Hydropower Technology Question Paper

Hydropower Technology

Course:Bachelor Of Science In Manufacturing Engineering And Technology

Institution: Kenyatta University question papers

Exam Year:2009

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2009/2010
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
(MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING)

SET 532: HYDROPOWER TECHNOLOGY

DATE: Wednesday 30th December, 2009 TIME: 4.30 p.m – 6.30 p.m
INSTRUCTIONS:
1.
This paper contains five questions
2.
Attempt question one and select any other two from the remaining questions
3.
All Questions carry equal marks
4.
State assumptions made and define all symbols used
1.
a)
As a energy engineering graduate from Kenyatta University, you have

been contracted to design a micro hydro power generating system along

Kamiti River passing nearby Kenyatta University to power the students
hostels. Describer step by step how you would go about designing and
recommending the size of the turbine needed for power generation.

[10 marks]
b) A
manufacturer
supplied
a four jet Pelton runner with a pitch circle if
diameter of 150 mm to generate 10 kW under a head of 20 m. Determine
what would be required to generate the desired power and whether this jet
size
is
reasonable.
[10
marks]
2.
a)
Using illustration describe the major methods for planning an intake
structure
for
micro-hydropower
station.
[4
marks]

b)
Describe three types of intake structures that may be considered when

setting up a hydropower station in our local rivers in Kenya using
illustration
as
much
as
possible.
[6
marks]

Page 1 of 3

c)
Determine specific speed of a hydro-turbine that has flow – rate of
200mm3/s and head of 10m with rotational speed of 600 revolutions per
minute. [10
marks]
3. A Pelton wheel driven installed in Thima micro-hydropower generation station
drives a power generator at 600 rpm. The water jet is 75mm in diameter and has a
velocity of 100m/s. With the blade angle of 170o, the ratio of vane diameter to
initial jet speed is 0.47. Assuming negligible energy losses by the system,
determine the following.
a)
Diameter of water to centerline of the bucket vanes.
[4 marks]
b)
Power develop by the turbine. [10
marks]
c)
Kinetic energy remaining in the fluid after leaving the turbine wheel.

[6 marks]
4.
a)
Describe in detail the major components of hydropower scheme and
principle
behind
their
operations.
[10
marks]

b)
Why is specific speed important in the hydropower generation industry?

[2 marks]
c)
An
electric
powered centrifugal pump may be operated as hydropower

generation system. The pump has 700mm diameter impeller running at

1800 rpm with water entering without swirls and a = 60o. Determine

the head under which the pump should operate optimally. [8 marks]
5.
Hydropower systems are known to have a high initial capital costs and very low

operating costs. A hydropower system having with storage capacity of 30 m3
is installed in Kirinyanga district. It costs Kshs 150,000/= to set up the system
with an initial down payment of 20% of the investment, the balance 80% being
taken as loan to be repaid in equal annual installments over 10 year period at an
interest of 16%. The cost of conventional fuel saved powering a petrol generator
in the first year is Kshs 21,000/= and this cost increases at the rate of 4% every
year. The annul expenditure required by way of maintenance, electrical energy
for running subsidiary equipments , local taxes and insurance is Kshs 6600/=
in the first year, and this expense increase at the rate of 5% every year.

Page 2 of 3

The tax deductions are permissible only on depreciation, which is allowed at the

rate of 25% each year and the company income tax rate is 55%. Assuming that

the rate is 10 % , determine the cumulative energy savings.
[15 marks]

b)
Using illustrations, describe the basic principles of hydraulic ram pump.

Do you think the hydraulic ram pumps can be used in hydropower
generation
systems?
[5
marks]

Page 3 of 3

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