Hydropower energy is one of most promising clean energy technologies, however this energy technology has many challenges. Compared with other renewable energies for example biomass, solar and wind energies, it has high capital investment cost. In Mozambique, access to conversional energy in form of electricity has been limited to most of the rural population. The objectives of the investigation research are to analyze Chua micro-hydropower plant exploration in Manica district in Mozambique and to examine the possibility of increasing energy production. The current total installed power generation capacity in Mozambique is about 939 MW. Hydropower contributes 561 MW, making a contribution of 61%. Oil contributes 27%, and natural gas contributes 12% of the total electric grid generation in Mozambique.
According current energy crisis, energy is considered as a key in generation of health, social development and improved quality of life in all developing countries in the world. Produced and consumed energy resources and especially renewable energy sources in particularly hydropower have very important value to increase energy demand in national grid. Some district and other rural localities with high population concentrations have not yet supplied with electricity and still have old generation (Diesel plant) and distribution systems that are no longer functioning; approximately 13.3% has access to electricity. Small hydropower can be one of the solutions to increase electrification in Mozambique and combat poverty in rural areas [
The conventional energy from EDM grid currently only reaches 22% of the population, over half those having access being in and around Maputo, with all provincial capitals and most urban centres connected, giving access of 27% in urban areas and 6% in rural areas. People not on the grid are mainly those living in peri-urban areas, district capitals and rural areas [
Hydropower energy is the most effective source of energy and electricity and has played a major role in the development of modern civilization and hydropower energy is a kind of renewable energy that comes from moving water and converts into electricity. Hydropower technology has some benefits than fossil fuel; it is a renewable source of energy with no emissions of carbon dioxide in comparison to other forms of energy and fossil fuel. In addition, hydropower projects can be used for multipurpose use, such as irrigation, fishery, flood control and water supply and getting access to modern energy services which are fundamental in fulfilling basic social needs and driving economic growth, as well as have an effect on productivity, health, education, safe water and communication services [
Energy from Hydropower according to [
The totally hydropower energy generation capacity in the world has been increasing steadily over the last 50 years, and has shown an increased rate in the past few years.
The hydropower potential in Mozambique is attractive with hydropower potential estimated to 12,000 MW of which only roughly 2200 MW has been develop to access the national grid, the government of Mozambique has placed rural electrification as a major component of its development programs to meet demand. Furthermore, Mozambique has liberalized its energy sector and allowed inflow of foreign direct investment into hydro projects. The government of Mozambique has adopted a number of broad policy objectives relating to the Development and governance of the energy sector. The government bears the responsibility of rural electrification in terms of creating an enabling environment for all stakeholders [
According [
Continent | Hydropower operation-[MW] | Hydropower under construction-[MW] | Hydropower planed-[MW] |
---|---|---|---|
Africa | 23,428 | 5222 | 76,600 |
Asia | 401,626 | 125,736 | 141,300 |
Europe | 197,152 | 3028 | 11,400 |
America | 169,105 | 7798 | 17,400 |
South of America | 139,424 | 19,555 | 57,300 |
Australia | 13,370 | 67 | 1500 |
Total | 926,159 | 161,400 | 305,500 |
In recent years, the government of Mozambique faced with increasing population that already about 25 millions and with increasing investment sees the need to increase energy demand for local consumption, and building investment was identified about 80 hydropower potential sites and mostly in Central region of Mozambique (Manica and Tete) see
Hydropower Plant | Province | River | Capacity (MW) |
---|---|---|---|
Cabora Bassa | Tete | Zambeze | 2075.0 |
Mavuzi | Manica | Rivue | 42.0 |
Chicamba | Manica | Rivue | 38.0 |
Corumana | Maputo | Sabie | 16.0 |
Cuamba | Niassa | 1.0 | |
Lichinga | Niassa | 0.75 |
Number | Project | Capacity (MW) | Province |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Cabora Bassa North | 2200 | Tete |
2 | Tsatse | 50 | |
3 | Muenezi | 25 | |
4 | Alto Molocue | 40 | Zambezia |
5 | Mugebe | 175 | |
6 | Lucite | 180 | |
7 | Buzi-Miracuene | 300 | |
8 | Pungwe-Pávue | 50 | Manica |
9 | Pungwe-Bue Maria | 80 | Manica |
10 | Mavuzi | 10 | Manica |
11 | Lupata | 600 | Sofala |
12 | Malema | 60 | Niassa |
13 | Massingir | 25 | Gaza |
Hydropower government categorize in many different ways because there is no common classification, some of the methods of classification are based on amount of electricity is generated by the plant, what kind of grid system is utilized for the distribution of electricity, the type of load capacity and the type of storage used by the system. In Mozambique is categorized into large scale (>30 MW), micro power plant (<100 kW), mini power plant (100 < kW < 500 kW) and small Hydropower plant (2.0 < MW < 8.0). While storage scheme based in small hydro power plants they can be classified into storage type, run-of-the-river type or by use of existing water supply [
The history of hydropower development activity in Manica dates back during the colonial period where small scale hydropower plants was developed to supply water, electricity to specific communities in Chua Manica. Before this Hydro power plant was use to grind food (rice, maize) as shown in the
Manica has substantial potential of small hydropower and in this district the business of renewable energies is traditional, it is a normal activity, with support by GIZ Germany organization and FUNAE, some Hydropower plant as shown by
For the purpose of this article, one scientific challenge is to analyze the old plant, and to achieve the above research, different methods have been used to meet the specific objectives of this paper. The following activities were carried out, literature search and assessment of hydropower potential, design and selection Pelton turbine machine.
In order to have a better understanding and obtain useful information in the research area, various literatures in hydropower, small hydropower development and past research in this research area and the existing turbines for mini hydro reviewed.
To estimate the flow, analysis was made by utilizing the available historical flow data records from a nearby gauging station on the Chua River. A set of historical flow data recorded for 39 years dated from 1954 to 2004 were used Wavelet neural network model (WNN). The time series of the collected data sample for a period of 48 years was plotted. Equation (1) and Equation (2) were computed to check if gauged points are correlated WNN method and forecasting Models search as Coefficient of correlation and root mean square error are used [
where: Q is flow in m3/s.
Site location | Discharge (m3/s) | Capacity (kW) | Purpose |
---|---|---|---|
Chua Lino | 0.11 | 22 | Electricity, Gridding mill |
Chua Mucheca | 0.10 | 18 | Electricity, Gridding mill, irrigation |
Chua-Gim | 0.11 | 18 | Electricity, Gridding mill |
Chua-Nguarani | 0.08 | 22 | Electricity, Gridding mill |
Chimucono | 0.11 | 26 | Electricity, Gridding mill, irrigation |
Ganhira | 0.3 | 16 | Electricity, Gridding mill, Irrigation |
Mangunda | 0.1 | 26 | Electricity, Gridding mill |
Mudododo I | 0.2 | 16 | Electricity, Gridding mill, irrigation |
Mudododo II | 0.18 | 16 | Electricity, Gridding mill |
Mussapa | 0.25 | 20 | Electricity, Gridding mill |
Nhancurara | 0.10 | 26 | Electricity, Gridding mill, irrigation |
For the purpose of dimensions of turbine the following formulas are used for various parameters. The parameters are power, runner diameter, jet velocity, area of the jet, jet width, blade radius.
Hydropower schemes use kinetic energy of moving water to produce electricity. The amount of electricity produced by turbine is determine by the water flow rate and vertical fall of water from upstream level to downstream level called the Head see the equation [
where: P, mechanical power produced at the turbine shaft;
where: D is the diameter of the runner, H is net head, N is speed of the runner in revolution per minutes, Ns is the specific speed, Q is the volume flow rate (m3/s), Cd is coefficient of discharge and V is velocity in m/s. For this design, Ns = 30 was select.
This section of paper presents the results and findings of the study and accordingly interprets the methodology. All calculations computed from the formulae which were discussed and presented in the proceeding and reference to the appropriate formulae were made accordingly with respect to every result. Some data collected helped to the success of this Article as
Since the net head of the mini hydropower system at Chua stream is 48 m and the design discharge is 0.15 m3/s, from turbine chart,
Parameter | Result | Unit |
---|---|---|
P | 34.220 | kW |
N | 1649.51 | rpm |
Ns | *30 | rpm |
Drunner | 168 | mm |
n | 15 | Blades |
Aject | 0.0049 | m2 |
Vject | 30.36 | m/s |
90% whose rated power capacity is 34.220 kW.
To estimate the flow, analysis was made by utilizing the available historical flow data records from a nearby gauging station on the Chua River. A set of historical flow data recorded for 39 years dated from 1956 to 2004 were used Wavelet neural network model. The time series of the collected data sample for a period of 48 years plotted. Moreover, to assess the performance of model we find training and validation coefficient of correlations is (R2) is 0.9031 and 0.89 in
This study was carried out with the aim of capacity optimization study of Chua mini-hydropower plant at Chua River in Manica, Mozambique where a hydropower was used for milling corn other cereals. After this study, we can see that it is possible to increase power demand in Chua hydropower plant to 34 kW and that the power demand of the village can increase. Success refurbishing or upgrading of a small-scale hydropower schemes will create job opportunities during the good operation, as well as provide energy to households and promote some economic activities such as trade and irrigation.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our supervisors, Lund University and Eduardo Mondlane University. The support was provided throughout the entire period of our investigation.
Miguel M.Uamusse,Alberto J.Tsamba,JonasMatsinhe,Kenneth M.Persson, (2015) Capacity Optimization Study of Chua Mini-Hydropower Plant at Chua River, Manica, Mozambique. Energy and Power Engineering,07,604-612. doi: 10.4236/epe.2015.713057