Hydropower generation from running water in irrigation and drainage canal

Abstract

In this study, hydropower generation from running water in irrigation system was studied by using different parameters such as selection of canals, determination of the flow conditions of the canals, collection of rainfall data, determination of different head within the canal and the selection of low head turbine. This study was done because hydropower that can be produced from irrigation canal is being wasted in Malaysia. Thus, secondary and tertiary canals were selected to study the feasibilities in harnessing hydropower. The average annual rainfall was measured as 138.13mm. Rainfall collected was used to irrigate the area since it was rainy season. The water discharge calculated for secondary canal and tertiary canal is 2.532𝑚3/𝑠 and 0.933𝑚3/𝑠. The head difference calculated for secondary and tertiary canal was 1.610m and 1.530m. Other than that, the energy that was produced by secondary and tertiary canal was 0.489kW and 0.465kW. The power calculated for secondary canal was 39.991kW and 14.004kW for tertiary canal. Secondary canal was more effective in producing hydropower compared to tertiary canal because it has higher water discharge, higher head difference and higher energy. However, both canals were considered to produce micro hydropower. Thus, a low head turbine which is Kaplan turbine was selected for this study to harness hydropower. Kaplan turbine is suitable for low head in irrigation system.