MA9001 - Introduction to Energy

5. Hydroelectric Energy
Part I
Asst/Prof Qin Xiaosheng School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Tel : 67905288 Email : xsqin@ntu.edu.sg

Introduction
Hydropower is extracted from the natural potential of usable water resources Flowing water contains energy can be captured and turned into electricity
Hydroelectric Wave Tidal

Hydroelectric power currently the largest and cheapest source of renewable electricity
chinatravelplanner.com

History
First use of water power 250 BC First electricity generation with water in 1882
using a waterwheel on Fox river in Wisconsin

(www.cairns.com.au)

Niagara Falls 1893

One of the first hydroelectric power plants (2.2 MW)

20th century
Most new hydro-electric development focus on larger hydro dams environmental problems
(www.dailycognition.com)

Sources of Electric Power - US

Renewable Energy Sources - US

Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company, http://www.wvic.com/hydro-facts.htm

World hydroelectricity consumption

Worldwide hydroelectricity installed capacity reached 816 GW in 2005 750 GW of large plants, and 66 GW of small hydro installations

(EnergyInsight.net, 2007)

Fossil fuel reserves

Location of the World's Main Fossil Fuel Reserves (2010 World Coal Institute)

oil & gas will last another 50-100 years coal will last over 200 years
A shift towards renewable energy sources
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Hydrologic cycle

ter a W

r po a v

Condensation and precipitation

S o la r e ne rg y

Hydrostatic head

off n u R

Ru no ff

Evaporation

(Wikipedia, 2010)

Hydroelectric power generator

Water falls down from a high altitude and passes through a turbine The turbine drives a generator The generator produces electricity Power generation depends on fall height and flow rate

how hydroelectric power is created

Potential Energy
Electrical Energy

Kinetic Energy

Mechanical Energy

/www.ncgreenpower.org

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Components of the system

a. Dam: The structure that creates the reservoir as well as maintains the head pond at a certain level of water b. Head water: the water upstream of the dam whereas tail water is at the downstream of dam c. Tail water: water below a dam or waterpower development

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Components of the system

d. Forebay: a pool of water in front of a larger body of water e. Afterbay: the tail race of a hydroelectric power plant at the outlet of the turbines f. Penstock: a tunnel carries the water from the forebay into the power house

(Taylor & Francis, 2007)

Penstocks at the Ohakuri Dam, New Zealand (Wikpedia, 2010)

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Components of the system

g. Turbine: a rotary engine that extracts energy from water flow and converts it into useful work. h. Generator: an electrical machine coupled to the turbine shaft.
Rotor: an assembly of electromagnets (poles) which rotates Stator: a system of conductors (armature windings)

(Photos.com, 2010)

(Monster Guide, 2008)

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Types of Hydroelectric Installation

Head Water must fall from a higher elevation to a lower one to release its stored energy. The difference between these elevations (the water levels in the forebay and the afterbay) is called head Dams: three categories high-head (250 or more m) medium-head (50 to 250 m) low-head (less than 50 m)

Boyle, Renewable Energy, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2003

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Turbine technologies
Selection of turbines based on particular application and effective head Larger turbines have higher efficiencies but cost more Runner turning part of the turbine Types: Impulse turbines and Reaction turbines

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Impulse turbines
Use water jets to hit bucket on the runner Use the velocity of the water to move the runner, converting the potential energy to high velocity kinetic energy As water discharges under atmospheric pressure no pressure drop across turbines Relatively low flow applications Types: Pelton, turgo, cross-flow

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Pelton turbine
One or more jets of water spins the wheel Resembles a waterwheel Used for medium to highhead sites (100~1000 m), flow: 1-50 m3/s Unit capacity: up to 200 MW Efficiency: up to 92%

http://re.emsd.gov.hk

http://ucmr.com

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Turgo Turbine
A modification of the Pelton wheel the runner (wheel) of a Turgo turbine is like a Pelton wheel sliced in half The incoming jet of water strikes the plane of the runner on one side usually at an angle of about 20 Used for medium to medium head sites (50 - 250 m), flow: 1-10 m3/s Efficiency: 87%-90%

Copyright 2008 VARSPEED Hydro Ltd

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Cross-flow turbine
Water passes through a drumtype turbine transversely go through runner twice Used for low- to medium head condition (5-100 m), low flow condition (1- 10 m3/s) Low price & good regulation micro hydropower Efficiency: 84% - 87% (flat efficiency curve)

(Wikipedia, 2010)

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Reaction turbines
The reaction turbine is turned by reactive force rather than by a direct push or impulse. The runner is fully immersed in water and is enclosed in a pressure casing. Power is derived from pressure drop Higher flow rates and wider range of heads compared with impulse turbines Types: Francis, Kaplan

(Wikipedia, 2010)

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Francis turbine
Most common water turbine has a runner with fixed vanes Combines radial and axial flow Operational range
10-800 m head Up to 800 MW unit size Flow: up to 1000 m3/s

Efficiency over 90%

(Wikipedia, 2010)

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Kaplan turbine
A propeller-type water turbine adjustable blade pitch Operational range
1 to 100 m head (low to medium) up to 1000 m3/s flow Up to 100 MW unit size

Kaplan turbine efficiencies are typically over 90%

(Wikipedia, 2010)

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Types of Hydropower Turbines

Boyle, Renewable Energy, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2003

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Turbine selection

Chart for selecting turbines of hydropower plant

(Tridentes Energy, 2009)

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