Abstract
Penstock, a closed conduit, is an important component of hydropower projects. Various methods are available for optimum design of penstock. These methods are either based on empirical relations or derived analytically by optimizing the friction loss in the penstock. These formulae produce different values of penstock diameter for same site. In this study, formulae available for penstock design have been compared to review their suitability. A new method has been developed for the optimum design of penstock based on minimizing the total head loss comprising of friction and other losses. By using new developed method, diameter and annual cost of penstocks for few Hydro Electric plants of varying capacity have been worked out and reduction in annual cost of penstocks have been found in comparison to penstock cost for these projects.
Highlights
Hydropower, a renewable and mature energy source utilizes water from higher to lower altitude to generate power
The various relations available for optimum design of penstock have been compared and it was observed that these relations provide different values of optimum penstock diameter resulting in different cost
Some of these relations are based on minimizing annual cost of penstock considering friction loss only whereas in practice other losses in penstock occurs and needed to be considered
Summary
Hydropower, a renewable and mature energy source utilizes water from higher to lower altitude to generate power. Hydro Power is one of the proven, predictable and cost effective sources of renewable energy. Hydropower system (Fig 1) comprises of hydro source, diversion/storage system, water conductor system (channel/tunnel/penstock), power house building, generating and control equipment. Penstock is a conduit or tunnel connecting a reservoir/forebay to hydro turbine housed in powerhouse building for power generation. It withstands the hydraulic pressure of water under static as well as dynamic condition. It contains the closing devices (gates /valves) at the starting (just after reservoir/forebay) and at the tail end just before turbine to control the flow in the penstock. The aim of present study is to develop the new relation for the optimum design of penstock by considering all types of losses in the penstock
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