Topic : Hydrology, Run-off Measurement Instruments &

Site Analysis.

GROUP MEMBERS :
1. SHANKAR SHEGADE
2. DINESH PATIL
3. RAVEEN RAMANAN
4. MAHESH YENNAM
5. ASHISH SINGH
 Contents

 Introduction-Hydrology.
 Hydrological Cycle.
 Literature Review
 Runoff (Definition, Needs & Factors).
 Runoff Measurement Methods.
 Runoff measuring instruments.
 Factors considered for Site Analysis of Hydro-Electric
power plants.
 Case Study.
 Introduction
• The science of hydrology deals with the occurrence and distribution
of water over and above the earth’s surface.
• Hydrology is that branch of physical science, which deals with the
origin, distribution, and properties of water of the earth.
• It deals with the transportation of water through the air, over the
ground surface and through the earth strata.
• The knowledge of hydrology is of basic importance in all walks of life
that involve the use and supply of water for any purpose what so
ever.
• Therefore the knowledge of hydrology is not only useful in the field
of engineering, but also in agriculture, forestry and other branches
of natural sciences.
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
 A hydrological cycle involves the following processes :-

1) Precipitation (Rainfall, Snowfall, Dew & Mist).

It Varies by :-
a. Amount
b. Intensity
c. Form by Season
d. Geographic Location.
2) Interception (precipitation that does not reach the soil, but is instead intercepted by the
leaves and branches of plants and the forest floor).
3) Infiltration (It is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil).
Depends on :-
I. soil characteristics
II. Rainfall intensity.
4) Transpiration (process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial
parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers).
5) Evaporation
6) Condensation
7) Surface Run-off (flows over the land surface).
8) Sub-Surface Run-off (water that infiltrates in soil).
 Literature Review
SR. Authors & Year
NO
1. R. D. Stewart1, Z. Liu2, D. E.
Rupp3, C. W. Higgins2, and J.
S. Selker2. (2015)
2. Bhoumika Sahu1, Sanjiv
Kumar2 , Dhananjay Kumar
Sahu3 ,Brijesh patel4,Kalpit
P. Kaurase5. (2015)
3. Imran Ahmed, Siraj Y. Abed.
(2014)
4. Meenakshi Lohani. (2014)
5. T.S.Mehra1), N.I.Alvi1) ,
A.Rajasekhar1). (2007)
Title Conclusion
Instrument to measure The instrument is accurate low cost simple
plot-scale runoff. reliable and proper choice measuring runoff.
Performance of Should increase the use of renewable energy
Gangrel Hydroelectric sources and reduce the use of non-renewable
Power resources.
Plant.
A SIMULATION MODEL The model helped to identify the optimal
FOR STAGE –IV KOYNA values of different input parameters namely
HYDROPOWER PLANT head, flow rate & turbine efficiency which are
key elements to maximize power generation.
Impact of Landuse Groundwater harvesting is essential for
Change on Hydrology: the region. Rain water Harvesting
A Case Study of should be made mandatory for new
Gurgaon City. constructions.
Tawa Hydroelectric The encouraging performance shown by the
power plant. Tawa project itself set an example for inviting
private investment in the small Hydro Power
Project sector.
 Runoff

• The water available after hydrological process in the form of stream flows,
rivers, lakes, etc is known as Runoff.
Mathematical form,

Runoff(R) = Precipitation(P) – Losses(L)

Runoff(R) = Surface runoff + Subsurface runoff

 Need of Runoff

 Design of drains, canals & other channels.

 Prediction of water levels in streams & rivers.
 Storage for irrigation, power generation, river transport.

Factors affecting the runoff

 Rainfall Pattern.
 Character of catchment area.
 Hill slope.
 Vegetation.
 Weather condition.
 Geology of area.
 Run-Off Measurement Methods

 It can be measured by the following methods-

1. From rainfall records
Run-off over the catchment = rainfall x coefficient
2. Empirical formulae
a) Khosla’s formula
R = P - 4.811 T
R-Annual run-off in mm.
P-Annual rainfall in mm.
T-mean temperature in ˚C.
b) Inglis formula for areas of Maharashtra
For ghat region,
R = 0.88 P – 304.8
For plain region,
R = (P-177.8) x P / 2540
 c) Lacey’s formula
R = P / (1 + 3084 F / PS)
R = monsoon run-off in mm.
S = catchment area factor.
F = monsoon duration factor. Type of Value of S
P = monsoon rainfall in mm. catchment
Flat, cultivated & 0.25
Class of Value of F black cotton soils
monsoon
Flat, partly 0.6
Very short 0.50 cultivated, various
soils
Average 1.0
Standard length 1.00 catchment
Hills & place with 1.70
little cultivation
Very long 1.50 Very hilly & steep, 3.45
with hardly any
cultivation
3. Run-off curves
a. Hydrograph
(Discharge v/s Time(months) Graph)
 It indicates the power
available from the stream
at different times of day,
week, month or year

b. Flow duration curve

(Discharge v/s Time(%) Graph)
 Flow duration curves are
most useful for preliminary
studies and for comparison
between streams.
Mass Curve
Cumulative discharge v/s Time Graph.

4. Discharge observation method

 To find out the sub-surface run-off it is essential to separate the subsurface flow
from the total flow. The separation can be on an approximate basis but with
correct analysis.
 Runoff Measuring Instruments
• In field most commonly used devices for
measuring water runoff are-

1. Weirs
2. Pre shall flumes
3. Orifices
4. Meter gates.
1. Weirs:
Weirs are used to measure the flow of runoff; an irrigation channel or discharged
of a well or channel outlet at the source.
Discharge can be Summarised as:
Q = CLHn
where Q = flow rate of fluid
C = constant for structure
L = width of the crest
H = height of head of water over
the crest
n = varies with structure.

Types of weirs :-
1. Sharp Crested:
A. Rectangular weir
(comparatively large discharge).
B. Cipolletti weir (medium discharge).

C. V-notch weir (small discharge).

2. Broad crested.
Broad crested weirs are robust structures that are generally constructed from
reinforced concrete and which usually span the full width of the channel.
2. Pre shall flumes

3. Orifices
 Factors considered for Site Analysis of
Hydro-Electric power plants
1. Availability of water
– All other designs are based on it.
– Estimate should be made about the average quantity of water available throughout the year and
also about maximum and minimum quantity of water available during the year.
– These details are necessary to decide the capacity of the hydropower plant, and
– It also provide adequate spillways or gate relief during flood period.

2. Water storage
– Since there a is wide variation in rainfall during the year, therefore it is necessary to store the water
for continuous generation of power. The storage capacity can be calculated with the help of mass
curve.
– The two types of storages in use are
1. The storage is so constructed that it can make water available for power generation for one
year only.
2. Water is available in sufficient quantity even during the worst dry periods.
3. Water head
– In order to generate a requisite quantity of power it is necessary that a large quantity of water at
sufficient head should be available.
– An increase in effective head for a given output, reduces the quantity of water required to be
supplied to the turbines.

4. Accessibility of site
– The site where hydro-electric plant is to be constructed should be easy accessible. This is important
if the electric power generated is to be utilized at or near the plant site.
– The site selected should have transportation facilities of rail and road.

5. Distance from the load centre

– Power plant should be set up near the load centre, this will reduce the cost of maintenance of
transmission line.

6. Type of the land of the site

– The land to be selected for the site should be cheap and rocky.
– The ideal site will be one where the dam will have largest catchment area to store water at high
head and will be economical in construction.
– Necessary requirement of the foundation rocks for masonry dam are-
• The rock should be strong enough to withstand the stresses transmitted from the dam
structure as well as the thrust of the water when the reservoir is full.
• The rock in the foundation of the dam should be reasonably impervious.
• The rock should remain stable under all conditions.
 Case Study
A new instrument to measure the plot scale runoff
R.D.Stewart1, Z.Liu2,D.E.Rupp3,C.W.Higgins2,and J.S.Selker2

Upwelling Bernoulli Tube (UBeTube).

Limitation of previous methods

1) Not useful in long term monitoring studies.
2) Expensive installation like tipping bucket, flume/weir systems.
3) Not accurate.
4) Cannot measure high flow and errors are large.

UBeTube Instrument
1) It is a pipe with slots machined in its side that is installed vertically at the base of the
runoff.
2) Flow is measured by deducing the water height within the pipe.
3) Measurements both depends on the geometry of slot and accuracy of water level
measurements.
4) It is similar in function to V notch weir, instrument is self empting, no moving parts.
UBeTube Diagram
Construction and working
1) Consists of vertical 10cm diameter pipe, with slot machine at one end.
2) Material Used :- schedule 40 aluminum pipe (relatively low cost and
rigidity ,strength , resistance to corrosion.
3) The tube is attached to the bottom of the runoff plot.
4) Runoff system piping can be buried below grade which secures the system.
5) Instrument can have variation in slots.
6) By finding the water height , inside pipe , flow rate is measured.

Measuring water height

1) Use here vented pressure transducer system.
2) 10 cm tube has range 0.3 to 300 L/min.
3) With correction factor the error are reduced less than 14.

Conclusion :- The instrument is accurate low cost simple reliable and

proper choice measuring runoff.
 References
• Blair, A., Sanger, D., White, D., Holland, A. F., Vandiver, L.,Bowker, C., and
White, S. Quantifying and simulating storm water runoff in watersheds,
Hydro. Process., 28, 559–569, 2014.
• Blume, T., Zehe, E., Reusser, D. E., Iroumé, A., and Bronstert,
A.:Investigation of runoff generation in a pristine, poorly gauged
catchment in the Chilean Andes I: A multi-method experimental study,
Hydro. Process., 22, 3661–3675, 2008.
• Biswas, A.K.,History of Hydrology,Amer.Elsevier, New York,348 pp.,1970.
• Nehls, T., Nam Rim, Y., and Wessolek, G.: Technical note on measuring run-
off dynamics from pavements using a new device: the weighable tipping
bucket, Hydro. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 1379–1386, doi:10.5194/hess-15-1379-
2011, 2011.
• Power System Engineering By R.K. Rajput