BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

GOLDEN GATE COLLEGES

Report Outline in

ELECTIVE 3

Hydroelectric Energy

PRESENTED TO:

Engr. Nestor C. Visaya

PRESENTED BY:

GROUP 1
Introduction

Hydroelectric energy, also called hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, is a form

of energy that harnesses the power of water in motion—such as water flowing over a
waterfall—to generate electricity. People have used this force for millennia. Over two
thousand years ago, people in Greece used flowing water to turn the wheel of their mill
to ground wheat into flour.

Objective

The objective is to study a hydroelectric plant utilizing optimal energy in the

water, with minimum submergence and economic costs, considering seasonal variation
in power generation to meet the region's demand during all seasons.

Significance of Hydroelectric Energy

 To gain more knowledge about the Hydro Electric Energy.

 To know the advantage and disadvantage of using Hydro Electric Energy.

 To help the environment to save more energy.

 Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines,

and other mechanically functioning equipment.

 Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as

centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.

Components of Hydroelectric Plant

 Dam - Most hydropower plants rely on a dam that holds back water, creating
a large reservoir.
 Intake - Gates on the dam open and gravity pulls the water through
the penstock, a pipeline that leads to the turbine. Water builds up pressure as it
flows through this pipe.
 Turbine - The water strikes and turns the large blades of a turbine, which is
attached to a generator above it by way of a shaft. The most common type of
turbine for hydropower plants is the Francis Turbine, which looks like a big disc
with curved blades. A turbine can weigh as much as 172 tons and turn at a rate
of 90 revolutions per minute (rpm), according to the Foundation for Water &
Energy Education (FWEE).
 Generators - As the turbine blades turn, so do a series of magnets inside the
generator. Giant magnets rotate past copper coils, producing alternating
current (AC) by moving electrons.
 Transformer - The transformer inside the powerhouse takes the AC and
converts it to higher-voltage current.
 Power lines - Out of every power plant come four wires: the three phases of
power being produced simultaneously plus a neutral or ground common to all
three
 Outflow - Used water is carried through pipelines, called tailraces, and re-
enters the river downstream.
The water in the reservoir is considered stored energy. When the gates open, the
water flowing through the penstock becomes kinetic energy because it's in motion. The
amount of electricity that is generated is determined by several factors. Two of those
factors are the volume of water flow and the amount of hydraulic head. The head
refers to the distance between the water surface and the turbines. As the head and flow
increase, so does the electricity generated. The head is usually dependent upon the
amount of water in the reservoir.

How It Works
  Most hydroelectric power plants have a reservoir of water, a gate or valve to
control how much water flows out of the reservoir, and an outlet or place where
the water ends up after flowing downward.

 Water gains potential energy just before it spills over the top of a dam or flows
down a hill. The potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as water flows
downhill.

 The water can be used to turn the blades of a turbine to generate electricity,
which is distributed to the power plant’s customers.

How it’s made

 Hydroelectric power generates about 10% of the nation’s energy.

 Flowing water creates energy that can be captured and turned into electricity.

 The most common type of hydroelectric power plant uses a dam on a river to

store water in a reservoir. Water released from the reservoir flows through a
turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity.
How it’s done

 Water gains potential energy just before it spills over the top of a dam or flows

down a hill.

 The potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as water flows downhill.

 The water can be used to turn the blades of a turbine to generate electricity,

which is distributed to the power plant's customers.

Advantages of Hydroelectric Energy

1. Renewable
Hydroelectric energy is renewable. This means that we cannot use up. However,
there’s only a limited number of suitable reservoirs where hydroelectric power
plants can be built and even less places where such projects are profitable.

2. Green
Generating electricity with hydro energy is not polluting itself. The only pollution
occurs during the construction of these massive power plants.
3. Reliable
Hydroelectricity is very reliable energy. There are very little fluctuations in terms
of the electric power that is being by the plants, unless a different output is
desired. Countries that have large resources of hydropower use hydroelectricity
as a base load energy source. As long as there is water in the magazines
electricity can be generated.

4. Flexible
As previously mentioned, adjusting water flow and output of electricity is easy. At
times where power consumption is low, water flow is reduced and the magazine
levels are being conserved for times when the power consumption is high.

5. Safe
Compared to among others fossil fuels and nuclear energy, hydroelectricity is
much safer. There is no fuel involved (other than water that is).

Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Energy

1. Environmental Consequences
The environmental consequences of hydropower are related to interventions in
nature due to damming of water, changed water flow and the construction of
roads and power lines.

Hydroelectric power plants may affect fish is a complex interaction between

numerous physical and biological factors. More user interests related to
exploitation of fish species, which helps that this is a field that many have strong
opinions on.

Fish habitats are shaped by physical factors such as water level, water velocity
and shelter opportunities and access to food. Draining would be completely
devastating to the fish. Beyond this, the amount of water may have different
effects on the fish in a river, depending on the type and stage of the life cycle.
Not all unregulated river systems are optimal in terms of fish production, because
of large fluctuations in flow.

2. Expensive
Building power plants in general is expensive. Hydroelectric power plants are not
an exception to this. On the other hand, these plants do not require a lot of
workers and maintenance costs are usually low.

3. Droughts
Electricity generation and energy prices are directly related to how much water is
available. A drought could potentially affect this.
4. Limited Reservoirs
We have already started using up suitable reservoirs for hydroelectric power
plants. There are currently about 30 major power plants that are expected to
generate more than 2.000 MW under construction. Only one of these projects
was started in the last two years.

References and Video Presentations:

https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/hydropower-plant1.htm

https://www.toppr.com/bytes/hydroelectric-energy/

http://www.wvic.com/content/how_hydropower_works.cfm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8HmRLCgDAI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnPEtwQtmGQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx6UfiEU3Q0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0axSL4tQYA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABv631t1OKI