FEASIBILITY OF TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION IN SMALL HYDROPOWER

Abstract

Hydropower is one of renewable source of power generations due to its reasonable cost and environmentally generous to the nature. The scales of hydropower projects are expensive and construction process is complicated compared to other infrastructure projects. In parallel, it includes various instabilities and difficulties that affect on the extend accomplishment by cost and time. The uncertainties of on ground and underground works are for the most part considered to be one of the most noteworthy sources of cost and time risk for the projects. Hydropower projects need high investment cost and long construction period. Therefore, availability of enough funds, time and better construction management are vital issues to implement the projects. Time and cost are major factors for the achievement of the projects. The present work concentrates on Feasibility of Tunnel construction in Small Hydro Power . The study of the work done by various investigators in the past is carried out in order to find the further scope of improvement. The objective of the study is to compare Cost of channel vis a vis tunnel for the selection of water conductor system. This study focuses on unexpected geographical risks on water conductor system ie Tunnels and Channels and how to affect the cost and plan on development of hydropower projects. The vulnerabilities of underground works, such as tunnels, are by and large considered to be one of the most prominent sources of uncertainities for the projects. Comparison of few projects are considered in order to figure out robust results of the study. According to case study, research findings confirm that tunneling in the region of good geology is simple but tunnel construction in poor geology faces much complicated disturbances leading to collapse and poor construction also heavily effect on tunneling. This study concludes that in region of good rock quality and limited availability of land or topographical and geological restrictions, it is feasible to construct the tunnel for small hydropower .Consequently, The detailed study on the parameters affecting cost of water conductor system is considered for its effectiveness and the systematic approach adopted for georisk management on tunneling to minimize the cost overrun and construction delaying of the hydropower projects