LECTURE NOTES IX

HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS

Prof. Dr. Atl BULU

Istanbul Technical University

College of Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering Department
Hydraulics Division
 Chapter 9

Hydrodynamic Requirements of Intake Design

In designing the general layout of intake structures, the choice of correct intake direction, i.e.
of the angle enclosed by the outside wall and the original direction of flow is very important.

Figure Flow pattern at diversion at sharp angle

The angle of inflow varies with the ratio of the diverted discharge to the original. If the ratio
of the diverted discharge to the original is small, the angle of diversion will be small, while
any increase in the diverted discharge, the angle of diversion will also be wider. The
following general rule can be established: in designing intake structures, the inflow angle
occurring at times of relatively small discharges should be followed.

Q
= f c
Qf

Figure

1 Prof. Dr. Atl BULU

Qc = Canal discharge,
Qf = Remaining discharge in the watercourse.

Qc
= 0.20 0.30 = 200 - 300
Qf
Qc
= 1 .0 = 450 - 600
Qf

The diverted discharge is conveyed by a cross-section of width B in the watercourse having a

total width B0.

b
B = A C tan =
cos

b = Width of the canal,

= Angle of diversion,
Qc = Discharge in the power canal.
Qc = Bq f = bqc
b qf
cos = =
B qc

In case of intake from a reservoir, Vf 0, qf 0,

cos = 0 = 900

The greater the velocity Vf and the discharge qf, the smaller the angle of diversion is required.

The expression derived by D.Y. Sokolov, corrected angle of diversion,

h hc q f
cos = 1 f
h q
f c

bc
= = Coefficient of contraction at the entrance to the intake canal,
b
hf = Water depth in the river,

hc = Water depth in the power canal.

bc = Contracted width of flow in diversion canal.

Model tests are recommended.

The required area of the inlet section is computed from,

2 Prof. Dr. Atl BULU

 Qp
A=
V

Where the mean inflow velocity is assumed as, V = 0.8 1.2 m/sec.

Intake Headlosses

1. Entrance Loss

Entrance losses are due to two phenomena;

a) Velocity Vf of the flow above the intake site changes to the value V in the inlet
section,
b) Sudden contraction of the cross-section causes headloss.

Figure

Maximum entrance loss is,

V2 V f2
he = 1.3
2g 2g

Factor varies from 0.8 to 0.4 depending on the intake angle . The greater values can be
assumed in case of intakes under a sharp angle (~300) while the smaller ones are applicable in
case of rectangular diversions.

In case of intake from a reservoir, Vf 0,

V2
he = 1.3
2g

3 Prof. Dr. Atl BULU

In case of a sharp angle diversion and for V Vf, the minimum value,

V2
he 0.5
2g

2) Rack (Screen) Losses

For computation of rack losses, O. Kirschmer`s equation may be used.

43
s V2
hr = sin
b 2g

s = Width of rack (screen) bars, in m (or cm),

b = Spacing (clearance) between bars, in m (or cm),
V = Velocity of flow in front of the screen (m/sec),
= Angle of bars with the horizontal.

Figure

Values of factor for different bar cross-sections;

Cross-section
a 2.42
b 1.83
c 1.67
d 1.03
e 0.92
f 0.76
g 1.79

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Example: Calculate the resistance of a screen with an inclination of 750, where the thickness
of bars s = 6.2 mm, the spacing between the bars b = 19.2 mm. The bars are of rectangular
cross-section. Velocity of flow in front of the bars is V = 1.15 m/sec.

Solution:
43
s V2
hr = sin
b 2g
43
6.2 1.152
hr = 2.42 sin 750
19.2 19.62
hr = 0.0349m 3.50cm

5 Prof. Dr. Atl BULU