Introduction

The major power stations coming under Mahaweli complex are Kotmale, Victoria,
Randenigala, Rantambe, Ukuwela, Bowatenna, Upper Kotmale and Nilambe covering 1268
km
2
of Mahaweli basin. They contribute around 15% electrical energy to the country
annually.Although it was first intended to take thirty years to complete the development, in
1977 .Under the accelerated Mahaweli scheme which was started in early 80s with a view to
complete within six years.
Reservoir
Reservoir is immense of importance with regard to power generation process as it
accommodates the massive amount of water to feed the turbines. When the victoria reservoir
holds her maximum capacity the water level reaches 438.04 m. Total capacity of the victoria
reservoir is about 1000722 m3 which spans an area over 23.7 km2
Structure of the dam
Geometrical structure of the dam
is characterized as double arch
concrete dam due to the arch
shape of the both longitudinal and
lateral directions. Dam has been
purposely designed to tilt
maximum of 68mm when the
water level reaches maximum.
The dam a maximum height of
338ft and length along the crest of
1400ft.the middle part of the dam forms the spill way which is consist of four gates. The dam
is consist of 36 independent concrete parts that has the ability to move to withstand the stress
and the dam is called a live dam because of that.
Intake and tunnel
Intake is the place through which the water required for power generation, enters the tunnel
which carries water to power house. Tunnel is a low pressure channel and can be considered
as almost horizontal. Tunnel is 5.7km lengthy and has an inner diameter of 6.2m.
Penstock
Water carried by the tunnel is fed into
another tubular path called penstock to
develop the water head required for power
generation process. Penstock has a big
water pressure inside comparatively to the
water tunnel. In Victoria power house three
penstock tubes can be seen which are
feeding water into three turbines. To
withstand high pressures penstocks are
generally made up of steel.
Turbine
We can see many types of turbine construction and the classification can be done with respect
to the operating head. Very popular types of turbines are Pelton, Francis and Kaplan. Used
turbine type in Victoria power station is Francis type.






Details of turbines:
Level of spiral casing center line : 228m MSL
Rated head :190m
Speed of rotation :333.3 rpm
Rated power output : 72 MW
Maximum power output : 83 MW
Designed efficiency : 95.08%

Generator
Generator delivers power to the power system
by transforming the mechanical power granted
from turbine. In victoria there we can see
Salient pole type generators. Generator voltage
is 12.5 kV, and rated current is 4388A. there
got 18 poles and rated power factor is 0.85.
mainly we can get the rated output for each
generator (@ 60 C) as 70.125 MW. Operating
efficiency is 98.2% . and the maximum energy
production capability is 686 GWh/yr.
Generators emits heat when operate. Separate
system for cooling of generator windings has
been established. Cross sectional shape of the
windings are not round as usual because
packing factor is less. Windings in a generator are made up of copper laminations which pack
perfectly.
Step up transformer
Generation voltage and transmission voltage are different. As discussed above generation
voltage is 12.5kV and it should be transformed to 220kV to connect to the grid. In Victoria
power station one 3 phase step up transformer is used for each of three generators. To
overcome heating, water cooling and an air cooling system are used. Winding temperature is
always monitored by control room. Lightning arresters has been also installed for protection.
Switch yard
Switch yard consists of circuit breakers, bus bars,
current sensing transformers, potential
transformers and switch gears.
Intention of having a switch yard is to isolate the
power station from the system. Circuit breakers
operate faster than switch gears. To avoid
flashovers circuit breakers are opened first and
then switch gears. Circuit breaking system of
Victoria switch yard is called one and half circuit
breaker system.


Transmission lines
Transmission lines carry a large amount of power to loading areas. In victoria power station
we can see double circuit double line transmission lines. Using double line increases the
capacity of transmission line. If a failure happens to a circuit breaker, it is not needed to turn
off the supply of the system of which reliability has been raised as this is a double circuit
system.
Rantembe power station
Rantembe power station and Rantembe reservoir is the most downstream project in
the Mahawali project. The primary function of the project is the generation electrical energy
using the water releases from Randenigala reservoir. The Rantambe project consists of a 420
m, long, 42 m. high concrete dam across Mahaweli ganga. The power station on the left
bank having two turbine-generator units of total installed capacity of 52 MW.
Dam
The main dam having 420 m length and 42 m hight. Crest elevation is 41.50 m and crest
length is 50m
Spill way
Maximum capacity 10,235 m 3/ s
Number of gates - 1
Type of gates - Taintor Type
Height of gate 16.21 m
Width of gates 16.00 m

Penstock
Steel circular, 4.3 m diameter, 50 m length

Generator (ABB)
Conventional vertical
32000 kVA, 0.85 PF, 12.5 kV, 1478 A
50 Hz, 36 poles, 166 rev/min
Exciter : 160 V, 920 A

Turbine (Sulzer Escher Wyss)
Vertical Francis
Output : 26.54 MW @ 32.7 m
effective head
(Rated),
27.63 MW @ 33.73 m effective head
(Maximum)
Rated discharge : 90 m3/sec
Generator rpm: 166 rev/min


Randenigala dam
















The Randenigala Project, the fourth major multi-purpose project and the largest
reservoir under the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Programme. Randenigala
project is located about 26 km. below the Victoria Head works and 6 km. upstream of
Minipe anicut from where the main Right Bank and Left Bank canals will divert the
Mahaweli waters for irrigation. It is also the reservoir with the largest storage capacity
having gross storage of 860 million cubic metres (697,000 acre ft.) at full supply
level. The project is expected to generate about 525 GWh of electrical energy which
amounts to 20% of the islands present demand.

Main Dam
Dam Length - 485 m
Dam Height - 94.0 m
Crest elevation - 239.0 m MSL
Crest width - 10 m
Maximum base width - 303 m
Spill gates
Maximum capacity - 8,100 m 3/ s
Number of gates - 3
Type of gates - Taintor
Hight of gate - 15.26 m
Width of gates - 16.70 m
Length of chute spillway - 232 m