Hydro Power Plant

Md. Pabel Sikder

Lecturer, Department of EEE
Canadian University of Bangladeesh
What is Hydro Power Plant?
 Hydro means "water". So, hydropower is "water
power" and hydroelectric power is electricity
generated using water power. Potential energy (or
the "stored" energy in a reservoir) becomes kinetic
(or moving energy). This is changed to mechanical
energy in a power plant, which is then turned into
electrical energy. Hydroelectric power is a renewable
resource.
Components of Hydropower Plant
 Basic components of a conventional hydropower plants are:
Components of Hydropower Plant
Reservoir: Water from a natural water body
like a river is stored in the reservoir. This
reservoir is built at a level higher than the
turbine.

Dam: The flow of water stored in the

reservoir is obstructed by huge walls of the
dam. This prevents the water from flowing
and helps us harness the energy present in
it. The dam consists of gates present at its
bottom, which can be lifted to allow the flow
of water through them. Most hydropower
plants rely on a dam that holds back water,
creating a large reservoir.
Components of Hydropower Plant
Intake: This gate is used to regulate the flow rate of water striking
the turbine blades. The main purpose is this gate in hydropower
plant is to regulate the amount of water going out from a reservoir
to the power generation unit.

Penstock: It is the pipe that carries water from reservoir to turbine.

It’s the kinetic and the potential energy of water in penstock that
decides the amount of power produced by the turbine. The flow of
water in penstock is controlled by the intake gate.
Components of Hydropower Plant
Spillway: In hydropower plant, Spillway is the safety feature of the
dam. It prevents the dam from damage in case to too much rain or in
situation of a flood. It should be able to discharge the required
amount of water and keep the level of water in reservoir at its safe
maximum level.
Turbine: The kinetic energy of the running
water turns the blades of the turbine. The
turbine can be either a Pelton Wheel Model
or a Centrifugal type. The turbine has a
shaft connected to the generator. The most
common type of turbine for hydropower
plants is the Francis Turbine, which looks
like a big disc with curved blades.
Components of Hydropower Plant
Generator: A shaft runs from the turbine to the generator. When
the blades of the turbine rotate, the shaft turns a motor which
produces electric current in the generator.

Transformer: The transformer inside the powerhouse takes the

AC and converts it to higher-voltage current.

Power Lines: The power produced in the generator is sent to

various power distribution stations through the power lines.
Pumped-Storage Plants
A pumped-storage plant has two
reservoirs: Upper and Lower
reservoir.

The water coming down from

turbine through draft tube is stored
in a lower reservoir. This water is
pumped back to upper reservoir,
when the power consumption is low,
especially during night when mainly
all appliances are off. This water is
then used to get electricity when
required, mainly during day time.
Run-of-river Hydropower
In run of river systems, running
water is diverted from a flowing
river and guided down a
channel, or penstock, which
leads to a generating house.
There the force of the moving
water spins a turbine and
drives a generator. The water is
fed back into the main river
further downstream.
Advantages

 Requires no fuel as water is used for the generation of

electrical energy.
 Neat and clean as no smoke or ash is produced.
 It requires very small running charges because water
is the source of energy which is available free of cost.
 Requires less maintenance.
 It can be put into service instantly.
 It is robust and has a longer life.
Disadvantages

 The loss of land under the reservoir.

 It involves high capital cost due to construction of dam.
 Skilled and experienced hands are required to build
the plant.
 It requires high cost of transmission lines as the plant
is located in hilly areas which are quite away from the
consumers.
Thank You

Md. Pabel Sikder

Lecturer, Department of EEE
Canadian University of Bangladeesh