TITLE:
Evolution of Sedimentation in a Headrace Canal for Hydroelectric Production Case of the Shongo Basin of the Inga Complex from February 2020 to May 2021 (Kongo Central Province/DR Congo)
AUTHORS:
Omer Kawende Kalonda, Ivon Ndala Tshiwis, Boniface Mumbimb Atalatala, Clement N’Zau Umba-Di-Mbudi
KEYWORDS:
Quantities, Erode, Deposede, Load Shedding and Index
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.5,
May
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: The headrace of the Inga hydropower complex is experiencing siltation
problems, reducing the exploitable draft and limiting the production capacity
of the two main Inga hydropower plants during the low water period. During the
2019 low water period, several sediment slumps occurred in the Shongo basin,
disrupting the production of hydroelectric power generated by the Inga 1 & 2 power
plant, resulting in massive load shedding of power supply to downstream customers. The cardinal aim of this
study is to determine the quantities of sediments deposited and those eroded,
in order to know the evolution of sedimentation in the Shongo basin from
February 2020 to May 2021. The results obtained show that the running index of
the turbines alternators groups is determinant and influences the sedimentation
process in the Shongo basin. The cleaning of the Shongo basin in terms of the
spatial distribution of sedimentation from February 2020 to May 2021 is plausible.