Development of Hydropower Scheme

Daraban Zam Dam is a proposed 45 m high ECRD dam to create 83.4 MCM storage reservoir with the objective to make available assured irrigation supplies to the command area and thus enhance the agricultural produce. In addition to this, the dam shall reduce flood damages and provide job opportunities and recreational facility. The project consultants did not consider in the studies the hydropower aspect.The available gross head at site is 45m, so by utilizing the available gross head and the design irrigation releases of 21.4 m3/s, the energy was estimated which is 8 MW and annual energy output of 70 Gwh respectively. After assessing the power and energy, design of penstock, selection of number of turbines and sizing of powerhouse was carried out. The design of penstock, penstock s diameter, mean flow velocity in penstock, velocity of pressure wave, reflection time of pressure wave and closing time of controlling system was determined.The authors appreciate the efforts of Barthlemy Chaton and his team in facilitating and highly acknowledge publishing of it by VDM Publishing House Ltd., for technical knowledge sharing internationally.