14 Basics of Hydropower Technology

▪ Pelton Turbine: Suitable for high head (50 to over

1,600 meters), low flow

applications. Uses water jets to turn the turbine, making it

ideal for mountainous regions.

▪ Francis Turbine: Commonly used in medium to high head (20 to 700 meters) applications. It's versatile and efficient, suitable for a wide

range of flow conditions.

▪ Kaplan Turbine: Designed for low head (2 to 70 meters) and high flow

applications. It's adjustable, making it efficient in varying

flow conditions.

▪ Bulb Turbine: Specifically designed for low-head and high-

flow conditions with a horizontal shaft. Generator is housed

in a watertight casing, known as the “bulb

Essential for converting the slow rotation speed of turbines into the higher speeds required by generators.

Planetary Gearboxes

Helical and Bevel Gearboxes

Parallel Shaft Gearboxes

• Water Levels and Flow Rates

• Turbine Operation

• Gate and Valve Control

• Real-Time Data and SCADA Systems

• Environmental and Safety Protocols

• Water Level Sensors

• Flow Control Devices

• Control Strategies

  1. Automatic Regulation: Automatically adjust the turbine settings based on real-time data from sensors

  2. Load Matching: One of the primary goals is to match the load on the turbines with the available river

  flow. This means adjusting the turbine output to take full advantage of the water available

  3. Predictive Control: Some systems use model predictive control (MPC) techniques. Predict future river

  flows and adjust operations in advance to optimize efficiency and stability