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Power and Energy Systems

Research Assignment 2


Date: 08/19/2013


Hydroelectricity




Name: MOHSIN ASLAM (991 258 241)
Name: MOHIT SHARMA (991 233 669)
Name: MILAN PATEL (991 261 888 )


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Table of Contents:

Introduction 3
History 4
Generating Methods.4
a) Conventional..4
b) Pumped Storage...4
c) Run of the River..5
Size of Hydro Plants.6
a) Large Hydro plant6
b) Medium Hydro plant.6
c) Small Hydro plant..6
Glossary of Hydropower Terms.6
Hydroelectric Power in Canada..9
Benefits..10
Drawbacks and Environmental Impact..10
Conclusion..11
References12





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Hydro Electricity

Introduction:

Hydro comes from the Greek word for water. It is the term of the electricity
which is generated by hydropower means making electricity from the moving water
of rivers and streams. It is a form of renewable energy that is constantly being
renewed by a rivers water flow. The water pressure that is created by water is
used to turn the blades of a turbine. The turbine is connected to a generator which
converts the mechanical energy into electricity. Typically, this energy requires the
right combination of water resources and land features. The best sites for
hydroelectric plants are fast moving rivers or streams, mountainous regions and
areas with consistent rainfall. Hydro power resources are widely spread around the
world and are used in more than 150 countries. Leading the United States, Brazil.
China and Russia. Canada produces more than 13 percent of the worlds hydropower.



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History:

In the late 19
th
century, Hydropower became a source for generating electricity.
The first hydroelectric power plant was built at Niagara Falls in 1879. In 1881
street lamps in the city were powered by hydropower. Farmers since the ancient
Greeks have used water to grind wheat into flour. Placed in a river, a water wheel
picks up flowing water in buckets located around the wheel. The kinetic energy of
the flowing water turns the wheel and is converted into mechanical energy that
runs the mill.
Generating methods:

A) Conventional (dams)

In this method most hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy
of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator. The power
extracted from the water depends on the volume and on the difference in
height between the source and waters outflow. Dams are used for large
capacity hydroelectric plants.

B) Pumped-Storage

This method produces electricity to supply high peak demands by moving water
between reservoirs at different elevations. At times when there is low electrical
demands excess generated electricity is used to pump water into the higher
reservoir. When there is high electrical demand, water is released back into lower
reservoir through a turbine. Pumped storage provides the most commercially
important means of large scale grid energy storage and improves the daily capacity
factor of the generation system.

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C) Run of the River
Run of the river hydroelectric stations are those with small or no reservoir
capacity, so that the water from the upstream must be used for generation at that
moment or must be allowed to bypass the dam. This system does not alter the flow
or water level, unlike dams and reservoirs.






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Sizes of Hydropower Plants

Facilities range in size from large power plants that supply many consumers
with electricity to small and micro plants that individuals operate for their
own energy needs or to sell power to utilities.

Large Hydropower

Although definitions vary, we define large hydropower as facilities that have a
capacity of more than 50 MW.

Medium Hydropower

Although definitions vary, we define medium hydropower as facilities that
have a capacity of 10 MW to 50 MW.

Small Hydropower

Although definitions vary, we define small hydropower as facilities that have a
capacity of below 10 MW.

Glossary of Hydropower Terms



The glossary of terms defines the components that make up hydro turbines
and hydropower plants.

Alternating current (AC)

Electric current that reverses direction many times per second.

Direct current (DC)

Electric current which flows in one direction.

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For bay, Trash rock, Penstock,

For bay is the upstream pool before the intake. Trash rock is the net screen
to prevent large objects flowing into the turbine. Penstock is a steel closed
conduit or pipe for conducting water to the powerhouse.

Head H

Vertical change in elevation, expressed in meters, between the upstream
water level and the tailrace water level. Rated head is Hr in meters.
Flow Q

Volume of water, expressed as cubic meters per second, passing a point in a
given amount of time. Rated flow is Qr in m3/s.

Efficiency
A percentage obtained by dividing the actual power or energy by the
theoretical power or energy. It represents how well the hydropower plant
converts the energy of the water into electrical energy.

Output of Hydro Turbine Nt in kW

Nt=9.81Hr Q (KW)

Spiral case

A spiral-shaped steel intake guiding the flow into the wicket gates located
just prior to the turbine.

Wicket gates

Adjustable elements that control the flow of water to the turbine passage.



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Runner

The rotating part of the turbine that converts the energy of falling waterinto
mechanical energy.

Cavitation and Suction head

Noise or vibration causing damage to the turbine blades as a results of
bubbles that form in the water as it goes through the turbine which causes a
loss in capacity, head loss, efficiency loss, and the cavity or bubble collapses
when they pass into higher regions of pressure.
The suction head Hs is the distance from the install level of the center line of
turbine runner to the minimum tailrace level.

Draft tube

A water conduit, which can be straight or curved depending upon the turbine
installation, that maintains a column of water from the turbine outlet and the
downstream water level.

Tailrace

The channel that carries water away from the powerhouse.

Tailwater

The downstream water of the powerhouse.







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Hydroelectric power in Canada

Canada is the worlds third largest hydropower producer, generating 372
TWh/year in 2011. In fact, hydropower accounted for 62.9 percent of Canadas
electricity production in 2011. It is one of the cleanest forms of generation in
Canada and has the potential to play a significant role in addressing environmental
issues, including climate change due to its negligible greenhouse gas emissions.

Hydroelectric power is a major electricity source in Ontario and the largest source
in Canada overall. Most electricity in Canada is derived from large capacity
hydroelectric plants with dams, which have a more serious environmental and social
impact.

The flow of water accounts for most of the electric power Canadians use: 61 per
cent. This reliance on hydroelectricity is unique in the world. (In contrast, most
countries produce electricity through coal or other fossil fuels.)
Canadas land features are well suited for hydropower. Hydropower is a renewable
source of energy which uses the power of flowing water to create electricity
without solid waste or depletion. Hydropowers flexible storage capability and
operational flexibility allows the facilities to automatically respond to fluctuating
electricity demands. Hydropowers storage capability supports the operation of
wind and solar energy.

Hydropower projects face many challenges to development. Many hydropower
projects in Canada are developed in remote communities, including those of
Aboriginal Peoples. These hydropower projects directly affect the surrounding
ecosystems, lifestyle, and activities of these communities. The development of
hydropower plants will also create local physical pollution (i.e. industrial structures
in natural settings) in close proximity to construction routes. There is a challenge
to ensuring that industrial developments will be as minimally intrusive as possible.
However, there is an opportunity to ensure that local communities reap benefits
through such developments, which mainly concern an improved quality of living,
employment growth, and long term revenues sustained through business
developments
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Benefits

This power creates no air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions.
Water is a renewable electricity source. It costs nothing to use flowing
water. Hydroelectric generating stations have longer lifespan.
Water is free, available and plentiful.
Using dams and reservoirs creates a reliable, controllable source of
electricity.
Hydroelectricity generated is relatively inexpensive.
Hydroelectricity can complement intermittent sources such as wind and solar
power can be used hydroelectricity power backup.
Reservoirs have other benefits such as holding water for irrigation and for
recreational activities.
It is absolutely clean source of energy.
Low operating costs and little maintenance.
Low electricity cost, reliable and long life.




Drawbacks and Environmental Impact

Large scale projects are expensive because of construction of costly dams
and reservoirs.
Hydro plants may be affected by seasonal flows or have issues with freezing
water. This is a problem for smaller scale run of river systems.
Dams and Earthquake risks.
Dams affects river ecosystems.
Careful construction is key with Hydroelectric Power.
Environmental problems of hydroelectric dams.
Wildlife and Fishes are affected.







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Conclusion:

Hydropower is the cheapest way to generate electricity today. No other energy
source, renewable or nonrenewable, can match it. Producing electricity from
hydropower is cheap because, once a dam has been built and the equipment
installed, the energy source-flowing water-is free.

From my research, I have found that hydroelectric dams provides both positive
and negative effects. It is a very clean source of power that we can all use.
However much land is destroyed to build the dam and much agricultural land is used
to divert the streams. There is significant impact to the fish and small animals and
their habitats.


Hydroelectric power has always been an important part of the world's electricity
supply, providing reliable, cost effective electricity, and will continue to do so in
the future. Hydropower has environmental impacts, which are very different from
those of fossil fuel power plants. The actual effects of dams and reservoirs on
various ecosystems are only now becoming understood. The future of hydro-
electric power will depend upon future demand for electricity, as well as how
societies value the environmental impacts of hydro-electric power compared to the
impacts of other sources of electricity. Overtime other renewable sources of
energy will develop and become competitive offering a wider variety of affordable
renewable energy.











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References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricity

http://www.pembina.org/re/sources/hydro-power

http://www.ecospark.ca/wattwize/students/hydro

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/hydropower-profile/
http://www.centreforenergy.com/AboutEnergy/Hydro/Overview.asp?page=1

http://powerforthefuture.ca/electricity-411/electricity-generation-choices/hydro-power/

http://exploringgreentechnology.com/green-living/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-hydroelectric-
power/

http://www.hydropower.com.cn/technologies.asp