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Layout of hydropower scheme components

Short answer

A hydropower scheme diverts water at a weir, passes through intake, gravel trap, and settling basin, then flows via headrace to a forebay or surge tank. A penstock feeds the powerhouse turbine; water returns through a tailrace. Key components include diversion, conveyance, pressure pipe, powerhouse, and tailrace.

Sketch the layout of hydropower scheme showing different components parts.

A typical run-of-river hydropower scheme diverts water from a river, carries it along a gentle slope to gain head, drops it through a penstock to the turbines, and returns it to the river.

 river
  |~~~|  diversion weir
  |===|--> intake --> gravel trap
  |~~~|               |
  |   |               v
  |   |          settling basin (desander)
  |   |               |
  |   |               v
  |   |     headrace canal / tunnel
  |   |               |
  |   |               v
  |   |     forebay / surge tank
  |   |               |
  |   |            penstock
  |   |               |
  |   |               v
  |   |<-- tailrace <-- POWERHOUSE --> switchyard
  |~~~|                     (turbine + generator)

Components

  1. Diversion weir/dam: raises water level and diverts flow.
  2. Intake: draws design flow, with trash rack and gate.
  3. Gravel trap and settling basin: remove gravel and fine sand.
  4. Headrace canal or tunnel: carries water at gentle slope.
  5. Forebay (canal) or surge tank (tunnel): handles load changes.
  6. Penstock: pressure pipe to the turbine.
  7. Powerhouse: turbines, generators, controls.
  8. Tailrace: returns water to the river.
  9. Switchyard and transmission line: deliver power to the grid.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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