HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN SATLUJ RIVER BASIN .

Abstract

Satluj river, a major tributary to river Indus, has its source in the Himalayan range in Tibet. The hydropower potential of Satluj river basin is to the tune of 9500 MW, out of . this only 1200 MW has been harnessed, and projects for 2800 MW are under construction. The river is snow fed. It carries considerable amount of flow and sediment, during summer and monsoon months. The sediment load is only a fraction of a g/l during low flows, but increases to an average of 10-12 g/l in high flow period. The peak values are far above this figure. Due to distinct V-shape valley characteristics of Satluj river, only run-of-the river schemes with a small dam/barrage for diversion of water are possible, except a few storage schemes at the foothills. In such diversion schemes silted water passes through turbines and damage underwater parts and other equipments. It is therefore imperative to provide suitable desilting arrangements. At present desilting basins are designed to exclude particles larger than certain size depending upon the head on the turbine and experience of the designer. But now with high head developments, the fraction size of the silt to be removed becomes small resulting in large size basins. Some times these basins cost more than the diversion works itself. Hence, there is a need for the optimisation of the size of silt to be removed taking in to account the repair and maintenance cost of the turbine....