S. B.

Patil College of engineering, indapur

Visit Report
On

Bhira Hydropower Plant,

Patnus, Dist-Raigad
(Date of Visit: 26/09/2019)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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 We all express our sincere thanks to our teacher Mr. U. S. Gawande, Mr. P.
R. Admile and Ms. S. M. Baral for guiding us right from the inception till the
successful completion of the BHIRA HYDRO POWER PLANT, PATNUS visit.
We sincerely acknowledge our faculty for extending their valuable guidance and
support during our visit and they provided all moral support to us with all stages at
the time of visit.

We would also like to thank the Principal, Dr P. D. Nemade Sir and our HOD
Prof N. T. suryawanshi Sir for giving us permission for the visit.

Last but not least we are greatly thankful to management of our SBPCOE, Indapur

1. INTRODUCTION OF BHIRA HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

PLANT:
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 Bhira Hydroelectric Project is an electricity generating complex in
Bhira, Maharashtra state, India. It generates power using water from the nearby Mulshi
Dam. Bhira lies approximately 150 km from Mumbai. Its construction was completed in
1927.

The plant's maximum output capacity is nominally 300 MW, generated by six 25
MW Pelton turbines and a 150 MW pumped storage generator added in 1997. In 2014
two 10 kW microturbine units were added to generate further power from
the tailrace after the main turbines.

2. BASIC PRINCIPLE OF HYDRO POWER PLANT:-

In hydroelectric power plants the potential energy of water due to its high location is
converted into electrical energy. The total power generation capacity of the hydroelectric
power plants depends on the head of water and volume of water flowing towards the
water turbine.

The hydroelectric power plant, also called as Dam or Hydropower plant, is used for
generation of electricity from water on large scale basis. The dam is built across the large
river that has sufficient quantity of water throughout the river. In certain cases where the
river is very large, more than one dam can built across the river at different locations.

The water flowing in the river possesses two type of energy: The Kinetic energy due to
flow of water and The Potential energy due to the height of water. In hydroelectric power
and potential energy of water is utilized to generate electricity.

The formula for total power that can be generated from water in hydroelectric power
plant due to its height is given,

P = r*h*g

Where, P = Total power that can be produced in Watts.

r = Flow rate of water measured in Cubic meters per second.

h = It is difference in height between the source of water (from where water is

taken)and the water’s outflow (where the water is used to generate electricity, it is
the place near the turbines).

g = Gravity Constant = 9.81 meter per second sq.

The formula clearly shows that the total power that can be generated from the
hydroelectric power plants depends on two major factors, the flow rate of water or
volume of flow of water and height or head of water.

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 More the volume of water and more the head of water more is the power produced in the
hydroelectric power plant. To obtain the high head of water the reservoir of water should
as high as possible and power generation unit should be as low as possible. The
maximum height of reservoir of water is fixed by natural factors like the
heightofriverbed, the amount of water and other environmental factors.

3. SITE SELECTION FOR HYDRO POWER PLANT:-

Some point that should be given importance while selecting a site for Hydro-electric
power station is given below.

1) Availability of Water:-

 Since the primary requirement for a hydroelectric power station, is the availability of
huge amount of water such plants should be built at a place (e.g.river, canal) where
adequate water is available at a good head.

2) Storage of Water:-

 There are wide variations in water supply from a river or canal during the year. This
makes its necessary to store water by constructing a dam in order to ensure the generation
of power throughout the year. The storage helps in equalizing the flow of water so that
any excess quantity of water at a certain period of the year can be made available during
times of very low flow in the river.

3) Cost and Type of Land:-

 The land for the construction of plant should be available at a reasonable price.Further,
the bearing capacity of the soil should be adequate to withstand the installation of heavy
equipment.

4) Transportation Facilities:-

 The site selected for the hydro-electric plant should be accessible by rail and road so that
necessary equipment and machinery could be easily transported.

It is clear from the above mentioned factors that ideal choice of site for such a plant is
near a river in hilly areas where dam can be conveniently built and large reservoirs can be
obtained.
4. MAIN PARTS OF HYDRO POWER PLANT:-

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 Flow Chart of Hydro Power Plant

1) Catchment area:-

 The whole area behind the dam draining into streak or river across which
the dam is been built at a suitable space is called catchment area.

2) Reservoir: -
 The reservoir is employed to stored water, which is further utilizes to
generate power. It may be generally of two types.
a) Natural (e.g. UJANI DAM)
b) Artificial (Dam)
 Water is held in upstream reservoir is called storage & behind a dam at a
plant is called pond age.

3) Dam: -
 A dam is a barrier to confine or raise water for storage or diversion to
create a hydraulic head. Dams are generally built are concrete for stone
masonry, earth or rock fill or timber.

4) Spillways: -
 The rise of water level beyond the limit endangers the stability of dam
structure. To relieve reservoir of the excess of after contribution, a
structure is provided in the body of dam or near the dam or on the
periphery of basin .This safeguarding structure is called spillway.

5) Conduits: -
 Conduits are just simple channels of water that is they carry water from
the turbine. They may be open like canals or closed like penstocks, tunnels
and pipelines.

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6) Surge tanks: -
 A surge tank is a small reservoir or tank in which water level rises or falls
to reduce the pressure swings so that they are not transmitted in full to a
closed circuits.

7) Draft tubes: -
 The draft tube is a conduit, which connects the runner exit to the tailrace.

8) Penstock:-
 From the intake work are fore bay water is taken to the turbine by a
conduit system is known as penstock. There are two type of penstock.
(a) Low Pressure
(b) High Pressure
 High pressure penstock consists of channels or a pipe. Low penstock
consists of a steel pipe which can take water under pressure.

5. WORKING OF HYDRO POWER PLANT:-

A hydroelectric dam converts potential energy (and/or kinetic energy) to electrical energy
by means of a turbine and alternator.

A typical hydroelectric dam has the following main parts:

 Water reservoir: A large quantity of water is stored in a reservoir (or dam). The
height or depth of the stored water determines how much electricity can be generated.
As the depth increases, the generation of electricity also increases.

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  Gate: A control gate is used for releasing/blocking water from the dam. Depending
upon the electricity requirements, the gate is opened.

 Penstock: The released water from the dam reaches the turbine blade through the
penstock. The proper slope and diameter of the penstock is important for the
efficiency of the dam.

 Turbine: The turbine consists of a number of large fan blades and a spindle. The
spindle rotates when water strikes the blades. Thus the power of flowing water is
converted to the rotational power of the spindle.

 Alternator: The spindle of the turbine is connected to the alternator, where rotational
power of the spindle is converted into electrical power. The produced electricity is
then distributed to the grid.

 River: The outflow of water from the turbine is released to a river.

6. MAIN FEATURES OF BHIRA HYDRO POWER PLANT:-

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 8. ADVANTAGES OF HYDRO POWER PLANT:-
 No fuel charges.

 Running cost almost nil.

 No stand by losses.

 Highly reliable.

 Efficiency does not decrease with time.

 Construction and operation wise very simple.

 Maintenance cost very less.

 Starts quickly and synchronizes fast.

 Minimum staff when plant is operational.

 No ash problems thus pollution frees.

 Also useful in flood control and irrigation and drinking water purpose.

 Comparatively quiet long life.

9. DISADVANTAGES OF HYDRO POWER PLANT:-

 Higher initial cost.

 Takes long time of erection.

 Plants are setup at distant places so transmission losses increase.

 Totally dependent on the availability of water.

 Larger area required.

 Period of installation time is high.

10. CONCLUSION:-
 Hydro is a flexible source of electricity since plants can be ramped up and down very
quickly to adapt to changing energy demands.
 The major advantage of hydroelectricity is elimination of the cost of fuel.
 Hydroelectric power stations that use dams would submerge large areas of land due to the
requirement of a reservoir.

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Bhira Hydro Power Station Snaps