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Evaluation of a Potential Site for a Small Hydropower Plant Located in the BioBio North Irrigation System, Chile

This project considers an evaluation of a potential site for a small hydropower plant located in the BioBio north irrigation system, Chile. The purpose was to analyze the potential and constraints in harnessing the energy of an existing infrastructure of irrigation canals for electrical production. The site was analyzed technically, economically and managerially. Before this project nothing was done and therefore the investigations are a main part of the project. A preliminary design for the plant was proposed and the project was named the Minicentral Quillaileo-Mininco. Investigations showed a flow variation of 1.62-2.2 m3 per second and a gross head of 44.3 meters. Evaluation gave a possible capacity of 840 kW producing 5 800 MWh annually. Appropriate electromechanical equipment is a Francis turbine with a diameter of 0.5 meter directly coupled to a 1000 rpm synchronous generator. The penstock recommended is a DN 1200 Flowtite GRP. The station is to be fully automatic and connected to the national grid. The revenue is based on analysis of the past three year’s electrical market. The costs are based on budget proposals, statistical values and local comparisons. The economical analysis, based on a discount rate of 12% and life span of 35 years, gives a positive cash flow within eight years and a simple payback period of 5 years. The project will have a NPV value of 444 900 USD, IRR 14.70% and B/C of 1.2. Cost per kW will be 2 980 USD. The project is recommended to be further developed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-127898
Date January 2010
CreatorsGunnar, Sofie
PublisherUppsala universitet, Elektricitetslära
Source SetsDiVA Archive at Upsalla University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeStudent thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text
Formatapplication/pdf
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
RelationUPTEC ES, 1650-8300 ; 10 020

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