The objective is to conduct a literature review to provide general insights for minimize the consumption of water while producing hydro electric power. The analysis presented in paper is based on the penstocks geometric and hydraulic characteristics, hydraulic head, and the desired power production. Minimizing water consumption for energy production may affect the availability of water for other purposes such as irrigation and navigation. Various dimensionless relationships between power production, flow discharge, and head losses were derived by authors. As mentioned in this analysis it was found that for minimizing water consumption, the ratio of head loss to gross head should remained not more than 15%. An example on reaction turbine of application is presented for determining optimal flow discharge and optimal penstock diameter for reaction turbine.

The objective is to analyze the penstock diameter and discharge dimensionally to get optimization of dimensions of penstock and discharge through it. This dimensional analysis will give the general insights to minimize the consumption of water while producing hydro electric power. The analysis mainly based on the penstock's geometric and hydraulic characteristics, hydraulic head, and the desired power production. Minimizing water consumption for energy production may be effective to the availability of water for other purposes such as irrigation and navigation. The analysis in this paper carried out from various dimensionless relationships between power production, flow discharge, and head losses which were derived previously by various authors. As mentioned in the analysis it was found that for minimizing water consumption, the ratio of head loss to gross head should remained not more than 15.6%. Taking into consideration various dimensional constants and friction factors the formulation in analysis is explained. Making iterative calculations based on derivation given by different authors the maximum and optimum diameter as well as optimum discharge with respect to head loss is calculated. An example of application on an existing 2x12 MW Hydro Power Project is presented for determining optimal flow discharge and optimal penstock diameter for reaction turbine by dimensional analysis.