Intakes: Intake structure is situated at the entrance of the canals or tunnels or pipes. The function of the intake system is to provide a passage for debris free water to flow into the water conduit channel or penstock so that the clean water is conveyed to the turbines installed in the power house. The intake structure has to be provided with trash racks screens, control valve or gate end booms to divert and prevent the entry of flooding wood debris, fishes and ice into the turbines.
Types
- Run of river intakes
- Canal intakes
- Dam intakes
- Tower intakes
- Shaft intakes
- Run-of-river:
The trash rack is provided before the gates to prevent the entry of larger wooden logs, fishes etc. at the gates. A strainer is provided before the forebay to prevent debris to enter the turbines. The intake is made bell mouthed at the entry to canal
2. Canal:
Canal intakes are also used for low head power plants similar to run of river. Instead of direct entry of river water to power the house the water enters into the diversion canals. It is provided with silt traps to prevent the silt from entering into the intake conduit.
3. Dam:
It has the trash rack structure in front of the dam with bell mouth intake and a controller is embedded in the dam structure and feeds to the turbine in the power house constructed at the toe of the dam.
4. Tower:
These intakes are normally built on hillsides slightly away from the dam in case it is not possible to provide direct intake structure upstream face of the dam.
5. Shaft:
It has nearly a vertical shaft made near the reservoir site. It is also provided with an access tunnel from the top of the dam to the intake structure for emergency requirements.
Losses
- Entrance loss
- Rack loss
- Head gate losses
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