Problem Identification and Condition Monitoring status of Nepalese Power Plants

Abstract

Condition monitoring is the process of detecting faults in machine components with the help of measurement & analysis of pre identified parameters in a hydro power plant. This paper presents the different problems identified in the selected hydropower plants owned by Nepal Electricity Authority. The power plants have been selected on the basis of type of turbines and total power output. They include all types of turbines that has been in use in Nepal i.e., Pelton, Francis and Bulb turbines. Similarly, they have been selected in accordance to power output i.e., from 1 MW to 144 MW. The questionnaire has been developed and surveyed for the identification of problems in these hydropower plants as well as status of measurement devices. The paper presents the status of different measurement processes, instruments and sensors being used in the selected hydropower plants. The paper further presents possibly of condition monitoring and fault detection process that can be implied in these power plants.