Design of Hydroelectric Power Plants – Step by Step

Geraldo Magela Pereira

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9780367751722
• eBook ISBN: 9781000390698
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Civil Engineering

The design of a hydroelectric plant, along with an installation of transformation of potential energy of water into electricity, is an activity that is not standardized. Each new project is an interesting engineering challenge, and teams need to work in different conditions of each site, integrated to design a functional, economical and environmentally sustainable project. The development of a project, here understood as the plant itself, the reservoir, the maneuver substation and the associated transmission line, is a multidisciplinary activity that encompasses areas of civil engineering, geology, mechanical and electrical engineering, environmental engineering, economic engineering, construction and assembly, and the engineering of operation and maintenance of civil works and electromechanical equipment. The book is organized to facilitate the performance of professional life of the new generations of engineers who will join the Electric Sector, or in other sectors that demand the knowledge regarding hydraulic structures. The book is a simple manual providing the practical step-by-step procedure for designing hydroelectric plants, including legislation, with a general view of the project.

Chapter 1

Hydroelectric powerplants

DOI: 10.1201/9781003161325-1

1.1 Introduction

This book presents the methodology for the Hydroelectric Power Plants Design, Step by Step (HPPs). The first edition was published in Brazil in 2015. It was written to fill a gap in this type of bibliography, aiming to reach young engineers at the beginning of their careers.

In this English version, the author sought to observe the ICOLD’s recommendations for these projects. The author has 50 years of experience in hydroelectric projects in Brazil, that has a great hydrographic network with several HPPs installed (100 GW). One of the projects in which the author participated was the Tucuruí HPP in the Tocantins river, 8.085 MW, which will be one of those to be explored in the book. In spite of this fact, it will be seen in this book that Brazil still has a large and attractive hydroelectric potential. This yet to be explored potential is environmentally sustainable and was estimated at 162 GW, a considerable value anywhere in the world.

The basic concepts of the several disciplines involved, namely, cartography, hydrology, hydraulics, geology, geotechnics and environmental, are out of the scope of the book. As a principle, it is understood that they must be known by the technical who should use the book, each one in their respective area, as well as by construction engineers.

It must be emphasized that the interaction in harmony between all the specialists involved in these projects, designers, suppliers, builders and assemblers, is fundamental to the successful implementation of the enterprises.

After these considerations, it should be noted that several acronyms, which make up a particular section at the beginning of the book, are used in the text to simplify it. Some of the examples are as follows:

• ICOLD, International Commission on Large Dams;
• BCOLD, Brazilian Committee on Dams;
• HPP, Hydroelectric Power Plant;
• WL, Water Level; WLres, Reservoir Water Level; WLmax, Maximum Water Level; TW, Tailwater Level;
• HDC, Hydraulic Design Criteria;
• EPC, Engineering, Procurement and Construction; etc.

1.2 The History

Although the earth and the solar system originated 4.6 billion years ago, it was only during the Holocene period of the Quaternary era, 10,000 years ago, that humans developed agriculture in the hills of Syria and Iraq. Dams have served people for at least 5,000 years, as evidenced by the cradles of civilization, in Babylonia, Egypt, India, Persia and Far East. The remains of these ancient structures exist in both the old and the new worlds, marking the attainments of societies which have long disappeared.

Many of the outstanding waterworks of antiquity declined into disuse because the knowledge of their designers and builders was not preserved by the generations who inherited them. And without water, the civilizations which it had supported faded away (Jansen, 1983).

Table 1.1 presents a chronology of water knowledge. The ancient history of dams is not well known. Many dates before 1,000 BC can only be estimated. This is particularly true in ancient Egypt, whose peculiar chronology casts only a faint light on many dynasties and their engineering achievements.

Table 1.1 Chronology of Knowledge about Water (Mays, 1999)

Period	Type of use
Prehistoric	Springs
3rd to 2nd millennium BC	Cisterns
3rd millennium BC	Dams and wells
2nd millennium BC	Gravity flow supply pipes of channels and drains, pressure pipes
8th to 6th centuries BC	Lo...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• About the author
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Acronyms
• Symbols
• Greek symbols
• 1 Hydroelectric powerplants
• 2 Planning hydropower generation
• 3 Types of power plants and layouts
• 4 Hydrological studies
• 5 Power output
• 6 Geological and geotechnical studies
• 7 Dams
• 8 Spillways
• 9 Hydraulic conveyance design
• 10 Mechanical equipment
• 11 Electrical equipment: operation and maintenance
• 12 Construction planning
• 13 Risks and management of patrimony
• References
• Glossary
• Appendix: Chapter 3 – Additional examples of layouts
• Index