A General Review on Methods of Sediment Sampling and Mineral Content Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Sediment erosion is a major problem in hydropower plants of Himalayan and Andes region which causes frequent breakdown of electromechanical parts in contact with sediment laden water demanding regular maintenance. Sediment suspended in water with high velocity has higher potential to erosion of the turbine parts. Studies show that sediment erosion can be minimized to some extent if modifications in the design, use of erosion resistant material as well as application of erosion resistant paints are carried out on those components. Besides, thorough understanding of sediment by proper analysis is important for designing and making components less prone to sediment erosion. The efficiency of sediment analysis depends on the sampling method and the method used for particle size distribution (PSD) analysis and mineral content (MC) analysis. Depending on the nature of the stream, a different method should be adopted. This paper presents a general overview of the method of sampling, method of PSD and MC analysis.