177. Sediment and Efficiency Measurements in the Himalayan Power Plants

The Himalayan Rivers provide a great potential for hydroelectricity generation due to its steep gradient. Steep topography, fragile geology and intense rainfall have led to large flow volume and exceedingly high sediment transport in these rivers during rainy seasons. This has posed a challenge to many hydropower plants with respect to sediment handling at headworks, leading to severe sand erosion of turbines and causing loss in energy generation. A research on sediment handling is initiated to understand the sediment problems in Himalayan Rivers in a better way and facilitates in handling sediment problems optimally in run-of-the-river power plants. This paper presents the sediment measurements carried out in power plants from Nepal and its impact on the turbines. This is the initial activity of the sediment handling research.