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HYBRID HYDRO POWER PLANT

Conference Paper · October 2003

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DR. RAJENDRA SHRESTHA*, DOLESHOR KOIRALA**SATISH ARYAL**and SUSHIL DORANGA**

Abstract- Hybrid hydro electric power plants use hydraulic energy to rotate turbines and exit
tailrace water (with lower energy) is used in different purposes like irrigation, drinking water
etc.. Sundarizal Mini Hydro Power Plant is one of the hybrid hydro electric power plants in
Nepal. In this plant, tailrace water is used for the drinking water supply system of Kathmandu
valley. For the continuous demand of drinking water (even when turbines are not functioning)
urge to construct an auxiliary part of bypass system. This caused a big vibration of the whole
piping system. The problems were studied in detail. The exit pipe diameter reduction
principle and hydraulic jump principle are proposed for the smooth operation of this system.

Key Words: Hybrid Hydro Electric Power Plant (HHEPP), turbine, tailrace, hydraulic jump

1. ITRODUCTION:

Nepal is situated in the range of Himalayan Mountains, which is continuous source of water energy. The steeper
variation in the altitude adds more advantage for the generation of hydro electricity. There are many hydro electric
power plants (HEPP) in Nepal and more are expected to be constructed in future. Among them, there are few Hybrid
hydro electric power plants (HHEPP) where tailrace water is used for secondary purposes like drinking water supply
system (DWSS), irrigation system, industrial need system etc.. Sundarizal mini hydro power plant (SMHPP) is one of
hybrid hydro electric power plants (HHEPP), where the tailrace water is used for the drinking water supply system
(DWSS) of Kathmandu valley.

In HHEPP different modification and arrangement should be done for the systematic use of the tailrace water for the
secondary purposes. In the case of SMHPP, the modification and arrangement were found to be necessary when
demand for tailrace water to the DWSS were needed even when the turbines were not functioning due to various
causes. The disruption of water supply, cause a significant problem in Kathmandu valley. In such cases a bypass
system with three pressure reducers were constructed in 1998 to give uninterrupted supply of water to DWSS. The
system was tested by closing the turbines and water is allowed to pass through the bypass system. A gradual vibration
of the pipe line were observed. The vibration was enhanced more and more. The vibration on the pipe line started to
damage the supporting blocks too. Immediately the system was closed. Different ideas for this problem were
proposed, like water hammering problem, pipe network problem, pressure reducer problem etc.. The detail analysis of
the problem and solution for this problem is proposed in this paper.

2. FIELD SURVEY

SMHPP was established in 1934 AD. It is situated in the basement of Shivapuri Watershed Region. The powerhouse
is at the level of approximately 1410m from the sea level. (Source: Topographic map of Shivapuri water shed
region). This level is taken as a reference level for the analysis of this problem during this project work. The gross
head is 238m (also verified from the site survey). The modest capacity of the power plant is 640kW having 320kW of
each turbines. Both the turbines are of impulse type and double jet. It had three turbines at the starting time but one
turbine is completely closed and replaced from the place. The flow rate from these two turbines is 0.54m3/s (measured
by using current meter). The penstock pipe of nominal diameter 400mm is used to flow the water to the turbines. The
total length of the penstock pipe up to the bypass joint is 1054m. The main valve of the penstock pipe before the
bypass i.e. Tee joint is 24m from the turbines. Schematic diagram of SMHPP are given in Fig. 1
 Reservoir
Tailrace Tee joint
water exit Turbine-2 Turbine-1

Bypass water exit

Figure 1 Schematic Diagram of Sundarizal Mini Hydro Power Plant

3. RESULT AND CALCULATION

The field survey and the available data are given in table 1.

Table 1
Parameters Symbol and Formula Result and Values
Total flow rate from turbines (actual discharge) Q 0.54m3/s
Gross head Hgross 238m
Length of the pipe from reservoir to tee joint L1 1054m
Length of the pipe from tee joint to bypass exit L2 18m
Total length of the pipe L=L1+L2 1072m
Normal diameter of the pipe D 400mm

From the data given in the Table 1 the exist velocity form the bypass exist is calculated in Table 2. Net head is
calculated by considering losses due to friction only, other loss are neglected.

Table 2
Parameters Symbol and Formula Result and Values
Friction factor f 0.03 (From Moody chat, Harvey A. et.al (3))
Velocity of water inside the pipe v1=Q/ (D2/4) 4.29m/s
Head loss due to friction hf=(flv12) / (2Dg) 75.41m
Net Head Hnet=Hgross  hf 162.8m
Velocity of water at the exist v2=(2gHnet)  cv 54.78m/s
Coefficient of velocity cv 0. 97 (From .Dixit A.M. (4))
Net theoritical discharge Qth= (D2/4)  v2 6. 88m3/s

Here the total discharge for the turbines is taken as the actual discharge for the system because the existing system and
DWSS are using this value safely. Theoretical demand discharge at the exit is 12.61 times more then the actual
discharge. According to continuity equation, the theoretical discharge should be same through out the entire pipeline.
In such cases pressure in the pipeline fall to the vapour pressure of water, which implies that water will evaporate and
cavitaion will occur. Hence such type of problem in the pipeline is the cavitation problem. If the entire pipeline have
velocity 54.78m/s then the head loss due to friction will be 159.772m more, which is huge. In this case, flow pattern
will be completely changed. The effect of such type of problem is rapid vibration and noise in the pipeline.

If the exit pipeline diameter is not reduced then it will increase in flow demand from the exit, which result in the
boiling of the liquid. The boiling or evaporating of the liquid in the pipeline is termed as cavitation. Further more, as
the discharge in the pipeline increase, the velocity in the pipeline increases. Increase in velocity causes increase in
head loss due to friction. Now the discharge in the pipeline increases up to the limit to which the pressure in the
pipeline falls to the vapour pressure of the water. After this extent no discharge increases and the boiling of liquid
occurs. Cavitation announces itself by the characteristics, noise and vibration. The reason for this is, the condensation
of the bubbles of vapour take place very rapidly with high compressive stresses due to local water hammering effect.

The same rapid vibration and noise is being observed in the pipeline of the existing layout of SMHPP. From this, it is
cleared that the installed pressure reducer does not absorb the static head and such effects of noise and vibration are
seen. So, for the solution of the above problem following procedure is applied.
1. A nozzle of exit diameter 110 mm is placed at the exit of the pipeline so as to maintain the exit discharge will be
0.54m3/s.
2. The kinetic energy of exits water is absorbed by submerging the high velocity jet of water into the mass of
stagnant water placed in a large tank .i.e. hydraulic jump process.
3. The thrust block and anchor is designed to prevent the failure of pipe against jet force and other effect.

Design calculation of nozzle

The main cause of vibration in the pipe line of existing layout is due to the large opening at the exit. Thus the flow will
be continuous by using a nozzle. The detail design of the thrust block, necessary pipe fittings and anchoring devices are
given in Koirala D. et al (1). Using the result of calculation and the values given in Table 1 and Table 2. A nozzle is
designed with the parameters given in table 3, below.

Table 3
Parameters Symbol and Formula Result and Values
Nozzle Area ANozzle= Q / v2 9.567  10-3 m2
Nozzle diameter DNozzle 110mm

Design calculation of Hydraulic Jump Unit

The water from the nozzle will have a great energy. When the water at high velocity strikes the water having zero
velocity or smaller velocity, the kinetic energy of water is converted into potential energy and jump take place. In the
present case, water with higher kinetic energy from the nozzle is allowed to be absorbed by hydraulic jump.

Consider a tank filled with water having length l, width b and height h. The jet from the nozzle is placed at the mid
height of the tank assuming that half of the flow is assumed to jump through the bottom part of the tank and half
through the upper part. When the jet strikes the relatively stagnant water of the tank, jump will take place with the
losses of energy. The losses due to the friction on the tank walls are neglected.

Table 4
Parameters Symbol and Formula Result and Values
Jet Area AJet= ANozzlecc 9.375 10-3 m2
Coefficient of contraction of jet cc 0.98
Jet diameter DJet 109mm
Circumferential width of the jet DCM=× DJet 0. 34m
Initial depth of flow y = DCM / 4 0.02725m
Froud number Fr = v2 /  (g y1) 149. 7
Initial depth of flow for upper one y1 = y / 2 0. 013625m
Initial depth of flow for lower one y1= y / 2 0. 013625m
Height of the jump on upper surface y2 = (y1 / 2 ) ( (1+8Fr)2-1) 2. 87m
Height of the jump on lower surface y2 = (y1 / 2 ) ( (1+8Fr)2-1) 2. 87m
Free length of jump lf = 4  (y2 - y1) 11. 5m (From Vennard J. K. et al(5))
Head loss due to hydraulic jump hhj = (y2-y1) 3 /4y1y2 148 .7 m

Hence the length of the tank is (lf +nozzle intersection length i.e.0. 338m, see Koirala D. et al (1)) 11.838m, height is
5.74m (y2+ y2) and width is taken as 4m (so that the part of the remaining energy will loss in sudden expansion and the
rise of free water surface will be less). Finally, the exit water from the tank containing low energy could be used in
DWSS safely.

4. CONCLUSION

In hybrid hydro electric power plants, different modifications and arrangements are necessary for the systematic use of
tailrace water to the secondary purpose. Study was done by taking Sundarizal Mini Hydro Power Plant as a special
case. For the continuous demand of drinking water supply system (even when turbines are not functioning) urge to
construct an auxiliary part of bypass system. The case of failure of bypass system is because of large opening at the
exit, causing cavitation and great vibration. This problem was detailly analysed and solving method is proposed. A
nozzle is used for the continuous variation of energy from water inside to outside atmosphere. Energy absorption tank
is used at the nozzle outlet for the absorption of water energy by hydraulic jump. The other accessories like thrust
block additional piping were also considered for the smooth operation of the system.
 Reference:

1. Koirala D., Aryal S. and Doranga S., 2002, Analysis and solution of the problem induced by bypass system in
Sundarizal mini hydro power plant, Degree of Bachelor of Engineering thesis, IOE, Trivuban University, Nepal

2. Streeter V. L and Wylie E.B., 1983, Fluid Mechanics, Mc Graw-Hill Book Company

3. Harvey A., Brown A.,Hettiarchi P.,Inversing A., 1993, Micro hydro power Manual, Intermidate Technology
Publication, U.K.

4. Dixit A.M., Basic Hydyaulics, Secretarial Printing Service, Nepal

5. Vennard J.K.Elimentary Fluid Mechanics, John Willey ans Sons Inc., New York Chapman and Hall Ltd., London

6. Rajput R.K., 1998, Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines, S. Chand and Company Ltd., New Delhi, India

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