DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS: SMALL HYDROPOWER GENERATION FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION

Abstract

Small hydro power generation has been identified as a key contributor towards rural electrification in Kenya where 80% of the rural population is not connected to the national grid and there exists some potential for it mainly in the Mt. Kenya region and the Lake Victoria Basin. There are several small hydro plants that have been established in Kenya which are running but with various challenges due to the lack of proper feasibility studies being carried out to assess the site, poor demand estimation, poor design of the turbine and generator components, lack of trained manpower to carry out the periodic maintenance for proper functioning of the plant. The rural communities tend to be discouraged by the high capital cost which can be a result of over sizing of the equipments required and also if the maintenance is not properly carried out the running cost also become prohibitive and the projects are abandoned. This paper highlights the development on design of the small hydro plants made by JKUAT which resulted in fabrication of a pelton turbine wheel from re-cycled aluminium alloy. The pelton buckets attached to the wheel were anodized by an electrolytic process to harden the surface and reduce wear. The fabricated turbine has been able to generate 1Kw of power and provide technical and practical data for use in further design development.