Abstract:
One of the basic components of any hydropower plant is hydro turbine. Model test studies
are performed before installation of hydro turbines. Many a times, the efficiency of the
hydro-turbine gets reduced with the aging of the turbine and reduced efficiency of various
associated components. Hence, its actual performance is evaluated in the field.
In the present dissertation work, an attempt has been made to study the performance of
various components of a hydropower station. The performance of hydro turbine, which is the
core component of any hydropower plant, is discussed in detail. Finally, the approach for
performance evaluation of hydro turbine in the field has been discussed and presented in the
dissertation.
As there is no standard method available to evaluate the overall performance of hydroelectric
generating units, several new concepts for evaluating the performance of hydroelectric
generating units, such as ideal performance, reachable performance, operational
performance, overall efficiency, index of efficiency maintenance, index of operational
efficiency, have been defined and established. In this study, absolute efficiency method has
been adopted for performance evaluation of hydro turbine.
Performance tests are carried out for acceptance of new hydroelectric units for the grant of
subsidy. The standard IEC 41 provides the detail guidelines for the measurement of different
parameters used for the evaluation of hydro turbines.
The performance evaluation of Brua Small Hydropower Plant at Kinnaur district, Himachal
Pradesh has been carried out and results are discussed and presented in the dissertation. The
performance evaluation of other hydro turbines can be attempted on similar lines.
