Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS - Coggle Diagram
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
Large hydroelectric power station
considered to be a form of renewable energy since it relies on the rate of flow of water from a reservoir.
These types of power stations would be practical where there is an abundance of water located at a higher level.
Therefore, large hydropower plants require damn to be built to ensure sufficient water quantities.
How does it work?
Water pressure or the term water head is produced due to the presence of a reservoir.
High-pressure water is then channeled via pressure channel to the valve house.
The valve house contains valves and automatic isolating valves.
The valves control the water flow to the power house via the penstock.
The automatic isolating valves cut off water supply when the penstock bursts.
In the power house, there is a turbine system, which converts mechanical energy to electrical energy.
There are 2 types of the turbine system for hydro which are Impulse turbines and Reaction turbines.
Impulse turbines
are used in situations where there is the
availability of high heads.
high pressure goes through a nozzle which drives a water wheel.
Reaction turbines
are used in situations that have
low to medium heads.
typical types of reaction turbines are the
Francis turbine
and the
Kaplan turbine.
Start up time
Hydro plants are considered to be very fast.
Therefore, it is preferred to be used as
'peaking plant'
which are utilized to cater for small changes load demand.
The high the water flow rate, the more power it produces.
Power capacity
Power capacity for hydro stations are usually smaller as compared to coal power plants.
Since the availability of water is limited, the reservoir water levels has to be observed.
Run-off-river-hydropower (small)
Run-off-the-river hydroelectric systems are hydroelectric systems that harvest the energy from flowing water to generate electricity in the absence of a large dam and reservoir.
Typically, the capacity is small compared to conventional hydropower
Mudung Abun micro-hydro project
The system now provides 20kW of renewable energy a day to the community, powering about 22 homes, community verandas, a women cooperative sundry shop, food processing center, blacksmithing, and welding workshop.