Introduction

Hydro Electric Power Plant

Flowing water is the major source of energy. The electricity produced by the
flowing water is known as hydro-electric power. A plant used to produce hydro-
electric power is known as hydro-electric power plant.

A dam or water reservoir is made of over a river. The energy of stored water in
the dam is potential energy. The water in a dam is allowed to fall on the water
wheel or turbines. As a result of this, the turbine rotates whose axle is connected
with the armature of the generator. The armature of the generator rotates within
two poles of a strong magnet. The rotation of the armature of the generator
between two poles of a strong magnet gives rise to electric current or electric
current or electricity. This electricity is transmitted to the sub-stations through a
transformer for further distribution to the houses and factories.
Principle of Generation of Hydroelectricity
Potential energy of water stored in a dam is converted into kinetic energy of the
falling water. The water falls on the turbines, so kinetic energy of the flowing
water is converted into kinetic energy of the armature of the generator
connected to the turbine. Then kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy
known as hydroelectricity.

The most commonly used method of production of electricity from hydropower is

by dams, which are constructed across the large rivers. The large quantities of
water from river are diverted by pipelines also called as penstock, towards the
main plant where large turbines are located. The water from penstock is allowed
to fall on the large turbine blades that start rotating. The shaft of the turbine
rotates in the electric generators where electricity is generated. This electricity is
then passed to the transformers from where it is connected to the main national
grid.

The water leaving the turbine flows back to the river at the lower levels. In almost
all the plants where water is used to generate electricity, the motion of water is
used to rotate the turbine which generates the electricity in the generators and
the water flows back to the river or ocean.The electricity via power lines is
transferred to substation which provides it to the consumers.

Generating Method
Conventional (dams):

Most hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of dammed water
driving a water turbine and generator. The power extracted from the water
depends on the volume and on the difference in height between the source and
waters outflow. This height difference is called the head. A large pipe(the
penstock) delivers water to the turbine.

Pumped-Storage:

This method produces electricity to supply high peak demand by moving water
between reservoirs. The method stores energy in the form of gravitational
potential energy of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher
elevation. Low-cost off-peak electric power is used to run the pumps. During
periods of high electrical demand, the stored water is released
through turbines to produce electric power.

Run Of River:

Run of the river hydroelectric stations are those with small or no reservoirs
capacity, so that water coming from upstream must be used for generation at
that moment, or must be allowed to bypass the dam. In the Nepal; run of the
river is the most common type of generation of hydroelectricity generation.

Tide:

Tidal energy is produced through the use of tidal energy generators. These large
underwater turbines are placed in areas with high tidal movements, and are
designed to capture the kinetic motion of the ebbing and surging of ocean tides in
order to produce electricity.

Advantages of Hydropower:
Fuel is not burned so there is not much pollution.
Water to run the power plant is produced free by nature.
Relatively low operations and maintenance.
It is suitable for industrial applications.
It is a cheap renewable source of energy.
The hydroelectricity power plant can be setup anywhere at a suitable place.
Emission of CO2 is controlled.

Disadvantages of Hydropower:
 High investment costs.
Destruction of aquatic ecosystem may occur during the construction of
dam.
In some cases displacement of population may happen.
Dams and rivers collect water for the production of electricity which alters
the natural system of water flow thus depriving houses of the water they
need.
Making dams on rivers affect the amount, quality and temperature of
water that flow in streams which has drastic effects on agriculture and
drinking water.
Flooding of large areas of land will occur due to construction of dams which
means that the natural environment is destroyed.

Applications of Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity can be used in industries to operate various machines.

Hydroelectricity can be used in transportation.
It can be used to irrigate agriculture land.
It can be used for various house hold purposes such as cooling, heating,
lighting etc.

Objectives:
The main objectives of our visit to SunKoshi hydropower plant were to have the
following ideas:

To gain practical knowledge about the working of the machinery used in

hydropower station and its principle.
To know about the features and capacity of SunKoshi hydropower station.
 To Know how water is circulated in order to generate electricity via
electrical generators
To observe the current situation of the Hydropower Plant, its locations and
difficulties.
To analyze the possibilities of the capacity to generate electricity.