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IS 5496 (1993): Guide for preliminary dimensioning and

layout of elbow type draft tubes for surface hydroelectric
power stations [WRD 15: Hydroelectric Power House
Structures]

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IS 5496 : 1993

( Reaffirmed 2003 )

GUIDE FOR PRELIMINARY

DIMENSIONING
AND LAYOUT OF ELBOW TYPE DRAFT
TUBES FOR SURFACE HYDROELECTRIC
POWER STATIONS
( First Revision )

UDC

62785 : 621224-22514

BUREAU
MANAK

OF

BHAVAN,

INDIAN
9 BAHADUR

NEW

September

1993

BIS 1993

DELHI

STANDARDS
SHAH

ZAPAR

MARG

110002
Price Group 2

Hydraulic

Power House

Structures

Sectional

Committee,

RVD 15

FOREWORD
This Indian Standard was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards,
after the draft finalized
by
the Hydroelectric
Power House Structures Sectional Committee had been approved
by the River
Valley Division Council.
The draft tube of a reaction turbine is the conduit connecting
the exit from the runner
to the tail
race, thus having the function
of utilizing
the differential elevation between the runner exit and
the tail water level, termed as static suction head, recovering as much as possible of the velocity
Draft tubes may be one of the following types:
head in water leaving the runner.
a) Straight

conical

b) Hydraulic

draft tube;

cone type draft tube, for example,

moody

type which may be:

1) High cone;
2) low cone; and
c) Elbow type draft tube.
NOTE -

The types given at (a) and (b) are normally used for very small units.

This standard is intended for fixing up the preliminary

overall dimensions
of elbow type draft tubes
for the purpose of incorporating
them in the project design ( layout of the power house ) when the
It also gives general guidance for
design of the draft tube is not available from the manufacturers.
the design of the elbow type draft tubes.
This standard
was first published
in 1969. The present revision has been made in view of the
The following
changes
experience gained during the course of these years in use of this standard.
have been incorporated
in the first revision:
1) The width of each pier is recommended

as 1 000 mm.

2) Draft tube design type 3 has been deleted.

3) Depth

of Kaplan

& Francis

turbine

recommended

has been increased.

For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement

of this standard is complied with, the
final value, observed
or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off
in accordance with IS 2 : 1960 Rules for rounding off numerical
values ( revised ). The number
of significant places retained in the rounded off value should be the same as that of the specified
value in this standard.

IS 5496 : 1993

Indian Standard

GUIDE FOR PRELIMINARY DIMENSIONING

AND LAYOUT OF ELBOW TYPE DRAFT
TUBES FOR SURFACE HYDROELECTRIC
POWER STATIONS
( First Re vision )
1 SCOPE

3.5 For the inlet cone of the elbow type draft

tubes, the half angle of conicity recommended
is 6 to 10. A bed slope of about one vertical
to ten horizontal
is recommended.
However,
a
slope of one vertical to six horizontal
is the
steepest slope which should be permitted.

This standard covers the criteria for the selection

of various dimensions
of elbow type draft tubes
for hydroelectric
power stations.
2 REFERENCES
The Indian Standards
listed
adjuncts to this standard:
IS No.
226 : 1985
2062 : 198j
3 HYDRAULIC

3.5.1 The outlet end of the draft tube should be

so located that it remains
submerged under all
operating
conditions
of the unit at least by
Vc2/2g or 30 cm whichever is greater, where V,
is the exit velocity and g is the acceleration
due
to gravity.
The slope of excavation connecting
the draft tube floor at exit and bottom of the tail
race should not be steeper than one vertical to
four horizontal.

below are necessary

Title

Structural steel (standard

(fifth revision )
Weldable
revision )

structural

quality

steel

( third

DESIGN CRITERIA

3.5.2 The height of the draft tube at exit

is
normally
recommended
as 094 D to 132 D
( D being
the inlet diameter of the runner)
depending upon the specific speed of the turbine;
the lower value being for lower specific speeds.

3.1 The dimensions

of the draft tube depend on
the specific speed, size and spacing of the unit
and is mainly governed
by the diameter of the
runner.
3.2 The design should
be such that the total
losses in the draft tube and exit losses should be
minimum
possible economically.
The deceleration
should be gradual and so that transition
should
be gradual with smooth surfaces.

3.6 Depth of the draft tube is reckoned

centre line of the guide apparatus.

the

3.6.1 For Kaplan

turbines
normally a depth of
23 to 30 D is recommended
depending
upon
specific speed of the turbine.
For Francis
turbine
a depth of 25 to 33 D is recommended.
This
may vary to a certain
extent depending
upon
factors enumerated
in 3.1.

3.3 One or two intermediate

piers in the draft
tube
leg may be provided
to give structural
support and also to reduce the span of the draft
tube gates which are required
for dewatering
of
the draft tube. Piers should be well streamlined
so that they are efficient
hydraulically.
The
number of piers depends upon structural
considerations, however, it is recommended
that no pier
should
be provided
with span up to 7 m; one
pier should
be provided
for span from 8 m to
15 m and two piers should be provided
for span
more than 16 m. For span? between 7 m and 8 m
and 15 m and 16 m, this choice is left to the
discretion
of the designer.
The minimum width
of each pier should be as l 000 mm sufficient
to
accommodate
the draft tube gate grooves.

3.7 The length of the draft tube, measured

the turbine
axis, is normally recommended
to 5 times the runner inlet diameter.

from
as 4

3.8 The basic width ( excluding the pier ) of the

draft tube exit is normally
recommended
as 2.6
to 33 D. In exceptional
cases it may be even
higher or lower.
3.9 For better block arrangement,
draft tubes are
sometimes made eccentric with respect to the unit
centre line in plan. The value of the eccentricity
should be limited so as not to adversely affect the
hydraulic characteristics
of the turbine.

3.4 Preliminary
design of draft tubes may be
made by referring
to either of the Fig. 1 and 2
in accordance with the values of H, L and B given
in 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8 respectively.
NOTE - The dimensions eiven in 3.5. 3.6. 3.7 and 3.8
are only for preliminary d&sign. The &naI dimensions
should, however, be taken as supplied by the turbine
manufacturers.

from

4 MATERIAL
4.1 Draft tubes
required strength
1

should
be made of R.C.C.
with necessary reinforcement.

of

IS 5496:1993

d OF GUIDE_ APPARATUS

H =

Depth of the draft tube

Length

B =

FIG. 1

Width

of the draft tube

of the draft tube

DRAFT TUBE DESIGN TYPE I ( FOR HEADS UP TO 200-250 m )

_-__.-_

OFGUIDE
--_-_-

______

APPARATUS

OBLONGED SECTIONS
IN ELBOW PORTION

H =

Depth of the draft tube

Length

of the draft tube

B = Width of the draft tube

FIG. 2

DRAFT TUBE DEXGN TYPE 2 ( FOR HEADS ABOVE 200-250 m )

IS 5496: 1993
4.2 Steel plate

liners should be provided in ihe

tube to overcome the effects of erosion and
pitting due to cavitation, if it exists.

draft

4.2.1 The

liner should extend to a point where

the concrete can withstand the existing water
velocities. This depends on the quality of concrete
and its surface smoothness.

4.2.1.1 It is recommended

that no liner should be

provided for water velocities up to 6 m/s. Besides
this consideration
of velocity of water in the
draft tube, it is recommended that liner should
be provided in the cone of the draft tube.
However, many times, due to the complicated
shape of the elbow a liner may have to be
provided in that portion also on the basis of the
techno-economic calculations.

vided. The dimensions of the access should be

adequate for a man to get in freely with provision
to let down a ladder. The door of the access
should be of steel and of enough thickness to
withstand the pressures aed impact of water. The
door should be weli fastened with rubber gasket
packing all round to ensure water and air
tightness. The door should be provided in the
vertical portion of the draft tube. These openings
should be connected to an access gallery running
downstream or upstream or by the side of the
unit.

5.1 The model of the draft tube should be made

along with the model of runner and tested along
with it under all conditions of working of the
machine..

7.1.1 In case where, because of hea.vy silt load

in the water passing through the turbine, frequent
repair/change of runner is envisaged, arrangement
for removal of the runner through an opening
provided in the draft-tube cone, should be made.
The opening should be adequate enough to pass
the runner through it. A steel door should be
provided at the opening. The door should be well
fastened with rubber gaskets all around to ensure
air and water tightness. The openings provided
for runner removal
should
be aproachable
through access galleries of adequate size. These
galleries may be provided with rails to take out
the runners on specially designed trolleys.

6 ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEPRESSING

WATER LEVEL INSIDE DRAFT TUBE

8 DRAFT TUBE GATES

NOTE - In certain cases velocities up to 8 m/s have

been permitted without the provision of a liner.

5 MODEL TESTING

6.1 In case where the generator coupled with the

turbine is to be operated as a rynchronous condenser, arrangements should be made to depress
the water level in the draft tube by means of
compressed air. This is accomplished by admitting
compressed air to the runner chamber subsequent
to the closing of the wicket gates (guide vanes ).
Compressed air should be admitted through a pipe
and an opening check valve should be provided
in the air in take pipe. The check valve should be
sufficiently air-tight against the pressure in the
runner chamber to prevent leakage.
7 ACCESS TO THE DRAFT TUBE
7.1 For facilitating erection

and maintenance of
the runner and for the upkeep of the draft tube
an easy access to the draft tube should be pro-

Bulk head gates should be provided to close the

draft tube against tailwater pressure during the
maintenance period. The gate should be designed
to carry the maximum tailwater pressure conditions. Suitable gantry with necessary operating
platform should be provided for operation of
the gates.
9 DRAINAGE BOX FOR DEWATERING
DRAFT TUBE
To facilitate dewatering of draft tube a drainage
box should be fixed at the lowest point of the
draft tube. The drainage box should then be
connected to the power house sump directly or
through a pipe system passing through a drainage
gallery.

Standard Mark
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Mark is governed by the provisions of the Bureau of Indian
Standards Act. 1986 and the Rules and Regulations
made thereunder.
The Standard Mark on
products covered by an Indian Standard conveys the assurance that they have been produced
to comply with the requirements
of that standard under a well defined system of inspection,
testing and quality
control
which is devised and supervised
by BIS and operated by the
producer.
Standard marked products are also continuously
checked by BIS for conformity
to that standard
as a further safeguard.
Details of conditions
under which a licence for the
use of the Standard Mark may be granted to manufacturers
or producers
may be obtained
from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Ir

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RVD

15 (28)
Amendments

Amend

No.

Issued

Since

Publication

Text Affected

Date of Issue

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-

AMENDMENT NO. 1 MARCH 2001

TO
IS 5496:1993
GUIDE FOR PRELIMINARY
DIMENSIONING AND LAYOUT OF ELBOW TYPE
DRAFT TUBES FOR SURFACE HYDROELECTRIC
POWER STATIONS
(FimtRevMm)
(Page 1, clause 2, References ) Substitute tbe following for the existing
matttx
The Indian Standard IS 2062:1992
Steel for General structural purpose
( Supemeding IS 226 ) is a necessary adjunct to this standard.

(WRD15)
RqWI@IY Uniq BIS, NewtkllIL India