Penstock
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2014) |
Apenstockis asluiceorgateor intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that delivers water tohydro turbinesandseweragesystems. The term is of Scots origin, and was inherited from the earlier technology ofmill pondsandwatermills,with penstocks diverting pond waters to drive the mills.
Hydroelectric systems and dams[edit]
Penstocks forhydroelectricinstallations are normally equipped with a gate system and asurge tank.They can be a combination of many components such as anchor block, drain valve, air bleed valve, and support piers depending on the application.[1]Flow is regulated to suitturbineoperation and is cut off when turbines are not in service. Penstocks, particularly where used in polluted water systems, need to be maintained by hot water washing, manual cleaning,antifoulingcoatings, allowing waters to goanoxic,anddesiccationused to dry fouling out so that it may slough off or become easier to remove through manual processes.
The term is also used in irrigation dams to refer to the channels leading to and from high-pressuresluice gates.[citation needed]
Penstocks are also used in minetailings damconstruction. The penstock is usually situated fairly close to the center of the tailings dam and built up using penstock rings, short reinforced ring-like sections of pipe which nest one within the other when stacked and thereby control the water level, letting theslimessettle out of the water. This water is then piped under the tailings dam back to the plant via a penstock pipeline.[citation needed]
Watermills[edit]
Inlet valves on the downstream end of penstocks are often used at mill sites to control the flow of water through the mill wheel, or to pen water into a mill pool.[2]
Similar structures[edit]
Similar structures which are not enclosed arehead racesorleats(non elevated), andflumes(elevated).
Hydraulics[edit]
Penstocks are commonly used in water management systems such as surface water drainage and foul water sewers. Penstocks provide a means of isolation of flows and regulate the flow of water while delivering it to waste management facilities or power plants.[3]
Landfills[edit]
Penstocks are incorporated into the surface water management systems (drainage) of many landfill sites.Retention basinsare constructed in order to store storm water, limiting the discharge from the site to its pre-development rate. Valved penstocks are installed at the outfall of the basin to isolate potentially contaminated surface waters from discharging into a main watercourse.
References[edit]
- ^"Global penstock market growth expected to be driven by growing demand of penstock for water management systems especially for drainage water systems".MarketWatch.Retrieved2018-03-09.
- ^"Weirs, Sluices and Penstocks – Kingcombe Aquacare".Kingcombe Aquacare.Retrieved2018-03-09.
- ^"Bulkheads – Mechanical Research & Design, Inc".Mechanical Research & Design, Inc.Retrieved2018-03-09.