Optimization potential analysis of micro-hydro power plant (MHPP) from river with low head

Abstract

Indonesia has a lot of civilization without electricity in remote areas. In order to fulfill the high demand of electricity, low cost and environmentally friendly power plants are required to reach remote areas. Micro-hydro power plants are proposed as a solution that could penetrate the limited accessibility for transport, technology, and cost. This paper covers a case study of optimization potential analysis of micro-hydro power plant (MHPP) in Subang. This study analyze the current technical specification of the MHPP in Subang in order to optimize the operation to reach the attached generator capacity with the condition of low head and low discharge of the river. Analysis of the existing MHPP proposes a redesign focused on the penstock pipe and turbine. According to the calculations, penstock pipe design has the minimum required diameter of 0.7 m in order to withstand the debit of 1.1 m3/s. Besides, in order to optimize the cross flow turbine performance with the debit of 1.1 m3/s, the existing turbine’s radius should be redesigned to 0.71 m, with the existing turbine’s blade length should be redesigned to 0.248 m. All of the redesigns proposed could increase the potential power generation up to 200% from the current condition.