In this article we will know
about the classification of hydro-electric plants. We will know about various types
of hydro electric plant.
Classification of Hydro-electric power plant
The classification of
hydro-electric plant can be classified According to various steps
1. Flow of water
Hydro plants can be classified,
according to the extent of water regulation available, into following types:
According to flow of water , the classification of hydroelectric plant given below .
1. Run of river plant without poundage.
2. Run off river with poundage
3. Reservoir plants
1. Run of River plant Without poundage
These plants are located such that they use water as it comes, without any poundage
or storage. There is no control on flow of water. During period of high flows
or low loads, water is wasted. During lean flow periods, the plant capacity is
very low. High flows or low. As such these plants have very little firm
capacity. In such sites, the water is mainly used for irrigation or navigation
and power plant is only incidental. Such plants can be built at a considerably
low cost but the head available and the amount of power generation are
generally low. Their principal aim is to use whatever high flows, these plants can supply a
substantial portion of base load. flow is available of energy generation and thus save coal that would otherwise be necessary for the steam plants. During the period of The generation capacity to be installed for
such plants requires a careful consideration. The 72 MW plants of Louisville
Gas and Elect. Company on Ohio River in U.S.A. is an example of this type of
plant. it is main types of hydro-electric power plants.
2. Run off river plants with poundage.
Poundage
refers to storage at the plant to take care of hour to hour fluctuations in
load on the station. Poundage increases the firm capacity of the station
provided the floods do not raise the tail race water level thus reducing the effective
water head and plant output. Such plants can serve as base load or peak load
plants depending on the stream flow. When plenty of water is available, these
plants can be used as base load plants. When stream flow decreases, these
plants can be made to work as peak load plants. Show these two operated in
operation of such plants. Thus these plants offer maximum conservation of coal
when operated in conjunction with steam plants the 252 MW Hydro Plant and Safe Harbor
Plant in U.S. A are example of this type of plants.
3. Reservoir plants.
Most of
the hydro-electric plants, everywhere in the world, belong to this category.
When water is stored in a big reservoir behind a dam, it is possible to control
the flow of water and use it most effectively. Storage increases the firm
capacity of the plant. The plant can be used as a base load plant or as a peak
load plant depending on the water stored in the reservoir, the rate of inflow
and the system load. Grand Coulee of reservoir plants. In U S A, KRASNOYARKS
plant in USSR and BHAKRA plant in India are notable examples of reservoir
plants.. it is basic classification of hydro-electric power plants.
2. Classification of According to load
According to
load, hydro plants can be classified as base load plants, peak load plants and
pumped storage plant.
(1)
Base load plants.
They feed
the base load of the system. Thus they supply almost constant load throughout
and operate on a high load factor. Base load plants are usually of large
capacity. Run off river plants without poundage and reservoir plants are used as
base load plants. For a plant to be used as base load plant, the unit cost of
energy generated by the plant should be low.
it is also main types of hydro-electric plant.
(2)
Peak load plants.
They are
meant to supply the peak load of the system. Run off river of plants with poundage
can be used as peak load plants during lean flow periods. Reservoir plants can,
of course, be used as peak load plants also. Peak load plants have large seasonal
storage. They store water during off-peak periods and are run during peak load
periods. They operate at a low load factor. A special type of peak load plant
is pumped storage plant.
(3)
Pumped storage plant.
It is
special type of plant meant to supply peak load.
3. Classification of electric plant According to Head
(1) Low head plants.
When head is less than 30 m, the plant is
called a low plant. A dam or barrage across the river creates the necessary
head. The power plant is located near the dam. And, therefore, no surge tank is
need. Either one half of the barrage has regulating gates for discharge of
surplus water while the plant is in front of the second half or the plant is
constructed by the side of the river. Francis or Kaplan turbines are used. it is main types of hydro-electric plant
(2) Medium head plants.
The plants operating at head between 30 and
100 m. An open channel brings water from main reservoir to the fore-day from
where pen stocks carry water to the turbines. Francis or Kaplan turbines are
used.
(3) High head plants.
The plants operating at heads above 100m are generally classified as high head plants. The civil works for these plants include reservoir, tunnel, surge tank and penstock. Generally Francis are used for heads below 200m and penstock turbines for turbines for still higher heads.
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