Introduction

This report is aimed at trying to find out the approximate time it will take to fill up the drainage and
dewatering pits in the event that there was a grid blackout leading to the total loss of grid voltage and a
failure of the powerhouse emergency diesel generator starting to supply voltage to the essential board.

Preamble

During a national grid blackout with a total loss of grid voltage, there is a possibility of the emergency
diesel generator failing to start due to mechanical or electrical reasons. This will lead to a total loss of
power supply to the essential board where the drainage and dewatering motor pumps are connected.

There will be a continuous rise in the water levels in both drainage and dewatering pits beyond the
normal active volume.

The following information was gathered to find out the approximate time the pits would fill to full
capacity in the event that the motor pumps lacked power supply to maintain the pits at active volume.

Drainage Pit Capacity/Size

Pit surface area = 28 sq.mtrs

Drainage active volume = 42 cubic.meters

Bottom level of the pit 1061.5

Emergency Pump stop - 1 meter (1062.5)

All Pump stop - 1.2 meters (1062.7)

1st Pump start – 2.7 meters (1064.2)

Drainage pit pumps capacity

Sources of the leakages into the drainage pits

 Civil works infiltration = 36M3/hr

 Turbine water losses (head cover drainage) = (12.6 X 5) = 63M3/hr
 PAC Main filters flushing = (1 X 5) = 5M3/hr
 Common shaft seal filters flushing = 1M3/hr
 Shaft seal skid filters flushing = (0.5 X 5) = 2.5M3/hr

Total flow (min) = 107.5M3/hr

Scenario during a black out (sources reduce)

 Civil works infiltration = 36M3/hr

 Common shaft seal filters flushing = 1M3/hr

Total flow (min) = 37M3/hr

The common shaft seal filters backwash every after 45minutes

How much volume of water is discharged to the pits?

T f = Volume/flow rate

Volume = Area X Height

=28 X 2.9 M3

Therefore T f = Volume/flow rate

=81.2/(107.5)/60

=45 mins 7 sec

During black out

Tf = Volume/flow rate

=81.2/ (37)/60

=131 mins 41 sec

The civil works infiltrations and the common shaft seal filter flushing’s are slightly less than the above
approximate values, so in actual sense it would take more than 131 minutes to fill the drainage pits in
case of a total grid failure and a failure of the emergency diesel generator starting.