Author(s): Bhola Thapa; Ole G. Dahlhaug; Raju Shrestha; Krishna P. Kaphle
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Keywords: Sediment; Nepalese rivers; Turbine erosion; Hard minerals; Efficiency measurement
Abstract: Nepal has huge potential of hydropower. There is a problem of operation and maintenance of hydropower plants in Nepal due to excessive sediment in rivers. The erosion test of turbine material 16Cr5Ni by the sand of Nepalese rivers was carried out at Kathmandu University. The particle size analysis and mineral analysis of the sediment have indicated trend in erosion rate in the river basins in Nepal. Eastern river basins of Nepal have high percentage of hard mineral contents like quartz and feldspar and correspondingly higher erosion rates from sand samples from that basin. Minimum of 50% hard minerals with hardness higher than 5Moh’s is observed in Nepalese rivers. The thermodynamic efficiency measurement at Jhimruk power plant indicated about 4% loss of efficiency during one monsoon season.
Year: 2004