Feasibility study of VLH hydro turbine installation at Nam Pung hydropower plant, Thailand

Abstract

The aim of this research was to study the feasibility of installing a Very Low Head (VLH) hydro turbine at downstream of the Nam Pung hydropower plant by increasing the potential of renewable energy sources for the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Due to the constraints of the local site, the water head level was limited to less than 2 meters and the flow rate to below 5 m3/ s. The hydro turbine selected was an axial flow turbine with performance of 86.4%. The outcome of the power output was 84.61 kW. Investment analysis was subsequently applied to estimate feasibility of the project using engineering economics. The analyses of results have shown that the project is worthwhile in terms of an investment decision. The payback period of actual price was 0.83 and 0.88 years and general price case of 3.68 and 4.04 years, along with an interest rate of 6.75% and 12.625% respectively. Projected project lifespan is 25 years.

Keywords

• Hydropower
• Very low head hydro turbine
• Investment analysis
• Feasibility