
Where,
Hg = Gross head required
P =total power required
Q = flow design flow
From this select the site for powerhouse and
forebay and measure the height and length.
Others factors: stability, length of headrace,length
of penstock, geological conditions etc.
* Locating intake and other structure first is also
possible when head is not critical issues to be
considered.

Use of Clinometer (Abney

Level)

Smaller version of line level

Used to measure vertical angles.
Used to calculate gross head.
Accessories required are:
Measuring tape 30m or 50m
Two strong sticks of equal length ( about
1.5mtr)
pegs

Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Place one stick/ranging rod at the starting point of the survey, for
example, the location of turbine base in PH, and the second stick
at the first intermediate point, less than 30m away.
Measure the straight sloping distance, L1, between the
tops of
the sticks and record.
Place the Abney Level on top of the first stick and sight the top of
the second; turn the spirit level until the bubble is at the centre
of the split eyepiece and record the measured angle a1.
Move the first stick to the next location along the route of the
penstock, preferably less than 30m away.
Repeat operation 2 and 3 from the second stick aiming at the
new position of the first stick; record the slope distance L2, and
angle a2.
Move the second stick to the next position along the penstock
and repeat operations 2-5 until the base of the forebay is
reached.
H1 = L * SIN a1
H2 = L * SIN a2

..
H = H1 + H2 +H3 +