SURGE SHAFT IN POWER GENERATING STATION

[Marvie]

I am trying to understand the main functions of the surge shaft (or surge chamber) in electrical power generating stations. Any reference information will suffice.

 

[waross]

It is related to water hammer. When a hydro station is in operation there will be tons of water moving through the penstock. When the flow must be reduced, the energy of the moving water must be dissipated. With a surge stack the water diverts into the surge stack rather than burst the penstock or damage the gates. Some hydro plants run without a surge stack. In this case the flow control gates must not be closed to rapidly.
To see what may happen when the gates are closed too rapidly in a design without a surge stack see:

ruggedscot (Electrical)
17 Aug 09 14:43

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...electric-plant-leaves-seven-workers-dead.html

This is one hell of a mess - and a terrible thing to happen. It appears that during maintenance on a power transformer it exploded causing the roof and walls of the turbine hall to collapse. this resulted in two turbines being destroyed,and one turbine badly damaged. the plant was closed down and power shortages affected the area. People dead - people missing and panic in the towns below the power station. The largest in Russia. Just think several people went to work that morning expecting a normal shift, never really thought that the day would take a turn for the worst. Poor guys - thoughts are with them.

Rugged

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[itsmoked]

I had to crawl out on the net over the 1200ft tall surge tower at Helms Reservoir. It was about 40 feet in diameter. It was very annoying to see my wallet fluttering four hundred feet down to the surface of the water..

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com