Hydropower

Wolkite University Energy Phy.
College of Natural and Computational Science

Department of Physics
Energy Physics
Phys 4624
By: Fikru Abiko (Ph.D)
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
1
Hydropower
Hydropower refers to the technology involved in converting the
potential energy and kinetic energy of water into more easily used
electrical energy.
The prime mover in the case of hydropower is a water wheel or
hydraulic turbine which transforms the energy of the water into
mechanical energy.
2
Cont….
The striking force rotates the turbine (connected to the coil of

conducting wires which is a magnetic field)
Hydropower plants convert the potential or gravitational energy of

water first into mechanical and then into electrical energy: the flow of
water turns a turbine, which is connected to a generator.
The electricity generated then flows to a substation, where the voltage

is increased, and is then distributed to the end user or fed into the power
grid.
3
Components hydropower
❖Hydroelectric power plants have different schemes based on how

water flows to the turbine.
Dam
❖A dam is used for different functions, but generally, it is used to

contain and/or filter water flowing to the turbine.
❖Dams are used to store river water before flowing to the turbine.
Penstock
❖A penstock can be an open or closed channel to flow the river water
from the reservoir to the turbine intake.
4
Cont….
Turbine
❖A turbine runner consists of several blades.
❖Hydraulic turbine, a device which can convert the hydraulic energy
into the mechanical energy which again converted into the electrical
energy by coupling the shaft of turbine to the generator.
Generator
❖A generator consists of a stator and a rotor, a coupling to the turbine.
❖The rotation of the turbine will result in rotor rotation, and magnets
that rotate in a stationary magnetic field will excite electricity.
5
Cont….
Transformer
• A transformer converts the current of the generated electricity into a

high-voltage current.
• The high voltage of the current allows it to enter the transmission grid,
which will then be distributed.
Power lines
• Out of every power plant come four wires: the three phases of power
being produced simultaneously plus a neutral or ground common to all
three.
6
Cont….
7
Classification of Hydropower Plants
There are a number of criteria for classification of hydropower plants,

such as
1. Based on Hydraulic Characteristics
2. Based on Head
3. Based on Capacity
4. Based on Turbine Characteristics
5. Based on Load Characteristics
8
Classification by facility (hydraulic) type
Hydroelectric plants are classified commonly by their hydraulic

characteristics,
That is, with respect to the water flowing through the turbines that runs
the generators.
Depending on this, there are three basic types of hydro power
generation. They are:
➢Impoundment
➢Run-of-river type
➢Pumped Storage Type
9
I. Impoundment
An impoundment hydroelectric power

dam and
reservoir.
This type of facility works best in
Hilly or
Mountainous terrain
where high dams can be built and deep reservoirs can be maintained.
In large hydropower systems the construction of large dams is
necessary to store water and to provide sufficient head for the turbine.
10
Cont….
In addition to maintaining sufficient head for the turbine, the

dam/reservoir has the advantage that the stored water is used during dry
seasons.
Besides, the water storage schemes enable the power station to vary
generation of electricity depending on peak demand and off peak times.
11
ii. Run-of-river (Diversion) types
These schemes do not include any significant water storage, instead use
the natural stream flow of the river and therefore make use of whatever
water is flowing in the river.
Generally, these plants would be feasible only on such streams which

have a minimum dry weather flow (perennial) of such magnitude
which makes it possible to generate electricity throughout the year.
However, because the flow may vary throughout the year, during low
flow seasons when the flow may be insufficient, run of river schemes are
unable to generate power if they are not provided with some
regulatory means.
12
Cont….
13
iii. Pumped Storage
➢Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is a type of hydroelectric energy

storage.
➢These facilities store energy by pumping water from a reservoir at a
lower elevation to a reservoir at a higher elevation.
➢Run-of-river systems do not rely on large storage reservoirs, but
rather divert river water to drive turbines, and then discharge the water
back into the river system.
➢When the demand for electricity is low, pumped storage facility stores
energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir.
14
Cont….
15
Classification based on head on turbines
▪ Low head plants (head < 15 m)

▪ Medium head plants (head between 15 – 50 m)
▪ High head plants (head between 50-250 m)
▪ Very high head plants (head > 250 m)
𝑣= 2𝑔ℎ
16
Classification based on turbine characteristic
▪ There are two main types of hydropower turbines: reaction and

impulse.
▪ The type of hydropower turbine selected for a project is based on the
height of standing water—referred to as "head"—and the flow, or
volume of water over time, at the site.
Specific Speed Type of Turbine(RPM)
(i) Low specific speed between -10 to 60 -Axial flow propeller turbine
(ii) Medium specific speed between- 60 to 300- Francis turbine
(iii) High specific speed between 300 to 1000- Impulse (pelton) turbine
17
Classification by size (Load) type
Hydropower resources for power generation are divided into the

following categories based on the relation of the power plant size to the
magnitude of socio-economic concerns.
Large-hydro (> 100 MW feeding into a large electricity grid)
Medium-hydro (15 - 100 MW usually feeding a grid)
Small-hydro (1 - 15 MW usually feeding into a grid)
Mini-hydro (0.1 - 1 MW used either as standalone schemes or grid
connected)
Micro-hydro (From 5 - 100 kW used for a small community or
rural industry in remote areas far away from the grid.)
Pico-hydro (< 5 kW used for remote areas far away from the grid.)
18
Extraction of Hydropower
The hydro power extracted from the potential energy of water is

driving turbines to produce power.
The general equation for any hydro system’s power output is:
𝑃 = 𝜂𝜌𝑔𝑄𝐻
Where P is the mechanical power produced at the turbine shaft (watts), η
is the hydraulic efficiency of the turbine, ρ is the density of water volume
(kg/𝑚3), g is the acceleration due to gravity (m/𝑠^2), Q is the flow rate
passing through the turbine(𝑚^3/s) and H is the effective pressure head
of water across the turbine (m).
❖η is normally taken as 0.85
19
Hydropower resource development-Ethiopian
scenario
In Ethiopia, only 10% of the hydropower potential is currently being
exploited.
However, the country possesses the capacity to harness its water
resources and generate approximately 45,000 MW of hydropower.
Large hydropower plants contribute 88% to Ethiopia’s current
electricity generation.
The topography of Ethiopia, with its mountainous areas coupled with
numerous rivers and streams, also makes micro hydropower
development suitable.
20
Cont….
Ethiopia is a water-rich country with several rivers originating from the

highlands.
Additionally, the country has numerous lakes, particularly in the Great
East African Rift Valley, which provide huge potential for hydroelectric
power generation.
The total potential for micro hydropower (of size less than 500 kW) in
the country is estimated to be 100 MW.
21
Cont….
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam ታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ሕዳሴ ግድብ

It is impound
Installation capacity 6,450 MW
At the end of the works, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will
be the largest dam in Africa: 1,800 m long, 155 m high and with a total
volume of 10.4 million m³.
22
Advantages of hydroelectric power plants
• Environmental friendly
• Clean renewable sources
• High degree of flexibility
• Part of multipurpose project with additional benefits (Flood control,

Tourism, fishery).
• Least operational and maintenance cost
23
Cont….
Hydroelectric power plants generate no CO2, CO, NOx, SO,

particulates, ground contamination, or waste products.
The hydrologic cycle replenishes the source of potential energy in the

form of rainfall, snowfall, and runoff.
Efficiency of hydropower system is very high (90-95%), while thermal

power plants have low efficiency, as low as 40%.
24
ii. Limitations of hydroelectric power plants
If a dam fails in a large impoundment facility, a catastrophic ﬂood is

almost certain to occur downstream.
Hydroelectric power plants are not practical in regions where the
terrain is ﬂat.
A prolonged drought can adversely impact, or even cut off, the energy
production capacity of a hydroelectric power plant.
In impoundment and pumped-storage power plants, the water level in
the reservoir(s) varies considerably.
25
Cont….
1. Hydroelectric power plant is mainly located in ____________areas.

2. Consider a mountain stream with an effective head of 25m and a flow
rate of 0.01m^3/s. How much power could a hydro plant generate?
Assume plant efficiency (η) of 85%. g=1000kg/m^3
3. Consider a second site with an effective head of 100 m and a flow
rate of 6,000 cubic meters per second. a) How much power could a
hydro plant generate? Assume plant efficiency (η) of 83%. b) How
much energy (E) will the hydro plant generate in a year?
26
.
for your attention
27

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Wolkite University Energy Phy.

College of Natural and Computational Science

The striking force rotates the turbine (connected to the coil of

Hydropower plants convert the potential or gravitational energy of

The electricity generated then flows to a substation, where the voltage

❖Hydroelectric power plants have different schemes based on how

❖A dam is used for different functions, but generally, it is used to

• A transformer converts the current of the generated electricity into a

There are a number of criteria for classification of hydropower plants,

Hydroelectric plants are classified commonly by their hydraulic

An impoundment hydroelectric power

In addition to maintaining sufficient head for the turbine, the

Generally, these plants would be feasible only on such streams which

➢Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is a type of hydroelectric energy

▪ Low head plants (head < 15 m)

▪ There are two main types of hydropower turbines: reaction and

Hydropower resources for power generation are divided into the

The hydro power extracted from the potential energy of water is

Ethiopia is a water-rich country with several rivers originating from the

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam ታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ሕዳሴ ግድብ

• Clean renewable sources

• High degree of flexibility

• Part of multipurpose project with additional benefits (Flood control,

• Least operational and maintenance cost

Hydroelectric power plants generate no CO2, CO, NOx, SO,

The hydrologic cycle replenishes the source of potential energy in the

Efficiency of hydropower system is very high (90-95%), while thermal

If a dam fails in a large impoundment facility, a catastrophic ﬂood is

1. Hydroelectric power plant is mainly located in ____________areas.

for your attention

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