CH_4

UNDERGROUNG POWER HOUSE

 UNDERGROUND POWER HOUSE
 Where & when?
• In a gorge and a valley site
• Seismic activities
• Landslides
• Snow avalanches
• Insecure area (war)
 Advantages:
• Flexibility of layout.
• Minimum size of pressure conduits so that omissions of
anchors and valves.
• Safer during war attacks
 Basic requirement:
• Availability of good sound rock at the desired location
and depth.
LOCATION OF UNDERGROUND POWER STATION
 Depending upon the rock quality, tunneling ease and
overall economics, the power houses may be located in
various ways.
1. The whole power house is totally underground:
2. The generator is in a pit but the super structure is
found on the surface
3. Semi-Underground, here the generator is located on
the surface while other units, such as turbines is under
ground
ARRANGMENTS OF UNDERGROUND POWER STATION

 The various characteristic types and layouts of the power

station could be described with reference to head and tail
water levels as follows (Mosonyi):
1. Upstream Station or head development

2. Downstream station or tail development

3. Intermediate station development

4. Diagonal Tunnel alignment with air cushion surge

tank
 U/S STATION OR HEAD DEVELOPMENT
(Swedish type of development)
 The power station is located close to the intake and thus
water is directly fed from the reservoir/forebay to the
generating units.

 A surge tank could be provided at the entrance to the

tunnel to protect it from the water hammer during sudden
opening and closure of turbines.
 D/S STATION OR TAIL RACE DEVELOPMENT
(Swiss type of development)
• This type of Development has its characteristics in a long
and Nearly horizontal pressure tunnel together with
pressure shafts and a short tail race tunnel.

• Such a development is most suited for a rugged terrain and

where high heads of the order of several hundred meters
can be utilized.
 INTERMIDIATE STATION DEVELOPMENT
(Italian Arrangement)
• The characteristics of this type of arrangement are a long
head-race tunnel and a long tail race tunnel.

• The consequent pressure variations due to long tunnels are

taken care of by surge tank both upstream and
downstream of the power house.
DIAGONAL TUNNEL ALIGNMENT WITH AIR CUSHIN
SURGE TANK(Norwegian solution)
• Instead of open air surge tank/shaft, an air cushion surge
chamber operates under considerable overpressure.

• Since the overburden above the diagonal profile is very high,

under favorable geological conditions, the pressure tunnel can
remain unlined (economy)
• For the sake of safe governing of the turbines it is necessary that
the distance between the surge chamber and power cavern is
not too large (< 1000 to 1200m)
COMPARING ABOVE & UNDERGROUND POWER STATIONS
(Basics for comparison of power station alternatives)
 An underground power house is more costly than a
powerhouse on the surface,

 Implying that underground powerhouse should be

considered only when this solution is the only option
available due to site topography

 In many cases a number of parameters concerning

investment costs, risks, operation and maintenance will
have to be considered before a conclusion
 MAIN CHARS. OF UNDERGROUND POWER PLANTS

 Flexibility in powerhouse Location and plant layout:

 Cost saving potential
 Total plant Efficiency
 Operational stability
 Deference, operational Reliability and personnel safety
 Structural Design
 Operation and Maintenance
 Conditions for Construction and Erection
 Environmental impacts
 OVERALL PLANT LAYOUT

 An underground hydropower plant will consist of:-

• Headrace system with intake tunnel
• Tailrace system with tailrace tunnel & outlet structure
• Certain facilities on the surface
 POWER HOUSE TUNNEL SYSTEM

 The powerhouse needs a tunnel system to serve various

needs, for example:
1. During period of construction
• Access for excavation of all parts of the Power House
• Transport of excavated material
• Ventilation
• Supply of water & electricity,
 POWER HOUSE TUNNEL SYSTEM

 The powerhouse needs a tunnel system to serve various

needs, for example:
2. Future operation of the power plant.
• Main access in to the powerhouse
• Alternative emergency exit from the power house to
the surface
• Routing of high voltage cables from the generators to
the transformers and from the transformers to the
switchyard on the surface
• Routing of signal and control cables
• Supply and evacuation of air for ventilation
• Tailrace surge chamber, etc
 POWER HOUSE TUNNEL SYSTEM

 The powerhouse needs a tunnel system to serve various

needs, for example:
• To minimize the total cost, multipurpose functions of
the tunnel layout should be a main design principle.
• Every tunnel and shaft may serve several and different
functions during the period of construction and after
commissioning.
• E.g.: tunnels for ventilation, emergency escape, etc.
used for High voltage cable connection
• Transport access tunnel to the tailrace latter serve as
surge chamber
 Tunels & Stages of Excavation In UG PH

 Tunnels are underground conveyance structures constructed

by special excavating/tunneling methods without disturbing
the natural surface of the ground.

 Tunnels have the advantages of:

• Providing direct and short route for the water passage
thus resulting in considerable saving in cost
• Protection of natural land scape
 Excavating a tunnel sloping downwards is inconvenience as
it needs continuous pumping of water from working face.
Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station

1. The main access to tunnel excavated to the power house

area
Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station

2. The central section of top heading & the access tunnel to tail
race excavated
Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station

3. The top heading with support presplit cavern will be finished

Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station
4. Ceiling support and excavation to machine hall level
finished and turbine pit is excavated
Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station
5. Lower part of pressure shaft excavated. Preliminary
erection of crane bridge.
Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station

6. Excavated & support finished. Erection of auxiliary hoist

Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station
7. Erection & concreting of steel casing in turbine pit &
concluding part of penstock
Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station
8. Erection & concreting distributor.
Concrete adjacent part of substructure
Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station
9. Concrete structure finished. Main hoist erected. Erection 0f
steel lining ongoing
Stages of Excavation In Underground Power Station

10. Erection of generating unit & steel lining completed

 Transformer Arrangements & Locations
 The transformer location will greatly influence the arrangement
of an underground powerhouse.
 Due to the cost of high amperage connection between
generators and transformers, transformers location at surface
may only be economically viable by the shallowest seated power
house.
 Aspects of maintenance, operation and deference all favor
transformers underground, hence the transformers are located
within the machine hall or in an adjacent separate cavern.
• In a machine hall
• Between generators
• In extension of power house cavern
• In separate cavern
 Hydropower tunnels

 Tunnels of hydropower projects fall into two categories:

1. Water carrying tunnels:
• Head race tunnels: pipe flow
• Tail race tunnels: pipe or open chanel
• Diversion tunnels:

2. Service tunnels: these may be:

• Cable tunnels:
• Ventilation tunnels:
• Access or approach tunnels:
 Hydropower tunnels
Shape:
• Tunnels are either circular or non-circular in shape.
• Circular tunnels: are most suitable structurally.
They are more stable when the internal pressure is
very high.
• Non-circular tunnels: have a flat floor, nearly
vertical or gently flaring walls and arching roofs.
The horse-shoe shape is the most popular and
convenient from construction point of view.

a) Circular shape b) Horseshoe shape

 Hydropower tunnels
Alignment
 Tunnels have generally small bottom slopes, i.e. tunnels are
aligned nearly horizontal.
 Shaft is a tunnel with vertical or steeply inclined alignment
 It is very crucial to investigate in detail the geology of the
strata through which a tunnel would be passing.
 Sound, homogenous, isotropic, and solid rock formations are
the most ideal ones for tunneling work. However, such ideal
conditions are rarely present,
 The alignment, for instance, should as far as possible avoid
major fracture planes.
 Hydropower tunnels
Lining
 Lining is a protective layer of concrete, R.C. or steel on the inner
surface of the tunnel to improve the efficiency and structural
stability of the tunnel.
 Tunnels in good, sound rock may be left unlined.
 Lining of tunnels is required:
 For structural reasons to resist external forces particularly
when the tunnel is empty and when the strata is of very low
strength.
 When the internal pressure is high, i.e. above 100m
 When reduction in frictional resistance and therefore the
head loss is required for increasing capacity
 For prevention or reduction of seepage losses
 For protection of rock against aggressive water
 Hydropower tunnels
Design features
 The design of hydropower tunnels include:
• Alignment: (length, surge tank provision, overburden,
discontinuity, rock quality)
• Geometric shape: (Hydraulic & Stability: Circular;
Convenience for construction: D-shaped)
• Longitudinal slope and
• flow velocity; (unlined: 2 to 2.5 m/s; lined 4 to 5 m/s;
pressure shaft steel lined: 5 to 8 m/s.)
• computation of head loss, rock cover (overburden),
lining requirements and economic x-section.
 Hydropower tunnels
Design features
 Rock Cover (overburden): for pressure tunnels, it is obvious
that the overburden on the roof of the tunnel serves to
balance the effect of upward force due to internal pressure.
The required depth of overburden may vary for lined and
unlined tunnels.
1 r
hw  L cos 
 w
 r L cos    w hw

hw
hr
 Hydropower tunnels
Design features
 Head Loss:
lv 2
• Manning formula: h f  n 4/3
2

R
l v2
• Darcy-Weisbach formula: hf  
2 g Deq

• Hazen-Williams formula (rarely used): h f  6.84

l v1.85
C 1.85 Deq
1.17

• Where, hf is head loss due to friction, L is tunnel length, V is mean velocity of

flow, R is hydraulic radius, Deq is equivalent diameter (D  4A /  ), A is area of the
eq

tunnel x-section, n is Manning’s roughness coefficient,  is Darcy-Weisbach

friction factor (can be obtained from Moody diagram), and C is Hazen-Williams
roughness coefficient.
 Hydropower tunnels
Design features
• Optimum X-section: the optimum x-section of a tunnel or a
shaft is one for which the sum of tunnel construction cost &
the economic loss due to head loss is minimum.
Total cost
Cost

Economic loss Construction cost

X-section

• For concrete-lined tunnels: D  0.62 Q 0.48

0.45
• For steel-lined tunnels: D  1.12 Q
H 0.12
 ROCK STRESSES

 Why stresses studied in rocks?

 Rock stresses studied:

 To evaluate the magnitude and the direction of
the stresses surrounding a tunnel or rock cavern
 To analyze potential stability and leakage
problems caused by stresses

 To know the need for rock support

 The identify possibilities for optimizing the

excavation geometry, etc.
 ROCK STRESSES

 Stress related problems are caused by stresses which are

greater than the critical limit.

 Generally, the stresses surrounding underground openings

are:-
1. the stress situation earlier to excavation (the “Virgin”
stresses)
2. the geometry of the opening
 ROCK STRESSES

 If the virgin stresses and the geometry are known, it is easy

to evaluate the magnitude and the direction of the stresses
surrounding a tunnel or rock cavern.

 However the following parameters have been the most

difficult to quantify.
 The magnitudes and directions of the virgin rock stresses
 The properties of the in-situ rock mass, in particular the
elasticity parameters
 The failure criterion of the in-situ rock mass
 ORIGIN OF ROCK STRESSES

 The virgin stress generally represents the resultant of the

following components:
• Gravitational stresses
• Topographic stresses
• Tectonic stresses
• Residual stresses
 ORIGIN OF ROCK STRESSES

A. Gravitational Stresses:
 result of the gravity alone.

 When the surface is horizontal, the vertical

gravitational stress at a depth Z is:

σ=ρ.g.Z
 Where ρ.g = specific gravity of the rock

 The magnitude of the total vertical stress is often

identical to the magnitude of the gravitational vertical
component.
 ORIGIN OF ROCK STRESSES

A. Gravitational Stresses:

 However, at great
depths, particularly,
there are considerable
deviations from this
trend.

Figure: Vertical and horizontal rock stresses

as a function of depth below the rock
surface (Scandinavians Case)
 ORIGIN OF ROCK STRESSES

A. Gravitational Stresses:
 In an elastic rock mass with Poisson’s ratio of v, the
horizontal stresses induced by gravity are:

x  y  Z
1 
 For a Poisson’s ratio of 0.25, which is fairly common for
rock masses,

  lat

 long
 ORIGIN OF ROCK STRESSES

2. Topographic Stresses:
 when the surface is not horizontal, the topography will
affect the rock stress situation
 Stresses caused by topographic effects are generally
referred to as topographically induced stresses or simply
topographic stresses.
 In high valley sides, where hydropower plants are often
located, the stress situation is totally dominated by the
topographic effects.
 ORIGIN OF ROCK STRESSES

2. Topographic Stresses:
 In such cases the major principal stress (σ1) near the
surface will be more or les parallel to the slope of the
valley. and
 the minor principal stress (σ3) will be approximately
perpendicular to the slope of the valley.
 ORIGIN OF ROCK STRESSES

C. Tectonic stresses:
 evidence of tectonic stresses is represented by dramatic
incidents like faulting and folding

 Because of tectonic stresses the

total horizontal stress is often
much higher than the horizontal
stress which is induced by gravity
alone.
 This is particularly the case at
shallow and moderate depths.

Continental rift
σv > σh Horizontal extension
 ORIGIN OF ROCK STRESSES

C. Tectonic stresses:
 evidence of tectonic stresses is represented by dramatic
incidents like faulting and folding

σv < σh Horizontal compression

 ORIGIN OF ROCK STRESSES

D. Residual Stresses:
 Residual (remnant) stresses are generally defined as
stress which has been locked in to rock material during
earlier stages of its geological history.
 Stress caused by contraction during cooling of a rock
melt (magma) is probably the most relevant example
 Vertical stresses which are abnormally high are often
explained as being caused by residual stress.
 ROCK STRESSES

 When analyzing potential problems due to rock

stresses, the stress situation close to the contour of the
tunnel or rock cavern is of particular interest.

STRESSES SURROUNDING CIRCULAR OPENING

 The simplest case is represented by the following
idealized conditions:
• Homogenous and isotropic, elastic material
• Isotropic virgin stresses (σ1 = σ2 = σ3 = σ)
• If the radius of the opening is a, the radial & tangential
stresses of a cross section (σr & σt) will be the following
as function of the distance r from the circle center.

a2
 r   (1  2
)  σt with a magnitude of twice
r
the magnitude of the isostatic
a2
 t   (1  2
) stress will be induced all around
r
the periphery(edge).
 i.e σt = 2σ
• According to Kirsch the
tangential stress will reach
the maximum value
(σt(max)) where the σ1
direction is tangent to the
contour, and its minimum
value (σt(min)) where the σ3
direction is tangent.
• The actual values will be:
 t (max)  3 1   3
 t (min)  3 3   1
• Non symmetrical geometry and sharp corners in
particular, will strongly affect the magnitude of the
tangential stress
• When the curvature radius is reduced, the magnitude of
the tangential stress will increase.
• This means, for instance, that the sharper the corner
between the wall and the roof of a cavern, the higher the
stress concentration will be in that corner.
• In extreme cases such stress concentration may reach
magnitudes of more than 10 times the major principal
stress value
• In cases with benches or protruding corners the stress
situation will be the opposite.
• Here the stabilizing stresses, or the confinement, will be
reduced, and stability problems will often result.
• In a TBM-bored tunnel or in a carefully blasted tunnel the
tangential stress will have a distinct maximum at the tunnel
contour

• As a result of blasting damage to the rock, however, the

situation in most drill and blast tunnel will be very different
from this idealized picture.

• In such case the extra joining close to the contour caused by

blasting reduces the capability of the rock mass to transfer
stress, and

• The distribution of tangential stress will in principle be as

shown in the figure with a maximum value some distance
from the contour
 Principle sketch illustrating the concentration of tangential
stress in a tunnel when:
1. the contour rock is
undisturbed

2. it is fractured as a result
of blasting damage
(the virgin stress is
assumed isostatical,
σ1 = σ2 = σ3 = σ)
 In the contour of an underground opening, there are
normally two diametrically opposed areas of tangential
stress concentration and two areas of minimum tangential
stress as illustrated in Figure

 The problems are normally

confined to the areas of max.
tangential stress.

 However, if the minimum

tangential stress is very low, this
may also be a problem.
A. PROBLEMS DUE TO TENSILE STRESS:
• Due to its discontinuous character, a rock mass can
resist little tensile stress.
• Even a very small tangential tensile stress may cause
radial jointing as indicated in figure .
• In most cases a tensile jointing will not have much
influence on the rock stability.
• For high pressure tunnel it is more important that
secondary jointing and opening of existing joints may
increase the risk of water leakages out of the tunnel
B. PROBLEMS DUE TO HIGH COMPRESSIVE STRESS:
• If the compressive tangential stress exceeds the strength of the
rock, fracturing parallel to the tunnel contour will be the result in
hard rock
• The fracturing process is often accompanied by loud noises from
the rock, a phenomenon commonly referred to as rock burst.
• At moderate stress level the fracturing will result in a loosening of
thin rock slabs, often referred to as rock slabbing or spalling.
• If the tangential stress is very high, the rock burst activity may be
quite dramatic.
• In extreme cases it may have the character of poping of large
rock slabs with considerable force and speed.
B. PROBLEMS DUE TO HIGH COMPRESSIVE STRESS:
• If the compressive tangential stress exceeds the strength of the
rock, fracturing parallel to the tunnel contour will be the result in
hard rock
• The fracturing process is often accompanied by loud noises from
the rock, a phenomenon commonly referred to as rock burst.
• At moderate stress level the fracturing will result in a loosening of
thin rock slabs, often referred to as rock slabbing or spalling.
• If the tangential stress is very high, the rock burst activity may be
quite dramatic.
• In extreme cases it may have the character of poping of large
rock slabs with considerable force and speed.
B. PROBLEMS DUE TO HIGH COMPRESSIVE STRESS:
• If the compressive tangential stress exceeds the strength of the
rock, fracturing parallel to the tunnel contour will be the result in
hard rock
• The fracturing process is often accompanied by loud noises from
the rock, a phenomenon commonly referred to as rock burst.
• At moderate stress level the fracturing will result in a loosening of
thin rock slabs, often referred to as rock slabbing or spalling.
• If the tangential stress is very high, the rock burst activity may be
quite dramatic.
• In extreme cases it may have the character of poping of large
rock slabs with considerable force and speed.
B. PROBLEMS DUE TO HIGH COMPRESSIVE STRESS:
• If the compressive tangential stress exceeds the strength of the
rock, fracturing parallel to the tunnel contour will be the result in
hard rock
• The fracturing process is often accompanied by loud noises from
the rock, a phenomenon commonly referred to as rock burst.
• At moderate stress level the fracturing will result in a loosening of
thin rock slabs, often referred to as rock slabbing or spalling.
• If the tangential stress is very high, the rock burst activity may be
quite dramatic.
• In extreme cases it may have the character of poping of large
rock slabs with considerable force and speed.
B. PROBLEMS DUE TO HIGH COMPRESSIVE STRESS:
• If the compressive tangential stress exceeds the strength of the
rock, fracturing parallel to the tunnel contour will be the result in
hard rock
• The fracturing process is often accompanied by loud noises from
the rock, a phenomenon commonly referred to as rock burst.
• At moderate stress level the fracturing will result in a loosening of
thin rock slabs, often referred to as rock slabbing or spalling.
• If the tangential stress is very high, the rock burst activity may be
quite dramatic.
• In extreme cases it may have the character of poping of large
rock slabs with considerable force and speed.
• When the stresses are very high, rock bursts may be a major
thereat to safety if the right type of rock support is not installed
at the right moment.
• In such cases extensive rock support is necessary.
• Rock burst activity is most intensive at the working face
immediately after excavation.

• Experience shows that the most difficult area is the section 10-20
m closest to the working face.
• In soft rocks the stress problems will not be characterized by
spalling.
• Because of the plastic nature of such rocks the potential problem
here will be squeezing.
• In extreme cases reductions of the original tunnel diameter of
several tens of centimeters due to squeezing have occurred in
Central Europe.
THE INFLUENCE OF ROCK MASS PROPERTIES:
• The character of the rock stress problem will largely depend
on the rock mass properties.
• Primary jointing and strength properties ,anisotropy and
elastic properties
• The orientation of the major principal stress relative to the
direction of major joints sets and important structural
features, such as bedding and schistosity, will have a major
influence on rock burst activity.
• Severe problems may occur if the schistosity runs parallel to
the tunnel axis, and
• The major principal stress acts perpendicular to the axis and
in the dip direction of the schistosity.
 To be able to analyze the potential problems due to rock
stresses, it is necessary to obtain information about magnitudes
and directions of the principal stresses.
 Reliable information on this issue can be obtained only by
carrying out rock stress measurements.

METHODS:
 For hydropower projects the following methods are most
relevant.
• Triaxial stress measurements by drill hole over coring
• Hydraulic fracturing
 As can be seen, what is actually being recorded are the strains.
 To be able to compute the stresses, laboratory analyses of the
elastic properties have to be carried out
The principle of 3D rock stress measurements by overcoming
1. A diamond drill hole is drilled to
the required depth. A concentric
hole with a smaller diameter is
drilled approximately 30 cm
further
2. A measuring cell containing three
strain rosettes is inserted, and the
rosettes are glued to the walls of
the small hole
3. The Small hole is over cored by
the larger diameter bit, thus stress
relieving the core. The
Corresponding strains are
recorded by the rosettes. When
the elastic constants are known,
the triaxial state of stress can be
computed.
• The basic principle of hydraulic fracturing is to isolate a
section of a drill hole and, by gradually increasing the
pressure of water which is pumped into the hole, to
obtain fracturing of the surrounding rock.

• By recording water pressure and flow, the principle

stress situation can be evaluated
 There are two commonly used types of tunneling techniques:
• Conventional “Drill and Blast”
• Use of tunnel boring machines (TBM)
Conventional “Drill and Blast” Method:
 Drilling Jumbo or Drilling Rig - the main equipment used,
 The following are the main sequences to be followed during
excavation of each round:
• Drilling
• Charging
• Blasting
• Ventilating
• Scaling
• Mucking and hauling
• Tunnel supporting
 There are two commonly used types of tunneling techniques:
• Conventional “Drill and Blast”
• Use of tunnel boring machines (TBM)
Conventional “Drill and Blast” Method:
 Drilling Jumbo or Drilling Rig - the main equipment used,
 The following are the main sequences to be followed during
excavation of each round:
• Drilling
• Charging
• Blasting
• Ventilating
• Scaling
• Mucking and hauling
• Tunnel supporting
 There are two commonly used types of tunneling
techniques:
• Conventional “Drill and Blast”
 There are two commonly used types of tunneling techniques:
• Conventional “Drill and Blast”
• Use of tunnel boring machines (TBM)
Conventional “Drill and Blast” Method:
 Drilling Jumbo or Drilling Rig - the main equipment used,
 The following are the main sequences to be followed during
excavation of each round:
• Drilling
• Charging
• Blasting
• Ventilating
• Scaling
• Mucking and hauling
• Tunnel supporting
 The various geological factors which may influence the stability
are:
• The strength and quality of the intact rock
• The degree of jointing and their character
• Weakness zones and faults
• Rock stresses
• Water inflow

 Tunnel support may be installed either at the working face

(immediate support), or behind the face (permanent support).

 Whenever possible the design for the immediate support should

be chosen which makes it possible to act later as permanent
support.
 The following support methods are the most commonly used in
hydropower tunneling today:
• Rock bolting
 The following support methods are the most commonly used in
hydropower tunneling today:
• Shotcreting
 The following support methods are the most commonly used in
hydropower tunneling today:
• Grouting

• Concrete lining