Important Points of Large and Micro Hydro Power Plant
- Energy conservation means using energy more efficiently and less wastage of energy.
- Energy conservation requires new on going investments is more and more efficient equipment to replace old inefficient (creating losses) equipments at different stages of power generation in hydro-electric power plants.
- Conservation results lower cost per unit (kWH) generation of electricity.
- Generating stations are the energy conversion power stations.
- Hydrology : System related with water in termed as hydrology.
- Surface Run-off : It is that portion of precipitation which makes its way towards streams, lakes or oceans. Run-off can be possible only when the rate of precipitation exceeds the rate at which water infiltrates into the soil and after small and large depressions on the soil surface get filled up with water.
- Evaporation : It is the transfer of water from liquid to vapour state.
- The water surface in the reservoir is known as head-race level.
- Reservoir : It is required to store the water, which is used to run the turbine.
- Trash rack : It prevents entry of debris which might damage the wicket gates and turbine runners or may choke nozzles of impulse turbines.
- Forebay : It serves as a regulating reservoir.
- Surge tank : This is a tank provided near the turbine.
- Penstock : It is a pipe line of cast iron for taking water from the intake work and forebay to the turbines.
- Power house : It is generally located at the foot of the dam and near the reservoir.
- Prime mover : Prime movers convert the kinetic energy of water into mechanical energy.
- Tail race : The tail race is a water way to lead water discharged from the turbine to the river.
- The Kaplan turbines are reaction type turbines. They are also low.head turbines and hence for same output as that of Francis turbines they require large quantity of water.
- Surge Tank : It is built in between the beginning of penstocks and valve house.
- Base-load plants : These are the plants which operate to supply the load on the base portion of the load curve.
- Peak-load plants : Run-off river plants with pondage can be used as peak-load plants.