CHALLENGES IN DEWATERING SYSTEM OF FOUNDATION GALLERY AND MAINTENANCE OF HYDRO MECHANICAL EQUIPMENTS OF RENGALI DAM

Abstract

In a concrete/masonry dam water seepage takes place in its foundation gallery which needs to be pumped out though pipe line to the downstream of dam. This water from reservoir which seeps through the concrete and masonry structure of the dam to the foundation gallery picks up high amount of calcium and magnesium salts on its way. This water when pumped out to the down stream of the dam deposits scales heavily on surfaces of equipment and pipes used for pumping. The scale formation is so severe that the whole network of pipelines and pump needs cleaning regularly. The water circuit needs cleaning of pumps every week and pipelines every month. This poses severe maintenance and equipment failure problems including shortening of the life span of the equipment and pipelines. The Dam needs maintenance from the day one of its completion. The 1-lydro mechanical Equipments are other important parts of the Dam; without this the operation of the dam is impossible. As the time passes all the hydro mechanical equipments used become old and start detorating. They need maintenance at regular Interval. A search of the literature regarding the calcium scale deposits from hard water and maintenance of hydro mechanical equipments indicates that many technologies and processes are available to tackle the menace of scale formation and to increase the life span of hydro mechanical equipments In the present work an attempt has been taken to scrutinize the suitability of technologies and processes for pumping of calcium laden water from the foundation gallery of Rengali Dam, Odisha. The work with justification selects a suitable technology for this purpose and carries out the techno-economic feasibility study of it.