CADD PACKAGE FOR PENSTOCK AND THEIR SUPPORTS FOR MINI-HYDEL PROJECT

Abstract

The development of Mini-Hydro Power around the world is on increase. In India also the capacity addition based on small/Mini Hydel projects is picking up satisfactorily. The reason behind this is that, Mini-Hydro represents the most sustainable energy option, which is environmentally benign and ecologically sound. The Mini-Hydel schemes can be successfully taken up by using standard design of civil structures. Penstock, with its supports, constitutes one of the important elements of the Mini-Hydel Power Project. Penstocks are basically designed for internal pressure, including the effect of water hammer. In addition, the bending effects and local stresses at supports are also taken into consideration. Supports for the penstock are of two types, Anchors and Saddles. Saddles are provided at straight reaches at certain spacing. They are subjected to loads only due to the weight of penstock, and water contained in it. Anchor blocks are provided at all vertical and horizontal bends of the penstock. They, in addition to the above forces, are subjected to forces due to expansion and contraction of pipe, dynamic force due to flow of water etc. Both of these supports are checked (i) for stability against overturning and sliding, and (ii) for the base pressure, under different conditions, and various load combinations. In this dissertation, a CADD package has been developed for design of the penstock alongwith its supports. The package is user friendly and can be used almost for all cases. It may therefore be very useful tool for the civil engineering design of Mini-Hydel Projects.