28 Feb Hydro Mechanical Equipment
Renewable hydropower stands to be the future of energy. Not only does it serve to be a reliable and clean solution to electricity generation, but it is also sustainable.
The maintenance of dams and other water-related structures is a very important part of the construction industry. The most common method to maintain these structures is through the use of mechanical equipment such as excavators, etc. Such machines are used in conjunction with hydraulic power tools to perform various tasks on the structure.
Failure to sustain the maintenance of hydro-mechanical equipment can lead to projects experiencing significant challenges and setbacks.
To give you all the information you need on different hydro-mechanical equipment, this post will share everything you need to know about specific hydropower raceways, their functions, and their purpose.
What Is Hydropower?
Hydropower is a renewable source of energy that comes from the movement of water. It is generated by large reservoirs or rivers, which contain enough water to create a flow of water at a certain speed. This is known as the head. When the water flows through turbines, they convert its kinetic energy into electrical energy.
What Is A Hydro Plant?
A Hydro plant is an electrical generator that generates electricity from the flow of water. Hydropower engineering stands to be one of the most effective renewable energy processes. It consists of two main components: turbine and electric motor.
A turbine works to convert the kinetic energy of moving water into rotational motion and an electric motor converts the rotational motion of the turbine into useful work.
How Does It Work?
As water flows down the turbine, its speed increases. This increase in speed causes the blades of the turbine to spin faster and produce more torque.
This increased torque is then transferred to the shaft of the electric motor which turns the rotor inside the stator. The rotation of the rotor creates electricity.
The efficient running of a hydro plant comes down to the effectiveness of the different equipment involved. Some significant types of equipment used include:
- Turbine
- Electric Motor
- Pump
- Electrical Generator
- Watergate
- Fluid Gate
- Inlet Valve
- Hose
- Piping
There are two critical types of equipment dam gates required for the effective running of a hydro plant, these include: the watergate and fluid power gate.
Hydro Plant Watergate
A watergate is a device that allows or prevents the flow of water into the hydro plant. Its function is to control the amount of water entering the hydro plant.
It works by allowing water to enter when there is sufficient pressure within the system but preventing water from entering when there is not enough pressure. The purpose of a hydro plant watergate is to ensure that water enters at a steady rate while avoiding overloading the pump.
If the watergate is incorrectly installed or damaged, the hydro plant could experience serious problems including flooding, damage to the pump, and even failure of the entire project.
Hydro Plant Fluid Gate
A fluid gate is a device that controls the flow of water out of the hydro plant. Its primary function is to prevent water from leaving the hydro plant if there is no demand for electricity.
It works in much the same way as a water gate, however, it has a slightly different setup. Instead of having one large opening, a fluid gate has multiple openings, each of which is controlled individually.
When there is a demand for electricity, the control valve opens the appropriate number of openings to allow water to leave the hydro plant.
Why Do We Need Them?
The reason why we need both a water gate and a fluid gate is that they help to maintain the correct level of pressure within the hydro plant. Without this pressure, the turbine will not generate electricity. Learn more about the history of hydropower here.
Pressure is created by the water flowing through the turbine’s blades. When the water leaves the turbine, it loses some of its momentum and therefore less pressure is built up
What Is A Hydropower Raceway System?
A Hydropower Raceway System is a series of pipes or tubes that carry water from one place to another. They are usually made up of steel or concrete.
They are designed to be able to withstand high pressures and temperatures. They also have to be strong enough to support heavy machinery while at the same time being flexible enough to allow for movement.
They are generally built underground so they do not interfere with the natural environment.
Why Use Raceway Systems?
Raceways are an effective way of maintaining hydro-mechanical equipment. They allow technicians to access areas that would otherwise require them to climb ladders or work at heights. By using a crane or lift truck equipped with a raceway system, workers can move around the reservoir without having to worry about falling off the dam or being injured by sharp objects. Learn more about different types of raceways.
Purpose Of A Hydropower Raceway System
The primary purpose of a hydropower raceway system is to transport water from one location to another. It can either be done by gravity or by pumping.
There are many different ways to create a hydropower raceway but the most commonly used ones are:
- Gravity
- Pumping
The first way to get water from one point to another is by using gravity. In this case, there would be no pump needed. All that needs to happen is for the water to fall from one level to another. The second way to move water is through the use of pumps. There are two types of pumps: centrifugal and positive displacement. Centrifugal pumps are driven by a rotating impeller. As the impeller spins, it pushes water outwards towards the walls of the casing.
Positive displacement pumps use pistons to push water through the casing. These pumps are often used when the water source is too far away from where the water is required. In both cases, the pressure of the water must be maintained throughout the length of the pipe. If the pressure drops, the efficiency of the pump decreases which can lead to significant challenges and setbacks.
Gracon: Providing Services for Hydropower
Gracon’s hydropower division provides leading industrial construction services providing a host of services of hydroelectric construction, rehabilitation, repair and maintenance, and dam construction. Whether you’re concerned about the safety of a power system, you’re missing significant information on an existing installation, Gracon can help.
Offering unparalleled mechanical expertise, Gracon prides itself on providing the service needed for the reparation and replacement of critical equipment including hydro turbines, generators, pumps, valves, and governors. For more information on the services offered and how Gracon can help with your project, contact us directly.