COST OPTIMIZATION OF MEDIUM HEAD SHP PROJECT

Abstract

Hydropower potential has been a very attractive source for generating the electricity in the competitive environment where many resources of electricity such as fossil fuels (like coal, petrol, diesel), nuclear, etc exist due to its renewable nature. In the present study, different layouts for medium head SHP projects and their components have been discussed. Studies of various options for different components for run of river schemes are also discussed. Cost for each option for each component is worked out for a given value of power and head using detailed design and drawing and considering the prevailing rates of material used for the year 2012. This, methodology is repeated for different combinations of power and head for every civil and electrometrical component and thus obtained the cost for all the options considered for every component. Then co-relations to cost are developed for every civil and electromechanical component using these costs obtained for different values of power and head using Minitab software. Total installation cost for these layouts for a given value of power and head which falls between the ranges of medium head SHP. projects is thus calculated. Here three types of layouts are discussed using different types of penstocks having different materials and their installation costs are compared. In these layouts, whichever have the lesser installation cost, will be the optimum layout. The developed co-relation has been verified with cost data of completed such power stations under the range of medium head SHP projects. A maximum deviation of 18.08% has been observed which may be considered as a good prediction for cost estimates of SHP projects at the planning stage for medium head SHP projects.