Pokhara University

School Of Engineering
Hydropower Engineering
Home assignment for BCE & BCRE 7th sem
Chapter 1: Introduction to Hydropower Engineering

1. Define hydropower with basic working principle and write down the brief history of hydropower
development in Nepal.
2. List and explain any five major advantages of hydropower compared to other sources of energy.
3. Discuss on the hydropower development status and briefly explain the major institutions related to
hydropower development in Nepal?
4. Discuss the objectives of the Hydropower Development Policy 2058. How do they promote private
investment?
5. Explain the roles of the Department of Electricity Development (DoED) and Nepal Electricity
Authority (NEA) in Nepal’s hydropower sector.
6. What are the key challenges of hydropower development in Nepal? Provide potential solutions.
7. Classify hydropower plants based on head and capacity, and explain with examples from Nepal.
8. Write the working principle of a pumped storage hydropower [Link] their viability and
importance in power system.

Chapter 2: Planning and Investigation of Hydropower Projects

8. Explain the hydropower development cycle. What are the activities involved in each stage?
9. Differentiate between reconnaissance study and pre-feasibility study with respect to hydropower
project planning.
10. What are Flow Duration Curves (FDCs)? Explain their preparation and importance in hydropower
planning.
11. List and describe at least three important factors considered while selecting a site for a hydropower
plant.
12. What is reservoir sedimentation? Explain any two pre-construction and post-construction sediment
control methods.
13. The volume of a reservoir at NWL is estimated for 9 billion Cubic meter and mean annual flow of
the river is 150 Cubic meter per sec along with its sediment transportation (Suspended) Capacity of
2.6 kg/m3. The volume of weight of suspended sediment having 1.6 tones/m3 is 1.25 less than the
bed sediments. Determine the service life of the reservoir if the mean annual volume of sediments
due to erosion of its banks and some of the sediment passing in the downstream are 25% and 23% of
the gross storage.
14. A reservoir has the following available data. Find the probable useful life of the reservoir.

Reservoir capacity = 20 Mm3 (Million Cubic meter)

Average annual flood Volume = 40 Mm3

Annual sediment = 13.3333* 𝟏𝟎𝟒tonnes

Specific gravity of sediment = 2.2 gm/cc

Life of reservoir terminates when 80% of initial capacity is filled up.

Prepared by: IP Timilsina,SOE Page 1 of 8

 Capacity inflow ratio v/s trap efficiency is given by :-

Assume 20% of the capacity is filled up in first interval.

Capacity inflow ratio 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Trap efficiency % 86 92 94 95 96 96.5 97 97 97 97.5

Chapter 3: Power and Energy Potential Study

13. Define gross head, net head, and operating head. How do they differ in calculation?
14. What is hydraulic efficiency? How does it affect the overall performance of a hydropower plant?
15. Explain the difference between firm power and secondary power with examples.
16. Discuss the method of determining the best installed capacity of a plant using power duration curve.
17. What is the marginal cost and benefit approach in hydropower economic analysis? Explain its
application.
18. From the mean monthly flow for a Nepalese river. The power duration curve is calculated which are
as shown below:-

• Determine the best installed capacity of the power plant with following data.

• Interest Rate = 10%

• Energy price = US $𝟑𝟎/𝑴𝒘𝒉

• Variable Cost = US $𝟔𝟎𝟎/𝑲𝑾 (Electro mechanical)

• Fixed cost = US $𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎/𝑲𝑾

• O&M cost = 2% of variable cost
• Economic life of the plant = 40 years
19. A run of river plant is constructed across a river at a site having net head 50 m. The river carries a
sustained minimum flow of 20 cumec as a dry weather flow. Behind the power station sufficient
water pondage has been provided to supply daily peak load of demand with a load factor 70%.
Assuming the plant efficiency of 65% determine:-

The maximum generating capacity of the generators to be installed at the powerhouse.

The volume of pondage to be provided to supply the daily demand assuming that the daily load
pattern consist of average load for 21 hours and peak load for 3 hours?

Prepared by: IP Timilsina,SOE Page 2 of 8

19. A power station has to supply the following loads on an average day. Calculate the daily load factor.
What will be the plant capacity factor and utilization factor if it has reserve capacity of 1000 Kw?

20. A run off river plant has a minimum flow of 30 m3/sec and net head of 70 m. The overall efficiency
of plant is 85%.Calculate the installed capacity of a plant. Without pondage designed for pure ROR
Plant. If the plant is designed for a peaking plant with 6 hours peaking (morning 2 hours and evening 4
hours). The plant has two set of units (Turbine and Generators) such that one unit with full capacity is
operating during off peak hour. If total evaporation and other loss is 5 % of the stored water.

21. From the following data of the flow at a given area for an average year. Compute and draw the
power duration curve. Assume an average available net head of 10 m and combined efficiency of
89%.Determine primary and secondary energy available during a year if the plant capacity is fixed at
power corresponding to the flow available for 25% of time.

22. The load on a hydropower plant varies from minimum of 10MW to 35MW. Two turgo generator of
capacities 22 MW installed capacity have been installed. Calculate load factor, plant ,plant factor and
utilization factor.

23. A power station has to supply the following loads on an average day. Draw the load duration curve
and calculate the daily load factor. What will be the plant capacity factor and utilization factor if it
has reserve capacity of 1000 KW?

Time 11am- 5-6 6-7 am 7-9 am 9-12 12 am- 1pm- 5pm- 7pm- 9pm-
5 am am am 1 pm 5pm 7pm 9pm 11pm

Load 500 750 1000 2000 2500 1500 2500 2000 2500 1000
KW

24. Draw flow duration curve from the stream flow record from the proposed power development site if
the available head is 80m and the maximum discharge capacity is 60 m3/s, determine the firm and
secondary energy at the site if the overall efficiency is 78%.

Months Jan. Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Q(m3/s) 36 34 30 25 19 36 64 83 61 50 43 40

Prepared by: IP Timilsina,SOE Page 3 of 8

 Chapter 4 storage type of Hydropower project

25. What point should be considered while selecting site for the Dam?
26. Give different classifications of dams. Explain the classification based on material of construction in
details.
27. What do you mean by gravity dam? Drawing clear sketch, show/discuss primary, secondary and
exceptional load in concrete gravity dam.
28. What do you understand by "middle third rule" in the design of concrete dam? Discuss.
29. Show that the resultant force in a concrete dam should pass within the middle third of the base width
in order to avoid tension in the heel.
30. A concrete dam as shown in figure below. Check the stability against
1. Overturning b) sliding c) bearing d) tension
Take γsilt (submerged) 9 KN/m3, Friction coefficient = 0.62, Angle of friction of sediment particles
= 25°, Specific Gravity of dam concrete (G) = 2.4, Allowable Compressive Stress in concrete
4000KN/m2

31. A concrete dam as shown in figure of given profile is proposed by a designer for implementation.
The unit shear resistance and angle of shearing resistance is 500 KN/m2 and 350 respectively. Unit
weight of concrete is 24 KN/ m3. You are the person to implement it so you want to check the
stability of dam against flotation overturning and sliding before implementation. Based upon your
findings do you implement it? What measures do you recommend to implement it ?

Prepared by: IP Timilsina,SOE Page 4 of 8

32.

33. What are the different types of intake? Calssify them and discuss any four type of intake with
sketches.

34. Describe the general layout of a storage-type hydropower plant. Explain the function of each major
component from intake to tailrace.

35. What is a gate in the context of hydropower projects? Describe any four types of gates commonly
used in dams and spillways.

Prepared by: IP Timilsina,SOE Page 5 of 8

 Chapter 5 Run of river types of hydropower plant

36. What are the most commonly used intakes in runoff river project in Nepal? What are the requirement
of good intake? What factor do you consider while selecting site for intake location?

37. What are the different types of intake? Classify them and discuss any four type of intake with
sketches.

38. Sediment is the main problem in hydropower projects in Nepal. In this context, what type of intake is
proposed in high sediment laden river in Nepal?

39. Explain the total loss in intake (up to the end of settling basin). How could you minimize the losses
to increase power in hydropower project?

40. Find out the dimension of settling basin for a high head project in Himalayan River which utilize a
discharge of 60 m3/sec and gross head of 300m. The sediment particles larger than 0.15 mm (w= 1.5
cm /sec) had to be trap in the basin. Consider effect of turbulence as well as. Draw plan a section of
the basin showing major component.(Note:- Here depth is not given).

41. Compute the dimension of periodic type basin considering and without considering turbulence effect
for a hydropower plant. Take settling velocity = 6 cm/sec, Design discharge = 5 cumec, particle
diameter to be removed = 0.15 mm, depth of basin = 2.4

42. What do you mean by settling basin? Explain the function of settling basin.

43. What are the main purposes of settling basin? Explain design principle and criteria of settling basin.

44. Design settling basin to remove particle size greater than 0.5 mm diameter from the water carrying
mainly sand having discharge of 5 cumecs.

Chapter 6 water conveyance structures

45. Find the wall thickness of penstock pipe, internal diameter is 2.5 m, to supply water from head of 150 m,
when increase in pressure is 35% of head. Take overall efficiency( = 90% and design stress(f)= 1200
kg/cm2

46. Find the Time for the oscillation wave in surge tank for the Instantaneous closure of the valve?

47. In a hydroelectrically project, the design discharge through the tunnel is 50 cumec is conveyed by three
numbers of turbine of 1.75 m diameter each. Other data are as follows:-

Total length of tunnel = 6 Km, diameter of tunnel = 9.2 m, frictional factor for tunnel= 0.016, frictional factor for
penstock = 0.04, velocity of wave in penstock = 1750 m/sec.
If simple cylindrical surge tank of 25 m diameter has been provided at the end of the tunnel, Find:
i. Maximum upsurge in the tank
ii. Maximum down surge in the tank
iii. Water hammer pressure
iv. Time of oscillation wave.

48. What are the advantages and disadvantages of tunnel? Explain pressure and non-pressure tunnel.

Prepared by: IP Timilsina,SOE Page 6 of 8

49. Explain different types of losses in hydro tunnels, in detail.

50. Design a forebay, data are as given as below,

Discharge(Q)= 15 m3/sec
Storage requirement = 4 minutes
Length of penstock = 500 m
Diameter of penstock = 2.0 m
Solution:-
Let us assume mean velocity (v’ )= 0.15 m/sec
Mean depth (h)= 6.0 m

51. What are the functions of surge tank? Describe with neat sketches the behavior of various types of
surge tanks.

52. What are the design consideration of surge tank? Derive the expression for mass oscillation in simple
cylindrical surge tank.

53. Explain the main function of forebay in hydropower project. What are the design consideration of
design of forebay.

54. A penstock pipe of internal radius 125cm working under static head of 150 m. calculate wall
thickness it the allowable stress in the penstock pipe is 1200 kg/cm2 and joint efficiency 90%.

55. Calculate economic diameter of penstock it design discharge as 25 m3/s, net head is 265 m and
overall efficiency 90%.

56. What do you mean by penstock optimization? Explain the graphical method of penstock
optimization.

Chapter 7 spillway and energy dissipaters

57. What are the different types of spillway used in dam reservoir system? Explain any six of them with
sketches.

58. "spillway is a safety valve of dam" justify your answer. Explain the suitability of any five type of
spillways used in reservoir.

59. Why it is necessary to dissipate energy, when spilled out through the overflow dam? Describe
various methods of energy dissipation.

60. Head of water over the crest of ogee spillway is 3.0 m and coefficient of discharge is 2.5. Weir is
100m long and height of the crest above the base of the approach channel is 10 m. Width of approach
channel is equal to the length of the weir. Find out the discharge passing over the spillway.

61. Design a stilling basin with following data, discharge= 1200 cumec, Head over the crest=5.25 m.
Coefficient of discharge (𝑪𝒅)=0.95, Z= 25m. i= 1/5000 and n= 0.016

62. Design the stilling basin using following data light of the crest above the downstream bed is 30 m.
design discharge 80 m3/s , width of canal 4 m, d/s bed slope 1/500, making is roughness coefficient
0.016 & Cd=0.7.

Prepared by: IP Timilsina,SOE Page 7 of 8

 Chapter 8. Hydro-mechanical & Electro mechanical Equipment

63. A conical draft tube having inlet and outlet diameter 1.2 m and 1.8 m discharges water at outlet with
a velocity of 3 m/sec. The total length of the draft tube is 7.2 m and 1.44m of length of draft tube is
immersed in water. If the atmospheric pressure head is 10.30m of water and loss of head due to
friction in the draft tube is equal to 0.2*velocity head at outlet of the tube. Determine, a)
Pressure head an inlet. b)Efficiency of draft tube.

64. A proposed hydropower development having net head of 150 m and design discharge of 25 m3/sec is
going to use Francis turbine. Taking efficiency 0.81, Find Specific speed and turbine diameter and
elevation of turbine with respect to the water surface in tail race.

65. A pelton turbine develops 6000Kw under a net head of 300 m. The ratio of jet diameter to runner
diameter is 1:10, overall efficiency of the turbine is 85% and rotational speed is 550 rpm then find
the number of jets, diameter of jet, diameter of wheel and quantity of water required. Take, 𝑪𝒗
= 𝟎. 𝟗𝟖 and speed ration = 0.46.

66. What do you mean by governing mechanism? With neat sketch, describe the purpose and working
principle of governor.

67. What do you mean by draft tube? What are the main functions of draft tube?

68. What do you mean by generator? How many types of generator used in hydropower practice?

69. Differentiate between impulse and reaction turbine.

Chapter 9 power house planning

70. What are the advantage and disadvantages of surface and underground powerhouse?

71. Explain the general arrangements for a power house. How would you fix the approximate dimension
of power house?

72. Differentiate between EIA and IEE.

Chapter 10 Micro hydropower plant

73. Describe the advantages and importance of micro-hydropower plants in rural electrification,
particularly in the context of Nepal.

74. What are the key applications of micro-hydro systems in rural settings? Discuss their role in both
domestic and industrial use.

75. Explain the challenges faced during the implementation of micro-hydro projects. How do these
challenges affect long-term sustainability?

76. Draw general layout of basic components of MHP.

Best of Luck

Prepared by: IP Timilsina,SOE Page 8 of 8