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A hydroelectric plant is planned to be built by utilizing the waste water from the reservoir of 3.5
m3 / s, which flowed into a penstock with a diameter of 1600 mm and the thickness (e) 9 mm. As
you know, the more thick penstock then the price will also be more expensive.
Try to analyze whether the specifications of the pipe can still be revised, especially for the
thickness of pipe used, whether the thickness can be reduced to (e) 6 mm, thus decreasing the
cost of piping.
Existing data:
The material used is Mild steel ( rolled welded steel pipe)
The diameter of the pipe /penstock (Dp) = 1.6 m (1600 mm)
Pipe thickness (e) = 9 mm(which will be in the analysis)
Penstock length (Lp) = 66 m
Flow of water (Qp) = 3.5m3/det
High gross ( H gross) = 7.3 m
Head Loss (H loss)= 0.3 m
Net Head = 7 m
Water velocity in thepenstock (V) = 1.74 m / s
Efficiency of penstock (pipe eff) = H net / H gross * 100% = 96%
visc µ = 0.00114 kg / (m.det)
Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
K (bulk modulus of water) = 2.1*10^9 N/m2
ts (Tensile strength pipe) = 400 * 10^6 N/m2
E (modulus of elasticity) = 206 * 10^9 (N/m2)
In this design, penstock is used having a thickness (e) = 9 mm
Working pressure (P work) of the penstock (Mild steel )
The desired pressure of 1.5 * Gross Head (Hg)
Note: ...[3]
The addition of pressure on the penstock :
Head up to 50 m is not more 50%
Head of 50 to150 is no more than 25%
Head up to 250 m is not more 15%
Then :
Working pressure (P) = 1.5 * 7.3 = 10.95 m
= 1.5 * (7.3 / 10) = 1.095 kgf/cm2 (Bars)
= 1.095 kg/cm2 *10000 cm2/m2 * 9.81 m/s2
= 107,419 N/m2 (pascal)
= 107,419 N/m2 * (kN/1000N) * (m2/1000000 mm2)
= 0.000107419 kN/mm2
The impact of pipe handling in transportation, laying, deformation, etc., it is necessary to add
more rapidly the penstock thickness (in the wills of 3 mm). So thick of penstock (e) is = 3+3.21=
6.21 mm, the thickness of the penstock taken at least 6 mm (see the availability of the
thickness of the penstock in the market)
At wills:
% Closure of the valve flow (z) = 50%
With the closing time (T close) = 4 seconds (fast enough)
Corrosion allowed (es) = 3 mm
Overall safety factor (SF) =4
Calculation:
The speed of water waves:
C wave = [(10^ (-3)* K) / (1 + (K* Dp / E* e)]^ (0.5) ...[2]
where:
K = bulk modulus of water 2.1x10^ 9 N/m2
E = modulus of elasticity of pipe material 206 * 10^9 (N/m2)
D = pipe diameter 1600 mm
e = wall thickness 6 mm
L = length of pipe, 66 m
By entering values:
C.wave = [(10^(-3)* 2.1*10^9) / (1 + (2.1*10^9 x 1600 / (206 * 10^9 * 6)] ^0.5
= 751.5 m / s
Critical closing time of the penstock (Tc)
The time it takes the pressure wave (pressure wave) to return again to the valve after the
sudden closure, known as the critical time.
Tc = 2 L / C...[2]
= 2 x 66 m / 751.5 m / s.
= 0.716 seconds
T.Close (4 sec)> Tc (0.716 sec)... [4]
For a Total Head ( H.total ) of 11.37 m , the required minimum thicknessof the penstock (e)
e = (H.total * Dp * SF / 83700) + es
= (11.37 m * 1600 mm * 4 / 83700) + 3 mm
= 3, 87 mm ( penstock with a thickness of 6 mm is adequate)
Ref :
1. AHEC/MNRE/SHP Standards/ Civil Works – Guidelines For Layout Of Small
Hydro Plants /Feb 2008. (p-77)
2. ESHA (European Small Hydropower Association),”Layman’s Handbook on How
To Develop a
Small Hydro Site,”2nd ed, 1998 (p-144/145)
3. Patty O.F., Tenaga Air, Erlangga, Jakarta1995 (p-62/64)
4. STEEL PENSTOCK LOSSES & THICKNESS CALCULATION (p-1)
http://www.energyservices.lk/pdf/techspecs/vh_w_b/pensteel.pdf