Pump Storage Hydroelectricity

Debojyoti Mukherjee
EE 3rd year 44
What is Hydroelectric power?
Water is stored at an
elevation. Then it is
released at a fixed rate, the
potential energy stored in
the water is used to drive a
turbine which works as a
prime-mover for the
generator.
It is most popular
renewable source of
energy.
It now supplies 17.5% of
worlds electricity needs.
In india it supplies 14.35%
i.e 42,783 MW of
electricity.
What is Energy Recapturing?
At day time most
factories, offices and
households are
demanding electricity and
this is called on-peak
period.
since industrial electricity
rates are higher than the
domestic rates it is also
high-profit or high-cost
electricity.
Industry should not be
hampered due to power
shortage thats why
electricity during on-peak
is high-valued.
Pump Storage Scheme
It is a type of hydroelectric
plant but in this case water is
not naturally present at the
elevation, instead water is
pumped using Low-cost off-
peak electric power from the
grid or onsite steam plant.
It is a storage mechanism
used for high power demand
at peak hours, the water is
released just like an regular
hydroelectric plant and the
excess power demand is
fulfilled.
 Pump Storage Scheme cont...

Helps to balance the flow of power across transmission networks by

absorbing excess when electricity demand is low and releasing it when
demand increases.
Number of machines
Four unit scheme: separate generator,
motor, pump and turbine is used and they
operate independently. The cost is
generally more. Hence not commonly
employed
Three unit scheme: The generator and
motor are same devices and in tandem
with separate turbine and pump. This
sceme is more commonly used.
Two unit scheme: Same device work as
both turbine and pump and another device
serves as both generator and motor. This
method is gaining popularity.
Recirculation type PSS
The water volume in upper and
lower reservoirs are same, the same
water is used in pumping and
generation process.
Seepage and evaporation can be

taken care by small inflows in upper

or lower reservoir.
Power is generated only during on-

peak period.
This scheme is more feasible where

potential head is already present.

Mixed PSS

A conventional hydroelectric plant and a

pure recirculation pump storage is
combined in this method.
The upper reservoir is very large and

supplies water in most time of the year

when sufficient water is available.
During off-peak period it can be used as

conventional plant.
In dry seasons plant is used for pump

storage scheme only.

 Advantages of PSS

Converts low-cost,
Quick start-up time Low-value off-peak energy
(<5min) To high-value, high-cost,
on-peak energy

Can Work as a
Synchronus Advantages Load levelling
condenser

Can strore large amount

Eco-friendly Of
energy
Operating problems

Cannot be used again until water is again

pumped up.
Powerhouse locations must be such that

the pump operates under submerged

conditions. This is called cavitations.
Periodic reversal in water flow causes

runner cracking due to fatigue.

Trash racks vibrate violently during

pumping operations.
Flow during pumping lift the machine

vertically causing huge tensile stress in

the bearings and guide vanes.
Largest PSH plant-Bath County
Capacity: 3003MW
Turbines: 6x500MW, Francis type
Commissioning date: Dec, 1985
Water Flow:
3
Pumping: 801m /sec
3
Generating: 852m /sec

Upper reservoir: 1.07km2, 32m

fluctuating water level
Lower reservoir: 2.25km2, 18m
fluctuating water level
PSH Plants in India
Source
1. Pump Storage Hydro Power Plant-Mayadhar Swain
1. Electrical India (Nov, 2013)
2. Wikipedia-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-
storage_hydroelectricity
3. Dominion-https://www.dom.com/corporate/what-we-
do/electricity/generation/hydro-power-stations/bath-county-
pumped-storage-station