Renovation, Modernisation and Uprating of Hydropower Station

Mayadhar Swain

Abstract

Although hydropower has been used since ancient times to grind floor and to perform other tasks, the world’s first hydro electrical power generation started in England in 1881. Hydropower facilities now generate nearly a quarter of the world's electricity. Hydropower is produced in more than 150 nations throughout the world. Hydropower has many advantages over other conventional sources of power and so it is the main attractive source for developers. It is cheap and no fuel is required. It uses water as its fuel by running it through turbines and discharging it to a water body downstream. In this process, the water remains unpolluted and the hydro power generation process is therefore by definition non-consumptive. That is a renewable, cost-effective, low-pollutant, and ecologically friendly source of energy. However, it has additional problems and development constraints. Different equipment / components have different life expectancies. After 30 to 35 years the equipment of the plant are to be renovated for trouble-free operation and better performance. Some equipment may have come to a stage where these can not be further used and they need replacements. Prior to implementing such procedures, it is necessary to conduct Remaining Life Assessment and Expansion Of existing (RLA & LE) research. This analysis identifies which components should be changed and which should be reused during renovation in order to extend the life of both the Power Station by another 25 years.