Hydropower in Nepal

Hydropower in technical term is the power of

water that is flowing on the surface. Such power
can be used to create electricity which is called
hydroelectricity. It is a good renewable energy
given by the flowing river or stream,.
Nepal has many rivers flowing at varied altitude
with enough power to generate electricity for the
entire Nepalese.
 Introduction
Nepal land is blessed with enormous amount of Water,
sources of which comes from the mighty Himalayan
Range. Hydropower is the major source of Electricity in
this country. Hydropower electricity is environment
friendly no pollution in air or in land, and, is also the
most efficient method of all.
Yet, Despite the vast amount of source, not all sources
have been used in Nepal. Many small to large scale
private-run and Government owned companies operate
their hydropower projects throughout Nepal.
Nepal has the capacity to produce upto Eight Five
Thousand Megawats of Electricity 85,000 megawatts.
Today, country produces only approximately 600 MW of
hydropower.
Important Components of Hydroelectric Power
Plants
 1.DIVERSION WEIR

Structure placed across the river to divert a part of the river

flow to the water conveyance system through the intake
It is the initial part of any kind of water resources project
including hydropower ,irrigation project
 2. Under-sluices
The under sluices are the openings provided at the base
of the weir or barrage. These openings are provided with
adjustable gates. Normally, the gates are kept closed.
The suspended silt goes on depositing in front of the
canal head regulator. When the silt deposition becomes
appreciable the gates are opened and the deposited silt
is loosened. The muddy water flows towards the
downstream through the scouring sluices. The gates are
then closed. But, at the period of flood, the gates are
kept opened.
 3) Intake or Control Gates
A hydro system must extract water from the river in a
reliable and controllable way. The water flowing in the
channel must be regulated during high river flow and low
flow conditionsThese are the gates built on the inside of the
dam. The water from reservoir is released and controlled
through these gates. These are called inlet gates because
water enters the power generation unit through these
gates. When the control gates are opened the water flows
due to gravity through the penstock and towards the
turbines. The water flowing through the gates possesses
potential as well as kinetic energy.
 4.Spillways

Aspillwayis a structure used to provide the controlled

release of flows from adaminto a downstream area,
Spillways release floods so that the water does not
overtop and damage or even destroy the dam.
Spillways are designed to permit controlled overflow at
certain points along the channel. Flood flows through the
intake can be twice the normal channel flow, so the spillway
must be large enough for diverting this excess flow.
The spillway is a flow regulator for the channel. In addition it
can be combined with control gates to provide a means of
emptying the channel.
The spill flow must be fed back to the river in a controlled
way so that it does not damage the foundations of the
channel.
 5. Dam

The dam is the most important component of

hydroelectric power plant. The dam is built on a
large river that has abundant quantity of water
throughout the year. It should be built at a location
where the height of the river is sufficient to get the
maximum possible potential energy from water.
 5. Water Reservoir
The water reservoir is the place behind the dam where water is stored.
The water in the reservoir is located higher than the rest of the dam
structure. The height of water in the reservoir decides how much
potential energy the water possesses. The higher the height of water,
the more its potential energy. The high position of water in the reservoir
also enables it to move downwards effortlessly.
The height of water in the reservoir is higher than the natural height of
water flowing in the river, so it is considered to have an altered
equilibrium. This also helps to increase the overall potential energy of
water, which helps ultimately produce more electricity in the power
generation unit.
 6.Settling basin
The water drawn from the river and fed to the turbine will
usually carry a suspension of small particles. This sediment
will be composed of hard abrasive materials such as sand
which can cause expensive damage and rapid wear to
turbine runners. To remove this material the water flow
must be slowed down in settling basins so that the silt
particles will settle on the basin floor. The deposit formed is
then periodically flushed away.
From the size of the smallest particle allowed into the
penstock the maximum speed of the water in the settling
basin can be calculated as the slower the water flows the
lower the carrying capacity of the water for particles. The
water speed in the settling basin can be slowed down by
increasing the cross section area of the channel. For each
maximum size of the particles the optimum size of the
settling tank can be calculated.
 6.HEADRACE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM
Usually a canal/pipe/tunnel or a
combination of these for the purpose
of delivering design flow to the
forebay or surge tank with a
minimum energy loss.
 7.Forebay tank
The forebay tank forms the connection
between the channel and the penstock. The
main purpose is to allow the last particles to
settle down before the water enters the
penstock. Depending on its size it can also
serve as a reservoir to store water.
A sluice will make it possible to close the
entrance to the penstock. In front of the
penstock a trashrack need to be installed to
prevent large particles to enter the penstock.
A spillway completes the forebay tank.

 8.The Penstock
The penstock is the long pipe or the shaft that carries the
water flowing from the reservoir towards the power
generation unit, comprised of the turbines and generator. The
water in the penstock possesses kinetic energy due to its
motion and potential energy due to its height.
The total amount of power generated in the hydroelectric
power plant depends on the height of the water reservoir and
the amount of water flowing through the penstock. The
amount of water flowing through the penstock is controlled by
the control gates.
 9. Water Turbines
Water flowing from the penstock is allowed to enter the power
generation unit, which houses the turbine and the generator.
When water falls on the blades of the turbine the kinetic and
potential energy of water is converted into the rotational
motion of the blades of the turbine. The rotating blades causes
the shaft of the turbine to also rotate. The turbine shaft is
enclosed inside the generator. In most hydroelectric power
plants there is more than one power generation unit.
There is large difference in height between the level of turbine
and level of water in the reservoir. This difference in height,
also known as the head of water, decides the total amount of
power that can be generated in the hydroelectric power plant.
 10. Generators
It is in the generator where the electricity is produced. The shaft
of the water turbine rotates in the generator, which produces
alternating current in the coils of the generator. It is the rotation
of the shaft inside the generator that produces magnetic field
which is converted into electricity by electromagnetic field
induction. Hence the rotation of the shaft of the turbine is
crucial for the production of electricity and this is achieved by
the kinetic and potential energy of water. Thus in
hydroelectricity power plants potential energy of water is
converted into electricity.
There are various types of water turbines such as Kaplan
turbine, Francis turbine, Pelton wheels etc. The type of
turbine used in the hydroelectric power plant depends on
the height of the reservoir, quantity of water and the total
power generation capacity.

SELECTION OF TURBINE
pelton-head>150m
Francis-head 150-30 m
Kaplan-head <30m
 11.Tailrace

The water that has been used to rotate the turbine

blades and turbines shaft leaves the power generation
unit entering the pipeline called as the tailrace. From
here the water flows into the main river. The height of
water in the tailrace is much below the height of water
in the water reservoir behind the dam. Thepotential
energyof water in the tailrace has been used to
generate electricity.