H

Figure 1-82. — Pelton unit casing dimensions, [de Siervo and Lugaresi, 1978].

Figure 1-83. — Pelton unit spiral case dimensions, [de Siervo and Lugaresi, 1978].

1-77 ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989

Draft tube c. Draft Tube Outline — Walls and Piers. — Preliminary draft tube outlines can be deter-
walls and mined from the information given on figures 1—78 and 1-80 for Kaplan and Francis units,
piers respectively. The information presented is helpful to establish the overall draft tube dimen-
sions, which is all that is needed for conceptual studies.

Detailed dimensions that can be used for final designs for the draft tube geometry are sup-
plied by the turbine manufacturer.

The draft tube floor can be sloped upward as much as 4 horizontal to 1 vertical for econo-
my in excavation.

The draft tube walls and piers perform somewhat similar functions to their intake counter-
parts except to a lesser degree as far as hydrostatic thrust is concerned.

The draft tube walls and piers can be envisioned as extensions of the intake walls and piers
and, as such, they are involved to carry the reservoir pressure overturning (lateral) effects
into the foundation. They resist higher bearing pressure intensities than the intake walls
and piers because of the higher foundation pressures under the draft tube.

Also, the draft tube piers and walls act as counterforts to resist lateral tail water pressures
against the downstream wall and the uplift effects. The upstream areas of the draft tube
walls and piers receive substantial gravity loads from the substructure and the superstruc-
ture above.

The need for intermediate piers will he governed by the overall width requirements for the
draft tubes, which is discussed under section D. Large, slow-speed units require wider draft
tubes with at least one or, in many cases, two intermediate piers.

The number of intermediate piers is governed mostly by structural requirements discussed

above and less for reasons to limit the gate width as is the case for intakes. The draft tubes
are not closed under operating conditions and their gates serve only as closure bulkheads
for inspection and maintenance.

For structural reasons, it is preferable to locate the upstream noses of the piers as far
upstream as possible, preferably, reaching under the downstream wall of the generating
bay. However, turbine design dictates that, for best flow conditions, the pier noses be locat-
ed approximately 1.35D (D = turbine discharge opening diameter) downstream of the unit
centerline, as indicated on figure 1-81. This should be checked against the information on
figure 1-78.

Semi-spiral 5. Semi-Spiral Case

case
The term “semi-spiral" denotes an incomplete spiral when compared with a steel spiral cas-
ing with a nose angle of approximately 320° to 340°. The angle for the nose or baffle vane
(the last stay vane in the semi-spiral) of the semi-spiral is approximately + 180° depending
on the design by the turbine manufacturer (fig. 1-76).

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-78

The semi-spiral case is formed in concrete with varying cross-sections around the stay ring
(fig l-76a). Preliminary information can be quickly obtained from [de Siervo and de Leva,
1977/1978].

The walls of the semi-spiral cases are stressed in hoop tension in a horizontal plane and as
vertical wall sections spanning between the floor and roof. They must be sufficiently rigid
to control deformations and related cracking and must be designed to be watertight. Low
water content in the concrete mix and precooled aggregate for concrete placement lead to
good results. Reinforcement requirements should be checked for acceptable crack widths
which, preferably, should not exceed 0.008 inch (0.2 mm).

Designs with concrete semi-spiral cases are feasible for heads up to about 130 feet (40 m).

It is advisable to make the semi-spiral cases as narrow as feasible hydraulically to reduce

not only the overall length of the powerhouse but also, especially for the upper head
ranges, to reduce the hydrostatic pressures on the roof and the corresponding reactions act-
ing as tension forces on the walls. For this latter reason, the upper and lower cones, which
support the stay ring, should be made as wide as hydraulically feasible at their contact with
the roof.

According to Mosonyi [1957], the semi-spiral case width varies between 2.7 and 3.5D
where D is turbine discharge opening. This variation in width is related to the specific
speed of the turbine as given by the preceding expressions by de Siervo and de Leva. The
lower values of the above coefficients should be used for the higher head ranges for rea-
sons explained above. An ongoing study for a plant with 180-MW units to be operated
under a 36-meter (118-ft) head and a semi-spiral case width of 2,750 feet has been con-
firmed by manufacturers.

According to the USBR, spiral case inlet area should be checked so that the inlet velocities
do not exceed 0.14(2g/i)°-5 . More recent information is given in the preceding expressions
of de Siervo and de Leva.

a. Semi-Spiral Case Roof. — The roof of the semi-spiral case spans between the stay ring
cones and the outside walls. On the upstream side, at the inlet, the roof gains support also
from the upstream head wall or upstream wall of the generating bay (fig. 1-84).

The semi-spiral case roof protects the interior of the powerhouse against the water in the
spiral case acting on the underside of the roof under reservoir pressures.

The top of the roof forms the turbine floor, which may contain blocked-out channels for
mechanical piping, electrical cables and conduits. There are also large blockouts for the
servo motors.

The blockouts reduce the effective structural depth of the otherwise massive roof slab and,
therefore, when the slab thickness is estimated to determine the turbine floor level, an addi-
tional thickness of at least 12 inches should be added to the structural slab depth that other-
wise would be considered adequate.

1-79 ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989

 HEAD WALL

GENERATOR
BARREL

STAY RING CONE

Figure 1-84. — Semi-spiral case roof support.

Minimum semi-spiral case roof thicknesses are in the range of about 5 feet or even some-
what less.

Steel 6. Steel Spiral Case

spiral case
For heads over about 130 feet (40 m), when integral intakes and semi-spiral cases become
structurally infeasible, steel spiral cases are used.

Steel spiral cases may be connected to reinforced concrete conduits (fig. 1-25) in the lower
head ranges, or to steel penstocks when concrete conduits can not be designed economical-
ly for the reservoir pressures resulting from higher heads (fig. 1-24). For preliminary lay-
outs, steel spiral case dimensions can be obtained from figure 1-76.

To control cracking of the concrete contact surface with the steel spiral case under operat-
ing pressures, spiral cases should preferably be embedded under hydrostatically pressur-
ized conditions. The pressures maintained during embedment shall be equivalent to normal
operating pressures. Spiral case embedment follows hydrostatic pressure testing usually
performed under pressures equivalent to 150 percent of the static head. For plants with
high heads, spiral case embedment under pressure, from a civil engineering point of view,
is the preferred procedure because less load is transferred to the concrete. Reduced internal
pressures against the embedment concrete greatly reduces the possibility for cracking and,
thus, the potential for seepage from tailwater.

Lately, some manufacturers have recommended that, even for high-head plants, spiral case
pressurizing is not required during embedment In that case, appropriate structural investi-
gations should be performed to determine how the surrounding concrete would be affected.

Because steel spiral cases are designed to resist full operating pressures, including any
dynamic effects, the encasement concrete resists only a part of the latter.

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-80

a. Concrete Cover over the Spiral Case. — The concrete cover over the steel spiral case is Concrete
required to form the turbine floor and the foundation for the generator barrel. cover of
spiral case
All the embedment concrete also provides a part of the weight needed for powerhouse sta-
bility and the necessary mass to control vibrations. The larger the units capacity-wise, the
more important the presence of the mass is.

Minimum concrete cover over the spiral case can be less than the thickness of the roofs for
reinforced concrete semi-spiral cases. However, the thickness should he sufficient for
embedment of the generator barrel reinforcement Based on the above:

• Minimum spiral case cover should not he less than about 3 feet
• The thickness of the cover will, for most cases, exceed 3 feet and be in the range of 5 to 8
feet, and, quite often, more than that depending also on convenient floor level selection.

7. Draft Tube Roof Draft tube

roof
The draft tube roof can be divided in two parts:

• The downstream part of the draft tube inlet cone and elbow embedment
• The part that forms the draft tube downstream of the elbow extending beyond the gen-
erating bay (figs. 1-1 through 1-7 and others)

Because of the draft tube elbow geometry, the upstream part of the draft tube roof (fig.
1-85) is a very deep massive feature that receives a substantial part of the gravity loads of
the structure, the weight of the turbines and generators, and the hydraulic thrust. Its weight
contributes to overcome the uplift forces.

The massive outline of the elbow roof offers a convenient mass for provision of a service
gallery along the downstream side of the units. Access ways to the individual draft tube
inlet cones for inspection and maintenance of the turbine runners are provided as stubs
from the service gallery (fig. l-85a and b). Some plants, for ease of installation of mainte-
nance platforms through the draft tube cone, also have an upstream service gallery.

The downstream part of the roof usually tapers in downstream direction or the downstream
end of it can be of uniform thickness, depending on provisions made above the draft tube.

If a downstream service bay is provided above the draft tube, the top of the draft tube roof
forms the lowest floor in that bay. Consequently, the draft tube roof must be designed for
the applicable uplift pressures. For major plants a minimum draft tube roof thickness of 4
feet or 0.1 OH (H = depth of submergence), whichever governs, is provided at the inside
face of the downstream wall to ensure adequate watertightness and reinforcement tie-in
with the downstream service bay wall, which acts as a headwall against the tailwater (figs.
1-85 and 1-86).

The minimum roof thickness should be checked against actual shear requirements at the
wall and pier faces assuming that only concrete, without any shear reinforcement, resists
the unbalanced shears.

1-81 ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989

Downstream 8. Downstream Headwall
head wall
If a downstream service bay is provided, its enclosure against the tailwater is provided by
the draft tube roof and the downstream headwall (fig. 1-86).

The headwall, sometimes also called the bulkhead wall, spans vertically between the draft
tube roof and the draft tube deck. It may also be supported horizontally by the draft tube
piers. Interior floor slabs provide intermediate supports. For this reason, such slabs shall be
sufficiently thick to control slenderness. The minimum thickness recommended is 18 to 24
inches, or even more, depending on the wall submergence and the resulting hydrostatic
pressures.

'A

Figure 1-85. — Generating and downstream service bays, Sam Raybum, Angelina,
Texas. (Courtesy of Harza).

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-82

The draft tube piers, depending on how much they are extended downstream of the head
wall, may effectively act with the wall section as T-beam webs. The wall itself then also
spans horizontally between the piers.

For deep tailwater submergence, the length of the pier protrusion downstream of the head
wall should he determined to suit the structural design requirements. On the other hand, i f
the piers support a transformer deck, they will probably provide more width than required
for the wall design.

During conceptual studies, it is advisable to be on the conservative side and to assume that
the wall is supported vertically in one-way action spanning between the slabs without the
assistance of the piers. The wall thickness, as before for other principal structural compo-
nents, shall be quickly assessed on basis of simplified shear and moment calculations.

As in the case of the draft tube floor, for major plants the minimum thickness provisions at
the draft tube roof level should be 4 feet or 0.10/7, This thickness will be substantially
more for deeper submergences and can be reduced gradually, by tapering the outside face
of the wall, for higher elevations. The thickness can also be reduced in steps at the interme-
diate floor levels thus gaining more space, if needed, for the upper floor levels. With this
latter arrangement, the inside face vertical wall reinforcement becomes offset and, thus,
more complicated where the offsets occur (fig. l-86b).

HEADWALI
q
DOWNSTREAM SERVICE BAY n
A
E

37.8m

a. Plan.

REINFORCEMENT WITH AND WITHOUT WALL OFF—SETS

A -A
b. Section.

Figure 1-86. — Downstream service bay wall.

1-83 AS CE/EPRI Guides 1989

Draft tube 9. Draft Tube Deck
deck
a. Function. — The draft tube deck functions primarily as access to the draft tube gate
slots for handling of the draft tube gates. For indoor powerhouses (figs. 1-3 through 1-7,
Function 1-9, and 1-10), an appropriate traveling gantry crane is located on the draft tube deck to
handle the gates. The main powerhouse gantry crane for semi-indoor (figs. 1-11, and
1-13), or outdoor powerhouses (fig. 1-34) generally reaches over the draft tube gate slots
negating the need for a special draft tube gantry crane.

When the draft tube deck is also used as transformer deck, the deck width increases appre-
ciably. The additional width required is for the transformer bank itself, with adequate pas-
sage clearances with other transformers during installation and possible removal for their
maintenance.

Ultimately, the draft tube deck functions also as the roof over the space of the Downstream
Service Bay. As such, it must be reinforced for crack control to make the deck watertight

Thickness b. Thickness. — If the deck does not cany any transformers, it can, depending on the
spans, be a relatively light slab, yet still about 8 to 16 inches thick, spanning between the
generating bay wall and the downstream headwall, if the latter exists. Otherwise, a span-
drel for the gantry crane rail or some wall framing below (figs. 1-1, 1-7, and 1-14) would
provide the support If there are no rooms below, the piers provide supports in the longitu-
dinal direction.

GATE SLOT

DRAFT TUBE DECK

OIL SUMP UNDER

TRANSFORMER

DOWNSTREAM,SERVICE BAY

Figure 1-87. — Draft tube deck framing.

With transformers located on the deck, the framing requirements increase substantially,
depending on the size of the transformers and, because o f the pressure of the oil overflow
sumps below the transformers.

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-84

Two choices are available for the deck design:

• Slab and beam construction

• One-way flat slab construction with local beam reinforcement or beams as needed
under the transformers only

The first choice, with the beams running in the upstream and downstream directions and
framing into a spandrel along the gate slots, or supported on a wall is a conventional
approach; however, it results in a rather complicated framing (fig. 1-87) of the deck slab,
beams, spandrel, and the oil sumps under the transformers.

Wherever possible, it may be advantageous to eliminate the beams supporting the deck and
make the latter thicker, say 24 to 36 inches, as needed to support the loads. More concrete
will be required but the construction will be simplified. The flat soffit of the deck is also
preferable for any exposed conduit or piping runs hung from the deck if the headroom is
limited.

1-85 ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989

Superstructure F. SUPERSTRUCTURE

1. General

Under “superstructure” it is understood that the part of the powerhouse that lies above the
turbine floor (figs. 1-73 and 1-74) and the draft tube roof, when a service bay is provided,
may comprise, depending on the concept of the powerhouse, the following components:

• Generator barrel (or pedestal) with or without generator floor, again depending on the
layout
• All interior framing and walls above the turbine floor in the generating bay
• Crane support columns and girders if such are provided
• Exterior walls
• Roof
• All interior framing, walls and roof of any adjoining service bays

Generator 2. Generator Barrel

barrel
The generator barrel supports:

• The weight of the turbines and generators

• The hydraulic thrust from turbine operation
• Dead and live loads from the generator floor if such is provided
• Short-circuit torque effects from the generator
• Hydrostatic pressures against downstream bulkhead wall or downstream wall of the
generating bay if such loads are transmitted into the generator floor
• Similarly, the barrel may also support headwater pressures against the head walls (or
upstream generating bay wall) if generator floor is provided, or the barrel itself may
be in contact with the wall

Generator [Link] Barrel Outlines. — The generator barrel outlines are mostly dictated by the:
barrel
outlines • Outlines of the equipment it supports,
• Erection and maintenance clearances and access provisions,
• Structural requirements to obtain a rigid foundation for the equipment, concrete dead
loads and live loads supported,
■ And last, but not least, the designer’s preference.

The inside outline is an extension of the- cylindrical turbine pit outline which, by a provi-
sion of a circular corbel, necks down to a circular opening, slightly larger than the turbine
head cover. The corbel serves as the bearing bracket support (fig. 1-88). Also the opening
above the bearing bracket corbel is cylindrical.

The exterior outline of the barrel can be square, rectangular, octagonal, or round. The shape
used is mostly the designers prerogative, based on considerations for obtaining adequate
space for other equipment on the turbine floor and for passage for personnel and for equip-
ment during installation and maintenance.

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-86

Square and rectangular shapes are the simplest to form, but some valuable turbine floor
space may be sacrificed. The reinforcement is of simple configuration, but more concrete is
required.

If floor beams support the generator floor, the flat wall faces in both directions offer simple
framing for the beam supports.

Octagonal shapes are still simple to form, however, reinforcement becomes somewhat
more complicated, but concrete volume is decreased and more floor space is gained. The
forming costs are, of course, increased. The generator floor girders, if provided, may, how-
ever, have to be framed in barrel faces skewed under 45°, i.e. the bearing length on the bar-
rel varies along the two sides of the girder. This usually affects only the reinforcement.

Cylindrical generator outlines are quite common, they occupy the least space on the turbine
floor and, when exposed to the view without the presence of the generator floor, have a
pleasing appearance by matching the generator housing outline (mostly cylindrical, too).

The forming of the cylindrical barrel is more expensive than for the other types; also all
horizontal reinforcement consists of curved bars, which are more expensive than straight
bars.

If the generator floor is supported with beams, their framing into cylindrical generator bar-
rels presents some complications for the beam-barrel tie-in area. For that reason, some-
times rectangular support pilasters are incorporated into the barrel to offer a less complicat-
ed beam framing into the barrel (fig. 1-88).

The generator barrel (pedestal) wall thickness may vary between 1.5 feet for small units
and, perhaps, 8 feet or more for large units. In most cases, a thickness of 4 to 6 feet will
suffice.

b. Access Provisions in Generator Barrel. — Blockouts are provided in the barrel walls to Access
gain access to the turbine pit, located below the turbine floor level, and for access to the provisions
thrust bearings above. Blockouts are needed for the passage of the low-voltage leads.

The turbine pit access should be at least 4 feet wide and with a headroom of at least 6.5
feet. This clearance requirement dictates where the top of the bearing bracket support can
be set. Assuming the bearing bracket sole plate anchor bolts to be 3 feet long and a cover
of 6 inches over the access opening, the bearing bracket is set approximately 8 to 10 feet
above the turbine floor. This assumes that the roof of the turbine pit access slopes. The 10
feet would apply if the roof would be horizontal.

Other openings are needed for access, to the air coolers between the stator and the genera-
tor pit wall, or housing. Their location and sizes will be determined by the generator manu-
facturer.

1-87 ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989

 FZ«U

[Link]?

•Stef I
■f/zzr
arno?
i**m
• -' zofaW 4P* -
'5W Ar * ' , ■

Figure 1-88. — Generator barrel arrangement

Generator 3. Generator Floor

floor
The generator floor, if provided, frames into the top of the generator barrel and the
upstream and downstream walls of the generating bay.

For most designs, the generator floor does not support any permanent equipment loads but
may be used extensively during equipment installation as laydown area or, quite frequently,
as a temporary erection floor in extension of the erection bay floor or where space is avail-
able between the generators.

If the generator housing protrudes above the generator floor level, access to the top of the
generator housing and the exiters is provided from the generator floor.

Framing It is preferable to design generator floor slabs without columns and beams. The columns
without are undesirable because they take up space on the turbine floor and may interfere with the
columns or equipment.
beams
The beams take up valuable headroom below and may interfere with the routing of con-
duits, cable trays, and piping.

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-88

It is recommended to span the generator floor slab between the barrel and walls in direction
parallel to the flow, and to cantilever them from the barrel in the direction perpendicular to
the flow. With this arrangement, the slabs of the adjoining units should be keyed along the
contraction joints to control, and prevent differential vertical off-sets and also, possibly, to
control vibrations of the cantilevers.

If, because of wide unit spacing and, therefore, long slab cantilevers, beams are needed to
support the slab along the contraction joints, columns will be needed along the contraction
joints.

Without beams, the minimum slab thickness should be about 12 to 24 inches depending on Slab thickness
the spans. With beams, the thickness should not be less than 12 inches to provide mass
around the generator barrel. To control vibrations of the larger units (say, 100 MW or
more) in major plants, a 24-inch slab thickness is appropriate.

If generator floor slabs are used as lay-down or erection area for heavy equipment, the slab
thickness may have to be increased above the minimum recommended.

4. Other Interior Floors Other floors

The floors of the service bays usually can be of slab construction if the bay width is limited
to approximately 30 feet. Beams may be needed for heavy equipment loads, or when the
bay width is increased much beyond 30 feet.

The minimum slab thickness should be 12 inches. Appreciably greater thickness will be
needed if the slabs are used as struts against hydrostatic pressures. In that case, slab thick-
ness of 24 to 36 inches are not unusual.

The above minimum thicknesses may be excessive to support the floor loads, but it is pru-
dent to provide more rigidity in the framing system and also mass to control vibrations.

5. Generating Bay Walls Generating

bay walls
The generating bay walls perform several functions:

• Enclose the generating bay along its sides and support its roof.
• Provide support for the generator floor, if such is provided (figs. 1-3, 1-4, 1-7, 1-11,
1-26, 1-34, 1 11, and 1-47).
• Support the powerhouse crane (same figs, as above and others).
• The upstream wall may act as a headwall to retain the reservoir if the powerhouse is
integral with the intake (figs. 1-3, 1-5, 1-7, 1-9, 1-10, 1-11, 1-14, and others).
• The downstream wall may also act as head wall to retain tailwater if there is no down-
stream service bay head wall (figs. 1-11, 1-13, 1-27, 1-31, and 1—41).

a. Upstream Wall of Generating Bay. — (1) Upstream Wall Integral With Intake. — If the Upstream wall
powerhouse is built integral with the intake, the upstream wall of the powerhouse is
exposed to the reservoir and resists the applicable hydrostatic pressures applied against it.

1-89 ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989

 The headwall is tied-in with the intake piers and walls and spans between them. This wall,
in conjunction with the intake fonns the dam and, when the water passages are not closed,
the head wall represents the watertight barrier between the reservoir and the interior of the
powerhouse, i.e. it functions as a fixed bulkhead.

Consequently, the thickness of the headwall must be determined on the basis of conserva-
tive shear resistance values and considerations illustrated on figure 1-89.

HEADWALL ANCHOR
[Link].

I N T A K E PIER

P RESERV.

POTENTIAL CRACK HEADWALL

MONOLITH

Figure 1-89. — Headwall support.

As for the downstream bulkhead wall, discussed in section E.8, the minimum thickness for
major plants again should be 4 feet or 0.1017 determined at the base of the walLThis crite-
ria is considered as a minimum requirement to control seepage (watertightness), but usual-
ly structural requirements govern. For most major plants, the actual thickness will be
appreciably more (fig. 1-5). For minor plants a lesser wall thickness in the range of 2 to 3
feet will suffice.

With respect to the reservoir pressures (fig. 1-89), the wall “hangs" from the intake walls
and piers. Consequently, a potential crack could develop as indicated on figure 1—89 and
the headwall could loose support

Upstream Thus, adequate thickness to resist shear, induced by the reservoir pressures, is not the only
wall support design provision that is needed. The wall should be tied back into the intake walls and piers
by adequate reinforcement assuming that water pressure acts also over the full width of the
potential cracks.

In the vertical plane, the headwall spans between the intake end walls with additional sup-
ports on the intermediate piers (if such are provided) of the intake.

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-90

The headwall itself supports the spiral case roof with equipment loads acting downward,
and uplift pressures against the spiral case roof. Unless cast integrally with the spiral case
roof, keys should be provided if construction joint is introduced at the downstream face of
the wall (fig. 1-90).

U/S GENERATOR BAY WALL

SUBDRAINED FLOOR

KEYS*

SPIRAL CASE ROOF

• PROVIDE KEYS IF CONSTR. JOINT

IS PROVIDED AT WALL FACE

Figure 1-90. — Headwall-semi-spiral case roof joint

(2) Upstream Wall Separated from the Intake or for Detached Powerhouses. — If the gen-
erating bay is separated from the intake by a service bay (figs. 1-4, 1-6, 1-8, and 1-13), or
if the poweihouse is located at the toe of the dam or for detached powerhouses (figs. 1-36
through l-47g), the upstream wall of the generating bay is, in most cases, a free-standing
wall. The wall is supported on the substructure and has lateral support by the generator
floor (if provided) and by the roof.

The upstream wall may have to support:

• Live and dead loads from floors, decks and roofs framing into the wall, including the
equipment loads they carry.
• High-voltage line pull-offloads (fig. 1-24, 1-35, 1-41, and 1-45).
• Vertical and lateral crane loads (fig. 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-7, 1-11, 1-12, etc.).
• Tailwater pressures transmitted from downstream wall through floor slabs, decks or
roof (figs. 1-11, 1-13, 1-30, and 1—41 ).

Conservative wall thickness should be provided (see subsection d(3) in this section) to con-
trol deformations from combination of all load effects.

b. Downstream Wall of Generating Bay. — The downstream wall of the generating bay is Downstream
similar to the upstream wall of the type described in paragraph (2) above and supports sim- wall of
ilar loads. generating bay

For high tail waters, the downstream wall may be exposed to hydrostatic pressures in addi-
tion to the other load effects.

1-91 ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989

 The downstream wall usually contains the equipment and personnel access doors. In case
of high flood levels, they may have to be bulk-headed unless all access is from the roof
level (semi-indoor type powerhouses).

It is recommended that the access level for indoor type powerhouses is set above maximum
powerhouse design flood level, say with 200-year return frequency. If the PMF level is not
substantially higher, the access level should be set at or slightly above the PMF level.

For substantially higher PMF levels semi-indoor powerhouses with walls designed for the
high water levels should be selected.

End walls c. End Walls. —■ The endwalls close off both ends of the generating bay — at the erection
bay and at the last unit. They may be extended to serve as end walls also for the service
bays, if any provided. Endwalls, depending on their construction type, may have to support
the following loads:

• Loads transmitted by longitudinal walls connected to them, normal and parallel to the
end wall plane
• Loads from interior floor slabs
• Longitudinal crane thrust
• Roof loads
• Exterior fill loads
• Tailwater or groundwater pressures

The end walls receive and transmit any exterior fill and hydrostatic loads to the interior
slabs and the longitudinal walls framing into them. If they retain fills or water loads, their
outside faces are usually battered to account for the varying pressures. The thickness of the
wall at the top should be 24 inches minimum to allow for concrete placement.

Type of d. Wall Type Construction. — The construction type of the superstructure walls can be
construction dictated by:

• The type of the powerhouse, indoor or semi-indoor

• By considerations of economic aspects, availability of material
• Preferential treatment by owner

Walls for (1) Walls for Indoor Powerhouses. — Superstructures of indoor powerhouses can be
indoor houses designed for a great variety of construction types and materials:

• Solid cast-in-place reinforced concrete walls

• Cast-in-place reinforced concrete columns with brick, concrete block or precast con-
crete panel infills between the columns
• Structural steel framing faced with material as for concrete framing plus various types
of insulated metal wall panels

Reinforced Figures 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, etc. illustrate typical integral-intake powerhouses and figures
concrete walls 1-24, 1-30, 1-39, 1-41, etc. illustrate powerhouse designs with cast-in-place concrete wall
construction. The arrangement may vary somewhat from project to project depending on

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-92

unit setting, generator size and interior floor arrangement The upstream wall is thicker
than the downstream wall because the former resists hydrostatic pressures or higher pres-
sures than the latter.

Minimum thickness requirements for the walls are discussed in subsections 5 .a, 5.b, and
5.c.(5). If the concrete walls are not exposed to water or fill pressures, their minimum
thickness will still be in the range of 2 to 3 feet, perhaps, even more depending on the
crane size they support and structural support provided.

The wall thickness is reduced above the crane rail corbels. This thickness, however still
must be approximately 18 inches thick to provide at least 12 inches for the roof girder
bearing and approximately 6 inches minimum, better 8 inches, at the girder blockouts.

The crane corbels protrude the inside face of the walls to provide for the required crane Crane
support. The crane rail should be set to provide minimum clearances between the crane and clearances
the wall. For conceptual studies, the information in table 1-1 can be used, subject to confir-
mation by crane designers.

Cast-in-place pilaster-type superstructure walls for a detached powerhouse are illustrated

on figure 1-91. The walls appear recessed at the pilasters for architectural treatment to
break up an undesirably plain, bunker type of effect of the wall type discussed above.

A very pronounced architectural treatment was obtained for the Grand Coulee Third Power
Plant with a cast-in-place, folded-wall design, as shown on figure 1-92.

buffer (l j#

Fi ' i
xLB __I
ft

Figure 1-91. — Hrauneyafoss powerhouse, Iceland. (Courtesy of Harza).

1-93 ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989

 Table 1-1. — Crane clearance data.

Span (ft) A B C D (in)

200 T Crane
60, 70, 80 13-6 12-4 8-0 13
90 13-9 12-6 8-6 13

300 T Crane
70 16-6 15-0 8-6 15
80 16-9 15-3 8-6 15
90 17-3 15-6 9-0 15

400 T Crane
70 17-3 16-9 11-6 17
80 17-6 17-0 11-6 17
90 18-0 17-0 11-6 17

500 T Crane
70 18-9 18-0 19-3 20
80 19-0 18-0 19-6 20
90 19-3 18-6 19-6 20

600 T Crane
70 20-0 19-3 20-6 23
80 20-3 19-6 20-9 23
90 20-6 19-6 21-0 23

700 T Crane
70 21-6 20-6 20-6 26
80 21-9 20-9 20-6 26
90 21-9 21-0 21-0 26

800 T Crane
70 22-0 21-0 21-0 27
80 22-3 21-0 21-6 27
90 22-6 21-6 22-0 27

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-94

 Tff4*$vf*S£ SEC non c UttlT

Figure 1-92. — Grand Coulee Third Powerhouse. (Courtesy of USBR).

Another attractive example of superstructure wall and roof treatment is shown on figures
l-93a and l-93b, the auxiliary powerhouse of the Angat Plant in the Philippines. A folded
plate roof is supported on tapered columns. The crane girder, cast integrally with the wall,
spans over doubly tapered columns that are also cast with the wall.

1-95 ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989

 0i/&ds (Ke

w
. N.P£tf/?.65

a. Transverse section.

b. Outside elevation.

Figure 1-93. — Angat, Philippines, auxiliary powerhouse. (Courtesy o f Harza).

ASCE/EPRI Guides 1989 1-96