Design and analysis of a micro-hydro distributed power system

Abstract

Micro-Hydro Distributed Power System is a renewable energy power plant. This dissertation comprises four (4) chapters: Chapter 1 provides general Micro-hydro Distributed Power System information, Chapter 2 provides project modelling and analysis, Chapter 3 provides off the shelve designs for Micro-hydro Distributed Power Systems, and Chapter 4 provides project construction, conclusions and recommendations. The purpose of this study is to improve the standard way of producing electricity in a micro-hydropower plant through introducing a more efficient method into a micro-hydropower plant's current conventional method of electricity production. The aim of bringing this Micro-hydro Distributed Power System is to achieve greater results in comparison to those attained with a standard micro-hydro power plant, without the need to depend on rainfall and instead using two naturally occurring resources that can be stored: air and water. Storage tanks will be filled with water from existing dams or river runoff, and solar compressors will provide the air. which will produce electricity year-round at a higher rate than the current micro-hydropower, which is dependent on rainfall. The Micro-hydro Distributed Power System is a hydropower plant that generates electricity by compressing fluid into the system with compressed air. Because the entire power system is dependent on working pressure and how power is generated using two major renewable sources, water and air, the system is designed and analyzed in CAD design software, and the results are calculated to ensure the design is sufficiently durable to withstand the pressure. The Micro-hydro Distributed Power System operates on the same principle as hydropower plants; the system converts H-Head(m) into pressure, which is then used in the formula (P=gh) to calculate the system's power. The main difference between Micro-hydro Distributed Power Systems and normal hydropower is the use of H-Head(m), in this system the H-Head(m) is converted inside the pipeline to find pressure as actual Head on standard hydropower plants. This research was conducted theoretically and not practically. Theoretically, the findings of this study show that the power to be produced based on calculations is significantly higher than anticipated prior to the start of the research; the power input needed for the Micro-hydro Distributed Power System based on the compressor system's rated power is 11KW in order to produce the 13 bars of pressure necessary to compress fluid for maximum power output. The compressor system generates 398.3 MW of electricity at 13 bars, but at a high water flow rate of 391.907 L/s. The fact that this water is recycled and pumped back into the tank is a significant benefit of the Micro-hydro Distributed Power System. Without compressed air, water does not flow and cannot be pumped back into the system. The system uses the same principle as a standard hydropower plant when it comes to water entering the turbines, the difference is that in the Micro-hydro Distributed Power System Head(m) is not considered but converted into pressure for using it in hydropower formulas to find power and other useful calculations in the hydropower plant, since it manipulates pressure through the pipelines. This system will help in the addition of electricity in hydro power, and during the draught season this system can produce electricity since the plant uses circulation of water. The reaserch about this system is still continueing to better the system interm of its design and the power it can produce.