Report on

Field Visit for Hydropower Engineering

in Sunkoshi Hydropower Station

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Submitted By:
Bibek kafle
7th Semester
Roll.no: 04

Submitted to:
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Kantipur International College
(Affiliated to Purbanchal University)
Gwarko, Lalitpur

December 08, 2024

 ABSTRACT

Nepal has endowed high potential of water resources, covering 395,000 ha (48%) area within
45,000 km in length of 6000 rivers with 170 billion m3 annual runoff and 45,610 MW feasible
hydroelectricity generation. Since 1911, 500 kW power generation at Pharping, now reached
782.45 MW production in 2016. Hydropower is an environment friendly source of energy with no
pollution emitting in air or in land, and it also the most efficient method to all. Thus, traditionally
hydropower has been considered environment friendly that it represents a clean and renewable
energy source.
This report provides the summarization of every important part of the SUNKOSHI
HYDROPOWER STATION, LAMOSANGHU-SINDHUPALCHOK. This report mainly
includes every site visited along with the sketches of each and every site along with their
photographs, the location of the site, the observations made and the findings of the site including
the techniques used, the description of every component of Hydropower project like Headwork,
Conveyance, Hydroelectric machines, etc. It also includes design criteria of different component
and dimensioning and general arrangement of powerhouse as well.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, I would like to acknowledge Purbanchal University for including “Field trip to a
hydropower project in Nepal” in the syllabus. It helped us to understand the theoretical knowledge
of hydropower and apply it in real life.

I would like to express our sincere gratitude towards the Kantipur International College,
Department of Civil Engineering for initiating and facilitating the Hydropower Field Visit under
Instruction Committee, to enhance knowledge of Hydropower projects and various components of
hydropower.

I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep regards to our guide
Er. Bikesh Kasula for his guidance, monitoring and constant encouragement throughout the
course of visit. The blessing, help and guidance given by him time to time shall carry us a long
way in the journey of life on which we are about to embark. I also take this opportunity to express
a deep sense of gratitude to the Academic Director of KIC Nabaraj Pokharel and Sunkoshi
Hydropower Station for their cordial support, valuable information and guidance, which helped
us in completing this task through various stages.

Also, I am thankful to all the persons who contributed so memorable, knowledgeable and
entertaining. All of the friends who were always with us in the field are thanked for making the
field visit a worth time to have and worth place to be.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Content Page No.

Abstract
Acknowledgement
1. Background --------------------------------------------------------------------1
2. Objectives -----------------------------------------------------------------------1
3. Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------1
3.1. Introduction of Hydropower Plant -----------------------------------------------------1
3.2. Hydropower status of Nepal ------------------------------------------------------------3
4. Sunkoshi Hydropower Station ----------------------------------------------4
4.1. Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
4.2. Location of Hydropower Station -------------------------------------------------------4
4.3. Salient Features of Sunkoshi Hydropower Station -----------------------------------5
4.4. Components of Sunkoshi Hydropower Station ---------------------------------------6
a. Dam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
b. Intake -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
c. Headrace Canal -----------------------------------------------------------------------7
d. Settling Basin -------------------------------------------------------------------------7
e. Spillway -------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
f. Peaking Pond -------------------------------------------------------------------------8
g. Fore-bay -------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
h. Penstock -------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
i. Powerhouse ---------------------------------------------------------------------------10
j. Tailrace Canal ------------------------------------------------------------------------11
4.5. Layout of Hydropower Plant ------------------------------------------------------------11
4.6. Present Condition of Sunkoshi Hydropower ------------------------------------------11
5. Conclusion and Recommendation ------------------------------------------12
References -------------------------------------------------------------------------------13
 1. BACKGROUND
As per the syllabus of Purbanchal University, for the subject Hydropower Engineering in Fourth
Year First Part, it has prescribed one day observation trip to a hydropower plant in the vicinity.
So, the hydropower field visit was organized by the Department of Civil Engineering, Kantipur
International College in order to acquire the practical knowledge about the hydropower project.

The hydropower field visit was held on 5th December, 2024 to SUNKOSHI HYDROPOWER
STATION, LAMOSANGHU-SINDHUPALCHOK. With the friendly cooperation of Water
Conservancy and Electric Power Ministry of the People’s Republic of China and the
Government of Nepal, the powerhouse was commissioned in 1972 in the month of January. The
cost of the project was approximately NRs. 109.4 million including transmission line up to
Kathmandu.

2. OBJECTIVES
The field visit was organized with the following basic objectives:

a. To know about the components of ROR hydropower project from intake to the
powerhouse.
b. To know how the components were laid and their working mechanism.
c. To know about the threats to hydropower project.
d. To know about the general layout of hydropower plant.
e. To watch the power production processes in powerhouse.

3. INTRODUCTION

3.1. Introduction of Hydropower Plants

Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, is one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy,
which uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity. All the hydropower is powered
by the kinetic energy of flowing water as it moves downstream. Hydropower utilizes turbines and
generators to convert that kinetic energy into electricity, which is then fed into the electrical grid
to power homes, businesses, and industries.

The hydraulic energy like pressure, kinetic and potential are used to rotate mechanical device
through turbine and the electricity is generated with rotating shaft and generator. Energy can be
generated by coal, petroleum products, solar, wind and water. Nearly 16% of total power used by
the world is represented by hydropower.

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Hydropower plants can be broadly classified based on head, discharge, capacity.
a. Based on Head
• Very High Head: >350m
• High Head: (150-350) m
• Medium Head: (60-150) m
• Low Head: (15- 60) m
• Very Low Head: <15m

b. Based on Installed Capacity

• Micro Hydropower Plant: <100KW
• Mini Hydropower Plant: 100KW-1000KW
• Small Hydropower Plant: 1MW- 25MW
• Medium Hydropower Plant: 25MW- 100MW
• Large Hydropower Plant: >100MW

c. Based on Storage Capacity

• Run-of-river hydropower: It is a system in which water flows in channel from a
river through a canal or penstock to spin a turbine. Typically, a run-of-river project
will have little or no storage facility. Run-of-river provides a continuous supply of
electricity (base load), with some flexibility of operation for daily fluctuations in
demand through water flow that is regulated by the facility. Plants in Bhote Koshi,
Indrawati-III and Khimti-I are ROR type.
•
• Storage hydropower: It is a large system that uses a dam to store water in a
reservoir. Electricity is produced by releasing water from the reservoir through a
turbine, which activates a generator. Storage hydropower provides base load as well
as the ability to be shut down and started up at short notice according the demands
of the system (peak load). It can offer enough storage capacity to operate
independently of the hydrological inflow for many weeks or even months.
•
• Pumped-storage hydropower: This type of hydropower plant provides peak-load
supply, harnessing water which is cycled between a lower and upper reservoir by
pumps which use surplus energy from the system at times of low demand. When
electricity demand is high, water is released back to the lower reservoir through
turbines to produce electricity.

The major components of a hydroelectric plant are as follows:

• Diversion Weir
• Under sluice
• Intake Structure
• Settling Basin
• Conveyance System
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 • Forebay/ Surge Tank
• Penstock
• Hydraulic Turbines
• Power House
• Tailrace Canal

3.2. Hydropower status in Nepal

Nepal has endowed high potential of renewable water resources, possessing about 2.27% of the
world’s fresh water resources. Most of the rivers flowing from Nepal Himalayas covers 818,500
ha land area equivalent to 5%, out of the total surface area of the country. In total, Nepal possesses
6000 rivers including rivulets and tributaries in total of about 45,000 km in length and covering an
area of 395,000 ha (48%) and offering dimensional uses including hydropower development.
There are 33 rivers having their drainage areas exceeding 1000 km2 and all the rivers in Nepal
comprise the total drainage area of about 194,471 km2 and the rest in China and India. The annual
average discharge of the Nepalese rivers is about 7124 m3/s including the total basin area and
about 5479 m3/s excluding the area outside of Nepal.

Nepal’s river has a storage capacity of 202,000 million m3, which includes about 74% amount
from three major rivers, Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali. Geographically, perennial nature of rivers
estimated an annual runoff accounting up to 170 billion m3 that flows from steep gradient and
rugged topography and estimated 45,610 MW, feasible for hydropower generation which is
equivalent to 50% of the total theoretical potential of 83, 290 MW. The demand of electricity in
Nepal is around 1500MW but currently the installed capacity of Nepal is around 1100 MW which
is only 2.4% of total feasible potential.

The major institution involved in hydropower development in Nepal are:

• Ministry of Energy
• Water and Energy Commission
• Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission
• Department of Energy Development
• Nepal Electricity Aurthority

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4. Sunkoshi Hydropower Station
4.1. Introduction

Sunkoshi Hydropower Station (सुनकोशी जलविद् युत आयोजना) is a run-of-river hydro-electric plant
located in Sindhupalchok District of Nepal. The flow from Sunkoshi River is used to generate
10.05 MW electricity. The plant is owned and developed by Government owned company,
the Nepal Electricity Authority. The plant started generating electricity since 1972 (2028 BS). With
the friendly cooperation of Water Conservancy and Electric Power Ministry of the People’s
Republic of China and the Government of Nepal, the powerhouse was commissioned in 1972 in
the month of January. The cost of the project was approximately NRs. 109.4 million including
transmission line up to Kathmandu.

4.2. Location of hydropower station

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 4.3. Salient features of Sunkoshi Hydropower Station

Type Run of River

Location Sindhupalchowk

Installed capacity 10.05 MW

Design Discharge 39.9 m3/s

Maximum Net head 30.5 m

Length of Canal 2.653 km

Diameter of Penstock 2.54 m, 3 Nos.

Turbine Generator Set 3

Shaft Configuration Vertical

Turbine Type: Francis (Model: HL123a-LJ-140)

Output: 3530 kW
Speed: 300 rpm

Generator Type: Synchronous, 3 phase

(Model: TS 325/3620)
Capacity: 4000 kVA
Rated Voltage: 6.3 kV
Rated Current: 361 A
Rated Power Factor: 0.85
Transmission Line 66 kV, Single Circuit

Project Inception Date End of 1968

Project Placed in Service January 1972

Project Financed by People's Republic of China and Government

of Nepal

Project Cost NRs. 109.37 million (including transmission

line)

Source: http://www.nea.org.np/generation/index.php?page=powerhouse&pid=13

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 4.4. Components of Sunkoshi Hydropower Station

i. Dam
ii. Intake
iii. Headrace Canal
iv. Settling basin
v. Spillway
vi. Peaking Pond
vii. Fore-bay
viii. Penstock
ix. Tailrace canal

i. Dam
A dam can be defined as a barrier built across a stream or a river for the purpose of holding and
controlling the flow of water for such uses as drinking water supplies, irrigation, flood control and
hydropower generation etc. The dam increases the head, enough to divert the water towards intake.
The dam of Sunkoshi was for Hydropower Generation.
The dam of Sunkoshi consists of six radial gates as outlet gate with hoist for opening and closing
of gates when required. Nearly about 10% water are passed towards the downstream of river as an
environment flow.

Radial gates are considered as the most common and economical type of gate for use.
Working: It is operated by rotating around its hinge about the horizontal axis. Opening and
closing of the gate is controlled at the hoist above it. When opened, the radial gate occupies
less space than that of the vertical gate.
Divide wall: The divide wall is provided to prevent cross current i.e. for one directional
flow.
Under sluice: Under sluice gates are provided to flush the sediments downstream of river.

Fig: Dam showing radial gates

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 ii. Intake
Intake structures is a hydraulic structure constructed to withdraw required amount of discharge
from river or reservoir for different engineering purposes.
Four Side intakes in Sunkoshi hydropower station were present. Trash rack has been provided at
the entry to prevent the entrance of logs, floating bodies and other dead animals.

iii. Headrace Canal

A canal is provided to convey the water from intake to fore-bay. A side canal has also been
provided which comes into use during cleaning of settling basin. The length of canal is 2.653 Km.

Fig: Headrace canal

iv. Settling basin

The settling basin is one of the most efficient devices for hydropower schemes, constructed on the
head race canal for removal of sediment load up to 0.2mm diameter particles from flowing water
which cannot be trapped by the gravel trap.
The settling basin at Sunkoshi consists of enlarged section at entrance to reduce the velocity and
hence the turbulence so that the bed load gets settled. The provision of baffle walls could be seen
which facilitate the reduction of velocity.
Flushing: The X-sectional area of the basin decreases when the sediment exceeds
which result in the increase of the velocity. This phenomenon leads to decrease in
trap efficiency. So, flushing need to be done. Three flushing gates were provided
with hoist for gate operation.

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 Fig: Settling basin showing baffle wall

v. Spillway
The part of dam which discharges the excess water to the downstream side is known as spillway.
Overflow spillway of ogee shaped has been provided at downstream of settling basin to discharge
the excess water. When water flows over the crest of spillway, it must always remain in contact
with or slide over the surface of spillway. The spilled water is then mixed with the river through
the channel.

Fig: Spillway

vi. Peaking Pond

Since the peaking pond is located just upstream of the fore-bay and is only used during the dry
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season, the annual sediment deposition rate in the peaking pond is low. The peaking pond of the
Sunkoshi Hydropower Plant is utilized during the dry (winter) season when very low sediment
concentration exists in the river. During the wet (monsoon) season, the inlet gates of the peaking
ponds are closed to stop the access of sediment-loaded water.

vii. Fore-bay
A fore-bay or head pond is a temporary water storage, regulating reservoir provided at downstream
end of canal just at upstream of penstocks. When the turbine rejects the load the fore-bay acts as a
storage reservoir whereas it supplies water as a sort of regulating reservoir when load increases.
Fore-bay has been provided just upstream of penstock in Sunkoshi Hydropower Station. A
spillway has also been provided at side of forebay for the purpose of spilling the excess water. The
water spilled is mixed into the river by dissipating its energy at stilling basin. For the purpose of
flushing the sediments of fore-bay, flushing gates are also provided.

Fig: Fore-bay

viii. Penstock
Penstock is a pipe which carries water under pressure from fore-bays to turbine installed in
powerhouse. Three penstock pipes of 2.5m diameter and 76m length supported on saddle has been
provided in Sunkoshi Hydropower Station.

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 Fig: Three penstock pipes

ix. Power house

Power house is a multistoried structure consisting of power generating equipment like turbine,
generator, switchboard, control room, etc. The net head is of 30.5m. Three turbine-generator units
are provided in Sunkoshi Hydropower Station. Water from 3 penstock pipes hit turbine. Franci’s
turbine is used. Franci’s turbine is a reaction turbine which is used for medium head hydropower
project. In runner water enters radially and leaves axially so it is also called “mixed flow turbine”.
Major part of available water energy is converted into kinetic energy at the entrance to runner and
a considerable remaining part is also utilized as pressure energy. Both kinetic and pressure energy
are directly converted into mechanical energy by turbine runner before generating electrical
energy. Control room is provided to manually control the power
generation.
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 x. Tailrace canal
The function of tailrace canal is to discharge the water from powerhouse to river safely.

4.5. Layout of a Run-of- the River Hydropower project

4.6. Present condition of Sunkoshi Hydropower Project

After Jure Landslide which occurred on 2nd August, 2014 the radial gates and dam of the Sunkoshi
Hydropower Station has been damaged. The fall of tower connecting to the national grid, power
generated is only supplied to the local and one out of three turbines have been shut down as the
power generated cannot be supplied.

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5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The one-day field visit to Sunkoshi Hydropower Station helped to meet our objective. We knew
about the headwork structures of ROR hydropower station, the way the components are placed
and their working mechanism.

We too observed the effects of Jure Landslide on the dam of Sunkoshi Hydropower. Appropriate
land stabilization techniques need to be adopted to mitigate landslides that may occur in the near
future. The damaged part of the dam should be repaired.

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 REFERENCES

➢ Baral, E. S. (2018). Fundamentals of Hydropower Engineering. In E. S. Baral.

➢ NEA. (2016). Retrieved from https://nea.org.np/
➢ Gulliver, J. S., & Arndt, R. E. A. (1991), Hydropower engineering handbook. New
Delhi:McGraw-Hill, Inc.
➢ Source : http://www.nea.org.np/generation/index.php?page=powerhouse&pid=13
➢ Field_Report_070BCE004.pdf, Abhash Acharya

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