Feasibility study of small hydroelectric system on terrain elevation differences in an urban catchment

Abstract

The fundamental of hydropower is such that the action of flow of stored water from a higher to a lower elevation will result in work done to turn the hydro turbine, located at a lower elevation. As the hydro turbine rotates, there will be a conversion from kinetic energy, from the flow of water, to electrical energy, from the rotation of the hydro turbine.

There are many different categories of hydropower plants. This work will specifically focus on a Small Hydropower Electric System (SHES). Most of the SHES utilizes a ‘run- of- river’ arrangement which implies that the reservoir or water storing facilities of these SHES are small in nature. This Final Report will cover a wide range of aspects pertaining to the feasibility study of small hydroelectric system on terrain elevation differences in an urban catchment. The different aspects of the feasibility study include identifying the hydraulic structures for a small hydroelectric system and understanding the site evaluations methodologies. Also, a Geographic Information System software known as Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) will be utilized to obtain the topography of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), the 2 locations which have been identified as possible places to study the feasibility of installing a SHES. Apart from the proposed designs of the SHES in NTU and NUS, the deliverables from the proposed designs of the SHES will also be discussed. Next, a discussion section covering on the cost analysis and the environmental impacts from SHES and the mitigation will be included before a conclusion wraps up this Final Report.