12/16/2022 Private Mini-Grid with Whirlpool

Hydropower
IETP

PROJECT PROPOSAL
Table of Contents

1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
2. Background Study……………………………………………………………………………………………………1
3. Objective…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2
3.1. General objective…………………………………………………………………………………………2
3.2. Specific objective…………………………………………………………………………………………2
4. Work Plan and Modeling…………………………………………………………………………………………2
4.1. Physical Modeling…………………………………………………………………………………..……2
4.2. Mathematical Modeling…………………………………………………………………………..….3
4.2.1. Turbine Sizing……………………………………………………………………………………..….3
4.2.2. Turbine Modeling………………………………………………………………………………..…3
4.2.3. Power Calculation………………………………………………………………………………..…3
5. Important Assumptions………………………………………………………………………………………..…4
6. Whirlpool Hydropower Turbine System………………….………………………………………………4
6.1. Advantages and Disadvantages……………………………………………………………………4
7. Project Evaluation……………………………………………………………………………………………………5
7.1. Relevance ……………………………………………………….……………………………………………5
7.2. Effectiveness………………………………………………..………………………………………………5
8. Cost Breakdown………………………………………………………………………………………………………5
9. Design Approach………………………………………………………………………………………………………6
10. Geolocation……………………………………………………………..………………………………………………6
11. Stake holders……………………………………………………………………………………………………………7
12. Project Team……………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
13. Time Schedule…………………………………………………………….……………………………………………8
1. Introduction
Supply of electrical energy in rural area is always challenging due to high cost for installation of
transmission and distribution equipment, especially in mountainous areas. Some villages with
farm lands have rivers or water stream but usually cannot benefit from the sustainable
electricity for livelihood purposes. To overcome the high cost electricity production and to
promote eco-friendly environment, a small hydropower plant can contribute majorly.
The use of hydropower energy for energy generation is one of the oldest methods for
harnessing renewable energy. Use of renewable energy is an essential ingredient of
socioeconomic development and growth. Nowadays with increased concern for environment
led to the research for more environment friendly sources of energy and with this
considerations wind energy can be considered as a viable option.

2. Background Study
Agriculture accounts for 33 percent of Ethiopia’s GDP and 70 percent of its exports, with almost
eight of every ten workers in the country connected to the sector. It is increasingly difficult for
the agriculture sector to grow, especially as demand continuous to increase throughout the
country. It’s difficult to think of growing the agricultural industry without giving the vast rural
area of our country access to reliable & affordable electricity. Today, just 30 percent of
Ethiopia’s rural population has access to electricity, often through small solar lights or
intermittent grid supply.
Although Ethiopia is unique in that practically all of its electricity is produced from low-carbon
energy sources, we still didn't reach our limit when it comes to developing more of the
same energy that is essential to provide rural areas with electricity and guaranteeing a
sufficient supply of energy. The number of Ethiopians without access to the electrical grid is
now at 70 million, and there is a significant difference between access in rural and urban areas
(varying from five to 20 percent in rural areas to 80-90 percent or more in metropolitan areas.
To overcome this, we must find a way to come up with more sources of electric power
generation, and this is where our projects comes in. Among several options for rural
electrification, a small - hydropower plants have a special place for their ability to generate
energy continuously provided the rated flow. And this whirlpool hydropower plant is among
one of this hydropower generating plants that can easily be helpful to form mini-grids
throughout the country.
So to ease entry and exit in mini-grid development involvement both for the government and
the private sector participants. a good frame work needs to be established to create
transparent and trustful engagement in the development effort and also to ascertain
investment return and operational undertaking in orderly manner

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3. Objectives
General objective
Our objective is the

✓ developing electrical Mini-Grids using a whirlpool/vortex turbine throughout the

country,
✓ providing reliable electricity towards the many livelihoods of Ethiopia’s citizens, in rural
as well as urban parts of the country.
✓ by installing this turbine, we will have our own electric mini grid systems that can be
sold to different customers while also helping the community in many ways.
✓ Helping the farmers with irrigation
Specific objective
Design and create a working whirlpool prototype.

4. Project work plan / Modeling

4.1 Physical Model
This proposed mini hydro generation is based on whirlpool motion of water due to low water
head we cannot achieve the exact height and water pressure on turbine. So in order to rotate
the turbine efficiently the turbine is placed inside a round basin which have inlet in top side and
outlet discharge of water from bottom. This can be installed on river by making a partition on
main stream and dedicating a water flow path to the basin. According to desirable condition
this basin and water inlet can be manufactured with PVC to minimize the construction cost and
time and also portable to move anywhere and the size of basin is accordingly to that of
generator specification.

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Dynamic turbine is used to utilize the full flow of water inlet to rotate the turbine. Selection of turbine
blade is an important factor to enhance the efficiency of whole system because the turbine blades
should be able to catch the flow of whirlpool. Where:
5.2 Mathematical Modeling D = discharge in 𝑚3
A. Turbine Sizing /𝑆𝑒𝑐, (2)

According to the international standards, the particular speed of turbine:E =𝐺 ∗ 𝐻 𝑖𝑛 𝑗/𝐾𝑔

𝑟𝐷𝑒 = 𝑟 ∗√𝐷 Specific hydraulic energy of

machine
𝐸3/4
r = rotation in 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠/𝑠𝑒𝑐 (4)
The range of the particular speed for the Kaplan turbine is 0.19 < 𝑟𝐷𝑒 < 1.5 the plea is to couple
the Kaplan turbine directly to standard 1500rpm generator, so r is 25𝑡/𝑠 and 𝑟𝐷𝑒 equals 0.51.

• The outer diameter: 𝐷𝑒 = 84.5(0.79+ 1.602 × 𝑟𝐷𝑒) × √𝐻/60 × 𝑟

• The runner hub diameter: 𝐷𝑖 = (0.25 +0.0951𝑛𝑄𝑒) ∗ 𝐷𝑒
B. Turbine Modeling

• Turbine speed can be calculated in as: 𝑇 = 𝑣/𝑅 (7)

Where: V - speed of water flow, R - Radius of turbine

C. Power Calculation
The theoretical power available from the flow of water falling to turbine can be expressed in as:

• Efficiency of the turbine is calculated as:

𝑃𝑎 = 𝜇𝑃𝑞𝑔ℎ P𝑡ℎ = 𝑃𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑞 𝑔 ℎ

𝑃𝑎 = 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 (𝑊) 𝑃𝑡ℎ = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝑊 = 𝑃𝑉𝐺𝐻 𝑞 = 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 (𝑚3 per 𝑆)

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟(𝑚3) 𝑔 = 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦(9.81𝑚/𝑠2)

ℎ = 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 (𝑚)

• Speed ratio of the turbine is
𝜇 = 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 (0.75 𝑡𝑜 0.95)
𝜆 = 𝑅 ∗ Ω𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒

Where R - turbine radius, Ω𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 - 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛e

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5. Important Assumptions
➢ Influence by weather conditions
Weather conditions of the project site are roughly sorted into the rainy season and the dry
season. In the rainy season, the constructions in the river are not possible due to high river
water levels, and also transportation of equipment and materials are restricted due to wet road
conditions. Therefore, the main part of construction works shall be carried out in the dry
season, while the partial works can be done even in the rainy season carefully.
➢ Influence by other projects/ imported items
As for equipment and materials, unless the items are made locally, imported items form
different countries could disrupt the project’s schedule.

6. Whirlpool Hydropower Turbine System

Advantages
✓ It requires simple maintenance
✓ Checking and cleaning are easy
✓ Controlling or handling is easy
✓ Manual power is not required

✓ Durability: All of the components in a Whirlpool Hydropower system are designed to be

very durable, even in extreme weather conditions or high levels of continuous use.
✓ Controllability: Whirlpool hydropower come with a simple controller that makes
temperature control easy, allowing you to fine tune your energy usage and comfort
level to maximize efficiency and savings.

✓ The system can be implemented effectively in all hydropower plant

Disadvantages

▪ Rotor power output efficiency

▪ Since the rotor situated near ground, it may experience lower velocity and this may yield
less energy output
▪ Since it is a vertical axis machine and there are no more references to compare with
than the horizontal axis machines.

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7. Project Evaluation
• Relevance
The hydropower plant of this project is one of renewable energy power sources, and it has a
characteristic of relatively small environmental and social impacts. And also, the other
component of the project is to extend distribution lines to rural un-electrified villages, therefore
the project is consistent.

• Effectiveness
In addition to the contribution to the rural electrification and power import reduction the
following effects are also expected:
✓ Strengthening stable power supply to the surrounding areas
✓ Contribution to the local economic development and livelihood improvement
✓ Promotion of renewable energy development

8. Cost Breakdown
As of now, we expect to have the following expense in order to create our whirlpool turbine
project:

List Unit /Meter Unit price (ETB) Total price (ETB)

Dynamos 4 200 800

Transformer 3 300 900

Plastic Pan/plates 3 500 1500

Glue 3 250 750

Cable

Type-A 3 350 1500

Type-B 3 225
Water tank 2 450 900

Metal bars 2 350 700

Total Sum 7,050

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9. Design Approach
Installing Hydropower Plant Process:
➢ Surveying

The works concerning the construction of the Hydropower plant (diversion tunnel, concrete
framework, power house etc.) are concentrated in a small area of about 1.5m2.

The topography of Ethiopia, with mountainous areas coupled with numerous rivers and streams
makes Micro Hydropower Plants (MHP) development suitable. Out of this, about 15% of the
overall hydropower potential is from unregulated river run-off, usually in the category of micro
hydropower plants.
85% of Ethiopia’s population is living in rural areas while only 10 out of 100 households have
access to electricity. Extending the national grid to isolated rural communities seems technically
and economically not feasible in many cases. Due to its high potential, micro hydropower plants
could play an important role to electrify off-grid areas.
➢ Land Acquisition
Land acquisition is required to enable placement of the project which belongs to government as
riverside area, though this land could have been used for agriculture or garden by a local people
so, getting permission from its owner could be needed.
➢ Excavating, Installation and Framework

10. Possible Project Areas / Geolocations

While, Ethiopia has over 12 lakes, 9 major rivers with 7 tributaries only 25% of the population
has access to electricity today (according to the IMF (International Monetary Fund)). The
Whirlpool hydropower plant could solve the very basics of this problem it could be installed in
every running water, river side areas so that it could generate an electricity for the household
purposes across the area.
From the 9 major rivers and their tributaries let’s take a look on some of their location, water
capacity and their flow current with respect to the whirlpool hydropower needs:

• Didessa Riverside Area

The Didessa River is a river in western Ethiopia, a tributary of the Abay river it rises in the
mountains of Gomma. It’s drainage area is about 19,630 sq. Km covering portions of the
Benishangul-Gumuz Region and the West Welega Zone. There is also an irrigation dam that
could assist this project with the water power it needs.

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• Ganale Doria Riverside Area
The Ganale Doria river found in southeastern Ethiopia region, rising in the mountains east of
Aleta Wendo, it covers 171,050 sq. km in size with an annual runoff of 5.80 billioin cubic metres
and specific discharge of 1.2 litres per second per sq. km. The catchment area is estimated as
having the potential to irrigate 1,070 sq.km and to generate an enormous electric power.

• Atbarah Riverside Area

The Atbarah river rises in northwest region of Ethiopia, approximately 50Km north of Lake Tana
and 30Km West of Gondar. It then flows about 805 Km to the Nile with an average discharge of
374 m3 per second. It provides water for the farmers around the riverside area which could be
the best geolocation to implement this whirlpool hydropower project.

NB: Ethiopia has approximately 11 large hydropower dams with an annual energy production
based on these rivers however, the rural side of these areas can’t even access electricity.
Therefore, this project aims to develop these river side areas by fulfilling their electrical power
demand.

11. Stakeholders
In order to achieve the goals, we need to have a good frame work from the regulatory side and
as the guidelines are under development in our country there isn’t much we can say about the
pricing and other related issues.
But generally the main stakeholders of the project that can help us to implement this service
are;
1. Public offices (the Government): agencies that are related to energy, water, electricity
and even agriculture. In our country these are MoWIE, EEU, Regional Energy Bureau’s,
Cooperatives
2. Private sector: here it can be organizations that can either help financially or in other
different sectors. These include Private sector enterprises, Banks, Micro finance
institutions, other financial intermediaries
3. The people: the people are the most important factors of this project because at the
end of the day the plan is to help people and we have communicated with them
constantly.

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 Sector Implementing Agency and Intermediaries

Public ▪ MoWIE and EEU,

▪ Regional Energy Bureau’s
▪ Cooperatives
Private ▪ Private sector enterprises
▪ Micro finance institutions
▪ Banks and other financial intermediaries

12. Project Team

YOHANNES TIBEBU NATNAEL TIBEBU MESFIN DESSIE

Jane Doe Jane Doe Jane Doe
CO-FOUNDER CO-FOUNDER CO-FOUNDER
& CIVIL ENG. & ELECTRICAL ENG. & ELECTRICAL ENG.
Project Manager and Business and Data Analyst Marketing Designer and
Researcher Purchasing Manager
[email protected] [email protected] @gmail.com
+251923299613 +251908781851 +251932155503

EMRAN HAYREDIN REDIET ASSEFA MIKIYAS ZEKARIYAS

Jane Doe Jane Doe Jane Doe
CO-FOUNDER CO-FOUNDER CO-FOUNDER
& SOFTWARE ENG. & CIVIL ENG. & ELEC.MECH. ENG.
Data Analyst and Product Designer and Technical and
Researcher Surveyor Manufacturing Manager
@gmail.com @gmail.com @gmail.com
+251927727196 +251921619564 +251901452720

13. Time schedule

Task Time period
Proposal Submission & Presentation of Project Requirements and Dec 16
constraints
Brainstorming Session on Design Ideas Dec 16 – Dec 20
Research on Whirlpool Hydropower Operations Dec 21 – Dec 25
Building Model and Test Prototypes Dec 26 – Jan 24
Evaluation & Necessary Revisions to Finalize Prototype Design Jan 25 – Jan 27
Final Assembly and Testing Jan 27– Jan 29
Reflection & Presentation of Completed Projects Jan 29 – Jan 30

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In the following chart we illustrate the general planned timeline of our
project.

Gantt Chart for Group 22 IETP project

7-Nov 14-Nov 21-Nov 28-Nov 5-Dec 12-Dec 19-Dec 26-Dec 2-Jan 9-Jan 16-Jan 23-Jan 30-Jan 6-Feb

project idea selection

proposal development

planning of project tasks

initial design formulation

beginning of development

progress report development

procurement process

design improvements

final prototype assembly

final prototype testing

poster and video development