Hydel Project Research Articles

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Cavitation Assessment for Runner Blades in a Francis Turbine

Cavitation in hydro turbines causes component deterioration that requires continuous and costly maintenance in the hydroelectric power generation stations. The Tarbela Dam Hydel Project (TDHP) in Pakistan is facing a cavitation problem in the Francis Turbine components, such as the runner and draft tube. Simulation work has been performed to examine and quantify the cavitation rate as a function of the suction head (SH) and flow velocity (FV) by utilizing a homogeneous cavitation model. The result shows that pressure fluctuation is maximum for overcrowded conditions and minimum for rated load conditions. Moreover, a higher cavitation rate is found for the part and overcrowded conditions compared to the rated load condition. Additionally, the cavitation rate becomes 50% higher when the SH increases from 5.54 to 12.34 m. Moreover, SEM results have verified the CFD results that higher FV and SH enhance the cavitation rate. Furthermore, the numerical work is validated by simplified hydrofoil geometry. The computational fluid dynamics results presented a good arrangement with the experimental data.

Study of Flash Flood in the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga Catchment in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, India

The present study is an attempt to investigate a flash flood that occurred on the morning of 7th February 2021 in the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga Catchments in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. A catastrophic flood was triggered due to a massive rock-cum-snow avalanche caused by Antecedent Snow falls in the region. A huge flash flood was generated as a tremendous quantity of rockslide, comprising deposited ice and snowmelt, rolled down the Ronthi Glacier and flowed downstream into the glacier valley. This massive flash flood hit the NTPC's Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project and the Rishiganga Hydel Project, bridges, roads, and communities in and around Raini, Tapovan and Joshimath regions in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The mud and slush-inducing elements resulted in the development of a dammed lake, which momentarily blocked one of the Rishiganga's tributaries. Temporal satellite image has been used to access the information of disaster damage assessment in the region. The high-resolution satellite image clearly showing flash flood watermarks in the region and on the avalanches site rock outcrops reaching up to 50–130m height on the way to Raini Gaon. As part of our analysis, we have also looked at the valley's slope profile, which clearly shows the valley's height following the destruction. It is estimated that more than Rs 4,000 crore infrastructures loss due to this flash flood in the region. Besides, two bridges have also been lost. Hydometeriological analysis was also carried out in order to obtain the trend of rapid increase in temperature in the valley where disaster occurred. Using remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, thematic layers were generated for obtaining information on the flash flood.

Uttarakhand Flash Floods February 2021: Perils of Under-Preparedness or Disregard for the Environment or Both

Disaster hit Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on February 7, 2021, in the form of sudden flash floods after a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier was broke apart. The sudden floods were reported in the intricately linked tributaries of the Ganga River - Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga, and Alaknanda rivers which triggered widespread panic and large-scale devastation and fatalities. The Flash floods damaged two power projects - NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad Hydel Project and the Rishiganga Hydel Project, five bridges, roads, and settlements, in and around Raini, Tapovan and Joshimath areas in Uttarakhand. Scores of laborers working at the sites of the Hydel Projects were trapped and feared to have lost lives, despite all our efforts to rescue them. It is the second large-scale tragedy in the same area within a span of fewer than eight years. Questions are being asked,”Why did we not learn any lesson from the earlier disaster in the very same area”? Was it under-preparedness, or was its disregard to the environment or both? This paper attempts to find the right answers to the questions and suggest solutions so that in the future, such avoidable disasters do not happen.

Hydro Power Projects Induced Conflict: A Study of Lepcha Community of Dzongu

In pre-era, many tribes reside in a small kingdom of Eastern Himalaya. Lepcha or Rong as they like to call themselves are the indigenous inhabitant of Sikkim long before outsiders namely Tibetans, Nepalese came to the land. Sikkim merged with the Indian Union in later half of the 20th century, May 16th 1975 to be precise. Unlike other ethnic groups, Lepcha claim themselves as an indigenous inhabitant of Sikkim. A land in Dzongu is treated as sanctity by Lepcha people but today the same land has been used for other purposes. Major effect of the hydel project can be divided into four sub sections namely, local, state, national, and the impact at the international level. However, the initiation of mega hydel project passed by Government had infringed its own declaration of Dzongu as reserve area. Simultaneously, the impact of modernization agents on Dzongu is bigger and also a complicated issue which led to the debate between insider and outsider in one hand and Affected Citizen of Teesta (ACT) verses state government in the other hand. Similarly, there are various theoretical strands which can lead to understand the basic nature of development conflict. Theoretical framework: There are relative deprivation theory which explains major term like exploitation and deprivation. The line of thought is simple here that deprivation leads to exploitation which again leads to awareness of a group, who in turn mobilize themselves to achieve the set goals of social change. Methodology: The data source for this paper is from both the primary and secondary sources generated during field investigation. Extensive field study with in-depth interview has been carried out, with the help of questionnaire in the region and outside. This present paper highlight on the Lepcha Protest against modernizing agents in Sikkim is a struggle to protect their Lepcha Identity and Conflict regarding Dzongu Reserve is a conflict between the Nature Worshipers and the Global Forces of Development.

Human resource management practices and project success in hydel projects of Pakistan: moderation of Islamic work ethics and country of origin

Human resource management practices and project success in hydel projects of Pakistan: moderation of Islamic work ethics and country of origin

Human resource management practices and project success in hydel projects of Pakistan: moderation of Islamic work ethics and country of origin

Recognition of human resource management practices by professional bodies has continuously evolved since it has been realised that the employees play a pivotal role in the success of any project. The hypothesis of the study explores the direct impact amid relationship of selected HRM practices: 'employee recruitment and selection (ERS)', 'employee training and development (ETD)', 'employee performance appraisal (EPA)', 'employee compensation system (ECS)' and project success (PS) as well as the moderating effect of environmental factors of Islamic work ethics (IWE) and country of origin (COO) in hydel projects of Pakistan. The study is cross-sectional based on the survey questionnaire data collected from 357 personnel. The results of the study will help the national/multinational firms to focus on efforts for the hydroelectric generation in Pakistan in further strengthening their human resource productivity by extending attention to the factors of concerns vis-a-vis HRM practices.

One year study of epidemiology of trauma patients admitted in the main tertiary care hospital of the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh

Background: Trauma in Himachal Pradesh is an increasingly significant problem, particularly in light of rapid development and increasing motorization. In the state of Himachal due to the predominantly hilly terrain people are more vulnerable to accidents, resulting in various injuries. Moreover, an increase in industrialization, ongoing construction of hydel projects and subsequent increase in accidents have also affected an increase in the incidence of trauma. Social and environmental changes are resulting in alterations in epidemiology of trauma. The present study was done to study the pattern, cause, mode and burden of trauma in patients presenting to IGMC Shimla.Methods: This prospective study was done on 4267 patients of trauma admitted to various departments of IGMC, Shimla during the period from June 2014 to May 2015. Detailed history of the patient, mode of injury was collected. Complete trauma profile and blood investigations were done in all patients. Postmortem findings of the trauma victims who died in IGMC or who were brought dead due to trauma were recorded. Results: The mean age of the patients in the study was 33.56 years. Male preponderance was noted (M:F-2.7:1). The commonest mode of injury was due to fall (75.60%). Of the total, 72.39% patients admitted with isolated injuries confined to one particular region, 11.72% patients with multiple injuries with in a single region, 13.01% patients with polytrauma, and 2.44% patients with burns. The rate of mortality was 2.06% (n=88).Conclusions: Improved infrastructure, behavior patterns of the individuals, can decrease the rate of trauma in the state. Development of strong and supportive management policies by the emergency departments in hospitals can reduce the mortality rate related with trauma.

Downstream impacts of the Ranganadi hydel project in Brahmaputra Basin, India: Implications for design of future projects

This study analyses the downstream hydrological, morphological, and socio-economic impacts of the sole operating hydropower scheme - Ranganadi Hydel Project Stage I in Arunachal Pradesh (India), the state with the largest potential and the highest number of upcoming hydro schemes in the country. The project has a large dam with inter-basin water diversion for electricity generation, thereby affecting flow in two rivers of the Brahmaputra Basin - Ranganadi and Dikrong. Flow alterations were measured using Nature Conservancy's Indicators of Hydrological Alteration model, while planform changes were studied using multi-temporal satellite imagery and Geographical Information System. The results indicated significant downstream flow alterations by the project in the post-dam period. Post-dam median annual flows in the impounded and flow-deprived river - Ranganadi, have decreased by 63%, but increased by 138% in the recipient river - Dikrong. The former displayed channel narrowing and decreased braiding, while the latter exhibited a wider and more braided planform. Unexpected releases from the reservoir, flash floods, and sand casting were the major problems cited by the downstream communities in the Ranganadi sub-basin, which impacted upon agricultural lands and livelihoods. This study recommends mitigation plans that could be followed by both existing and future hydropower projects.

Downstream channel changes and the likely impacts of flow augmentation by a hydropower project in River Dikrong, India

ABSTRACTThe Dikrong River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River Basin in India, has been receiving additional water from an adjacent river since 2002 under the operation of the 405 MW Ranganadi hydel project. Flow duration curves and indicators of hydrological alteration analyses reveal that the downstream river flow has been significantly altered post-2002. Examination of the channel pattern in a Geographic Information System environment using satellite images from 1973 to 2014 displays that the channel planform has also changed over time, wherein it has become wider, less meandering and more braided. Sinuosity decreased from 1.9 in 1987 to 1.66 in 2002 and has stabilized since then. Simultaneously, braiding increased from 1.55 (1987) to 1.81 (2014). The average bankfull channel width from 1973 to 2014 varied between 378 and 573 m. The river also displays erratic and unevenly distributed bank migration and erosion patterns. However, channel changes could be observed even prior to the hydel project’s influence through flow addition. Thus, this study analyses the temporal and spatial changes in downstream channel morphology of the Dikrong River and examines whether they have been influenced by the hydrological alterations caused by the hydel project.

Characterization of Local Mahboobnagar Goat under Field Conditions

Mahboobnagar goats, also known by local name of “Palamuru Mekalu” are found in areas adjoining the Srisailam Hydel Project and the Nallamala forest of the erstwhile Mahboobnagar district of Telangana state. They are medium sized and dual purpose strain of goat. A study was conducted to estimate morphometry and performance traits of local Mahboobnagar goats reared under field conditions. In total, flocks (n= 2657) with 44 farmers distributed throughout the native tract were studied to measure the above said traits. The average flock composition ranged from 20-130 in size, with bucks constituting 10-85%, does between 10-25% and kids ranging between 8-37.5%. Ears were pendulous. Beard was present only in males while both the sexes had wattles. Both the sexes were horned with backward orientation. Body weight at birth ranged between 1.8-3.0 kg, at weaning (3 months) 7-14 kg, at 6 months of age 17-28 kg, at adult 26-40 kg. The weight of doe at first kidding ranged between 26-40 kg. With respect to body measurements in adult goats, the chest girth ranged between 58-105 cm, body length between 55-96 cm and height at withers between 58-103 cm. The total milk yield was between 22-60 litres per lactation, while lactation length was between 60-120 days. Age at first mating in males was between 360-540 days, while the same in females was between 320-380 days. Age at first kidding was between 520-600 days, while kidding interval was between 180-280 days. The average litter size was 2, while the no. of kid’s lifetime ranged between 7-11.

Erosion wear on Francis turbine components due to sediment flow

Sediment particles flowing through the turbine components erode the surface in interaction. Erosive wear of hydro turbine components generally depends on different parameters such as concentration, size and shape of the sediments particle, velocity of flow, properties of the base material of the turbine components and operating hours of the turbine. Tarbela Dam Hydel Project (TDHP) located in the Himalayan range in Pakistan is facing the same problem. The sediments particle have caused damage to the plant equipment, mainly to the turbine components; stay vanes, guide vanes, runner and draft tube. As a result, these components are disassembled and refurbished almost every year. Analysis have been performed on one of the Francis turbine units to predict the effect of sediment particles concentration, size and shape on erosion rate. Gradual removal of the base material has changed the profiles of various components of the turbine and also has weaken its structure. One of the major concerns of these effects is the continuous loss of turbine hydraulic efficiency. The governing equations of fluid flow are solved numerically on an unstructured grid using FEM based software ANSYS CFX. Finnie erosion model is used to compute average erosion rates. Simulation results are compared with the actual site data. The CFD analysis showed good agreement with the results of experimental work done previously using similar kind of geometries and operating conditions.

Risk Assessment for Managing Risks in Infrastructure Projects

Construction projects are prone to complexity and uncertainty. Management of risks is a deciding factor in success or failure of the projects. Each construction project in itself is unique and very few similarities exist between any two projects, even if the construction is in the same sector. Every construction project has its own share of risks, and the risks will not be the same even if a similar project is executed in two different places with different terrain and topography. Risk management involves identifying risks, assessing them, and developing suitable strategies to manage them. An attempt has been made in the present study to analyze the risk scenario in the construction industry by meeting stakeholders and eliciting information from them for recognizing the risk factors that influenced the success of two projects - one thermal and one hydel project under construction in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Risks can be assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. This paper reviewed the various techniques used for quantifying risks and focused on evaluating the risks using the Risk factor and Priority model. The evaluation of risks will be an effective tool for prioritizing the risks for successful completion of the projects.

Application of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in Renewable Energy Generation from Micro-Hydel Projects of Himachal Pradesh

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is defined as one of the “flexibility” mechanisms that allows entities based in Developed Countries (Annex I Parties) to develop emission-reducing projects in Developing Countries (non-Annex I Parties), and generate tradable carbon credits corresponding to the volume of carbon emission reductions achieved by those projects. CDM projects have been developed in several parts of the world across the sectoral economies, including renewable energy, with reportedly varying degrees of success and failures. In the renewable energy segment, CDM has been successfully deployed in Micro-Hydel power projects to mitigate and offset green-house gas emissions into the environment. The experiences of different implementing states are vastly different in past decade. CDM applications in Micro-Hydel projects have been quite notable to generate hydro-power and mitigate emissions in the state. This paper takes a holistic review about the current status in the performance of CDM projects in India, with special reference to Himachal Pradesh, particularly in the context of Small (Micro)-Hydel projects with a very high renewable energy potential. The achievements as well as strategy of implementation of Small-Hydel projects in Himachal Pradesh is discussed in the light of selected case studies of CDM projects that are at various stages of formulation, designing and implementation. Guidelines for CDM project designing and the potential for carbon markets for the hydro-power in the context of Himachal Pradesh is discussed. Some of the shortcomings in implementation of Micro-Hydel CDM project in the State are also discussed and highlighted in the paper. The paper has also examined the status of implementation and the quality of projects in the form of illustrative case studies in terms of their ability for energy extraction, creating energy trading opportunities, and stakeholder participation in sharing the project benefits during the lifetime as well as the beyond the life-time of the projects.

Implication of drainage basin parameters of a tropical river basin of South India

Drainage morphometry provides quantitative description of the drainage system which is an important aspect of the characterisation of watersheds. Chalakudi River is one of the important rivers of the South India which has attracted attention of many environmental scientists recently because of the proposed Athirapally Hydel Project across the river. SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission) data were used for preparing DEM (Digital Elevation Model), Aspect Map and Slope Map. Geographical Information System (GIS) was used for the evaluation of linear, areal and relief aspects of morphometric parameters. The study reveals that the terrain exhibits dentritic and trellis pattern of drainage. The Chalakudi River Basin has a total area of 1,448.73 km2 and is designated as seventh-order basin. The drainage density of the basin is estimated as 2.54 and the lower-order streams mostly dominate the basin. The high basin relief indicates high runoff and sediment transport. The elongation ratio of the Chalakudi Basin is estimated as 0.48 and indicates that the shape of the basin is elongated. The development of stream segments in the basin area is more or less effected by rainfall. Relief ratio indicates that the discharge capability of watershed is very high and the groundwater potential is meagre. The low value of drainage density in spite of mountainous relief indicates that the area is covered by dense vegetation and resistant rocks permeated by fractures and joints. These studies are helpful in watershed development planning and wise utilization of natural resources.

GUIDED PUMP-AS-TURBINE: DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT FOR PICO-LEVEL ENERGY GENERATION

The Project- “Guided Pump as Turbine” aims to further research in the field of Pico Hydel Projects. This has been accomplished by building a prototype “Pump as Turbine” apparatus consisting of a centrifugal pump running as turbine to generate power. Along with these apparatus the centrifugal pump is converted to guided-pump where stator is appropriately introduced into the system. The purpose of this is to enhance the efficiency of the system. The project holds tremendous benefit by way of providing power/electricity to small communities dwelling in regions having potential for pico-scale hydel power exploitation. The development of the prototype is accomplished under a controlled environment. Head availability and the flow rate are the two measures against which it is optimized. Furthermore, the effect of introducing guide vanes, hitherto unknown, was investigated and analyzed. Analysis was done first on power and efficiency of produced by technology and then on a dimensionless basis to facilitate scaling up/down of PAT capacity for further research. The project has accomplished a detailed analysis of the characteristics of a pump running as a turbine, over a variety of conditions, with and without guide vanes.

Risk sharing in hydropower development: case study of the Chukha Hydel Project in Bhutan

The Himalayan rivers have an enormous hydropower potential that is still not exploited fully for the benefit of the region. Bhutan and Nepal together have an economically feasible potential of 60,000 MW of hydroelectric power generation capacity but are too weak financially to bear the risks associated with the development of their hydro resources alone. India is the only potential market for the electricity supplied from these sources. The power purchase agreement framework for the 336 MW Chukha Hydel Project in Bhutan could serve as a model for the transfer of risks, management of risks and sourcing of finance in exchange for sharing the economic rents associated with such projects. India undertook the costs and risks of constructing the hydroelectric dam and power plant in exchange for a reduced purchase price of electricity from the completed facility. This paper contains a financial and economic assessment of the Chukha Hydel Project. While India is in a position to exercise monopsonic power in this electricity market, this analysis shows that it is possible to have an agreement for sharing the risks and returns between India and the Himalayan countries that is highly beneficial to all the stakeholders.

Development as Erasure and The Politics of Protest: A Study of the Lepcha Protest Against Dzongu Hydel Project in North Sikkim

This study analyses the conflict surrounding the construction of hydropower projects along the Teesta River valley in (Dzongu area) in North Sikkim. In particular, the work examines various repertoires of resistance employed by the ACT (Affected Citizens of Teesta in general and the indigenous Lepcha Community in particular against the construction of dams in the Dzongu region in Sikkim. Various spaces, particularly cultural, ecological, and political erasure are endangered by the construction of dams across Teesta and the ACT articulates resistance, and engages in constructive development alternatives, in each of these spaces. The discursive articulations of resistance provide a crucial counterpoint to material expressions of struggle. Discursive resistance takes the form of academic analyses and tribal testimonials. Utilizing Warren's concept of testimonials, which has been used by Paul Routledge in his analysis of the Narmada struggle, the study argues that movement identity articulates a unity that effaces internal difference, contradiction, and ambiguity. The paper concludes with some thoughts on the role of academics in highlighting such ambiguities, in the context of collaboration with social movements.

Handling the blockades while excavating the surge shaft at Tala Hydroelectric Project

Every component in a hydel project is an important element. Delay in any one component will affect the project time and cost equally. Excavation of surge shaft is one such component which happens to be the most critical as it involves multiple stages for its completion. This operation as such is slow, difficult and if it encounters adverse geology the operation puts the entire project on the critical path. This paper discusses in detail the problems encountered during the entire excavation of a surge shaft for a 1020 MW hydel project in Himalayan geology with special reference to the blockades. It deals with the methods adopted to clear the chokes at various stages of excavation and to achieve the accelerated progress by full face blasting.

Constitutive equations for 3-D anisotropy in jointed rocks and its effect on tunnel closure

Joints occurring in regular sets not only make the rock mass more deformable but also induce anisotropy in it. The rock mass has a special anisotropy in which the shear modulus is very low compared to its modulus of deformation. The assessment of the anisotropic deformational behaviour of the jointed rock thus becomes an important aspect in tunnel design. The constitutive equations for elastic-anisotropic-dilatant rock mass have been suggested in order to compute the strains for the following situations: * Plane strain deformations under a uniaxial loading condition, * Plane strain deformations under a biaxial loading condition, * 3-D deformations under a triaxial loading condition. The rock mass may have any number of joint sets with representative values of normal stiffness kn, shear stiffness ks and the joint spacing S. The dilation of the joints is considered through the dilatancy factor λ. An approximate method is proposed to assess the tunnel closure in different directions. The equations derived are applied to estimate the closure of the tail race tunnel of Salal Hydel Project Stage-II (India). The tunnel is aligned through a single litho unit of dolomite rocks and three joint sets with dip and dip directions of 53/340, 25/180 and 75/090° traverse through the rock. The computed horizontal closure of the tunnel wall is compared with the observed closure and the value of the parameter λ is adjusted to match the results. After calibration, the model is used for parametric analysis to observe how the tunnel closure responds to the variation in in situ stresses. It is concluded that the tunnel closure is highly anisotropic (Fig. 1) and all the three principal stress components have a significant effect on the tunnel closure. The proposed method may be used to analyse anisotropy of tunnel closure which can then be monitored by instrumentation carefully, so that one is able to record the maximum closure.

Potential and Prospects of Solar Energy in Uttara Kannada, District of Karnataka State, India

Solar energy can meet a large variety of the small-scale decentralized energy needs of a region. The design of solar devices depends on the global and diffuse solar radiation data. Estimation of solar radiation for Uttara Kannada district is done on the basis of solar and other climatological data available at stations located at Karwar, Honnavar, Shirali, Mangalore, and Goa. A variety of empirical equations for estimating monthly global solar radiation exist in the solar energy literature. The most commonly used empirical formula is the one that relates sunshine duration and global radiation, also referred to as Angstrom's equation. We have used this relationship to estimate global radiation based on 20 years of data at Mangalore and 25 years of data at Goa provided by the India Meteorological Department. It is seen that computed and measured values (actual values) of global radiation (GR) agree within the range of 2–5% for most months. Data at Goa and Mangalore have been analyzed in order to improve accuracy and to establish the role of other climatological parameters, such as mean daily temperature, relative humidity, specific humidity, minimum and maximum temperature, and rainfall. Based on the R2 value and the least value of the standard error of the Y estimate, the empirical formula consisting of mean temperature, sunshine duration, and specific humidity is the best relationship to estimate GR with the available climatological information. The computed and estimated values are within the range ± 5%. With this empirical relationship, GR is estimated (kWh/m2) for Karwar (with 37 years of climatological data), Honnavar (with 50 years of climatological data), and Bhatkal (Shirali, with 15 years of climatological data). Karwar has a GR range of 5·5–6·5 for January-May and is in the range of 4–5 during the monsoon months, July-September, while at Honnavar the GR range during January-May is 5·47–6·5 and is minimum during the monsoon months. Thus this study, covering five locations of the coastal bell of the western Ghats region, demonstrates that good solar energy potential is available in this region during most months of the year. The amount of solar energy that could be harnessed by utilizing 5% of the present wasteland in coastal taluks as a solar collector area, is found to be of the order of 95·72 million units (mkWh) annually from the coastal belt of the Uttara Kannada district alone. That means the solar energy can meet at least 32·5% of the present electriciry demand of Uttara Kannah. This study suggests that solar conversion technologies have considerable potential for application, provided that questions of storage and the monsoon season requirement can be adequately addressed through other options. The abundance of solar re- sources can be illustrated by comparing the land requirements of solar projects (thermal or photovoltaic) with those of hydro or energy plantation projects. kept for run-of-river projects and for high head sites in deep gorges, the land requirements for hydel projects at today 5 conversion efficiencies average around 25–45 times that required for solarprojects. This means that solar energy is capable of supplying 5–10 times the electricity demand of Karnataka State while occupying a land area less than that currently used by hydel projects.