Chapter
8 – Hydro Energy
Hydro energy is available in form of
rivers and tidal waves in oceans. The technology of harnessing hydrogen energy
in form of producing hydroelectricity is well established now. Among total
electricity generation in world, 10.6 % corresponds to hydroelectricity. In
India hydroelectricity has share of 11.4%.
8.1 Essential Elements
of Hydro-electric Power Plant
·
Catchment area
·
Reservoir
·
Dam
·
Spillways
·
Sluice gate
·
Penstock
·
Turbine
·
Draft tube
·
Tail race
8.2 Classification of
Hydro-electric Power Plant
Hydro-electric Power Plants may be classified into
various categories on different basis.
8.2.1 Availability
of water head
·
High head power plants
(100 m and above)
·
Medium head power
plants (30 to 100 m )
·
Low head power plants
(25 to 80 m)
8.2.2 Nature of
load
·
Base load plants (a
definite amount of electricity is produced continuously to feed the grid)
·
Peak load plants ( may
operate only at peak hour/ produce more electricity at peak hour)
8.2.3 Quantity
of water available
·
Run-of-river plant
without pondage (no storage of water and no control over flow rate)
·
Run-of-river plant with
pondage (more useful in comparison to without pondage)
·
Storage type plants
(reservoir of sufficiently large size)
·
Pumped storage plants
(when water available for electricity production is less, water is pumped back
from tail race to the reservoir using the extra energy available)
8.2.4 Capacity
of plants
·
Regular size (above 25
MW)
Small Hydro
Projects
·
Micro (up to 100 kW)
·
Mini (101-1000 kW)
·
Small (1-25 MW)
8.3
Environmental Impacts of Hydro Energy
Advantages
·
Renewable in nature
·
No cost of raw material
at regular basis
·
No pollution
·
Dam increase the scenic
beauty of the place
·
Lake may be utilized
for water sports
·
Dam controls the flood
Disadvantages
·
Long time is needed to
complete the project
·
Large area of land is
needed
·
Evacuation of land
needs mass population shift
·
Large amount of stored
water affect the surrounding land
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