Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and

Technology, Kumasi
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MSc. Thesis Presentation

By

YESUENYEAGBE ATSU KWABLA FIAGBE

Supervisor:

Dr. D.M. Obeng

Topic

OPTIMIZATION OF HYDROPOWER
GENERATION AT VOLTA RIVER
AUTHORITY DURING OFF-DESIGN
CONDITIONS
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 2
Main Objective

To find unit combinations that give

the optimum power of the two
hydroelectric power plants at
Akosombo and Kpong during off-
design condition

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 3

Specific Objectives

To study current operation practice of
the plants

To develop a relation for determining
the optimum combinations of the units
of the plants during low level operation

To develop a computer simulation
program/software for optimum operation.

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 4

Volta River Authority
 Established under Volta River Development Act
1961 (Act 46)
Functions
 Generate electric power & develop hydroelectric
potentials of Volta river
 Construct & operate transmission system
 Develop Volta Lake as a
• source of fish
• Means of transport
 Administration of Akosombo Township
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 5
Volta River Authority
 Two hydroelectric power plants at
Akosombo and Kpong
 Diesel generators at Tema
 Thermal power plant at Aboadze, Takoradi

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 6

Hydropower System

Two hydroelectric generating plants along
Volta River at Akosombo and Kpong.

Akosombo plant is upstream of Kpong with
six units.

Operates between 276ft (84.15m) and 248ft
(75.60m) with 6 Francis turbines

Design capacity of 147MW for four and
162MW for two (912MW)
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 7
 Hydropower System

Operate between 17.70m & 14.50m with

Propeller turbine.

4 units with capacity of 40MW each
(160MW)

Discharge from Akosombo creates head
for Kpong plant.

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 8

 BURKINA FASOFASO

Map of Ghana

Akosombo

Kpong

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 9

Akosombo Plant

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 10

 Akosombo Plant Parameters
Maximum operating level 84.15m (276ft)
Minimum operating level 75.60m (248ft)
PenstocksDiameter (each) 7.2m
Number of units 6
Nominal Turbine output per unit 176500hp
Maximum Turbine output per unit 212000hp
Rotational speed 115.4 rpm
Rated Discharge 263.6m3/s
Nominal output per units 1 to 4 128.0MW
Nominal output per units 5 & 6 140.5MW
Maximum output per unit 1 to 4 147MW
Maximum output per unit 5 & 6 162MW
Total max. Output at max. Head 912MW
Lake area∗ 8502km2

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 11

Kpong Plant

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 12

Kpong Plant Parameters
Maximum operating level 17.70m
Minimum operating level 14.50m
Turbine Type Propeller
Number of units 4
Runner diameter 8.25m
Nominal output per unit 55500metric hp
Rotational Speed 62.5 rpm
Maximum Discharge 384.9m3/s
Nominal Generator output per units 40MW
Total output 160MW
Head pond area∗ 12km2
Head pond volume 190000km3

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 13

 Dam level History
Yearly Water Level

270

265

260
Water Level (feet)

255

250

245

240

235
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000
Year (1982 - 1999)

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 14

 Water Level (feet)

210
220
230
240
250
260
270
280
February '82
August
February '83
August

16 March 2003
February '84
August
February '85
August
February '86
August
February '87
August
February '88
August
February '89
August
February '90
August
Dam level History

February '91

YAK Fiagbe
August
Water Level Variation

Month (1982 - 1999) February '92

August
February '93
August
February '94
August
February '95
August
February '96
August
February '97
August
February '98
August
February '99
August
15
Operation Practice
Main Factors
The energy demand
The water level at Akosombo headwork.

Water level limits the production capacity

Thermal Plant provide the base load with
Hydro plants supplementing

No defined way of operation in terms of
mode of combination during low water
level
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 16
 Hydroelectric Power Plant
Headwater

Electric
power

Generator
Pressure
conduit

Shaft

Tail water

Turbine

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 17

 VRA System
Akosombo Kpong

Francis
turbine
head

Propeller turbine

Tail race

head
Tail race

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 18

 Plants Layout

AKOSOMBO
PLANT A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6

KPONG K1 K2 K3 K4
PLANT

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 19

Hydropower Optimization

Two optimization problems
• Unit commitment
• Economic dispatch

Some softwares
• MICROHYP
• MaxHydro
• VALORAGUA
• VANSIMTAP
• PASIFIL
• VRASIM

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 20

Modeling
 Modelingis the representation of a system
or part of a system in physical or
mathematical form that is suitable for
demonstrating the behavior of the system.
system.
 Model may be
• descriptive or predictive

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 21

Operation of VRA Hydro Power
Plants
Plant a Plant k

Pa

Ha

Pk

Oa

Hk
Qk

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 22

System Model
Flow Diagram

Qa Hk Qk
Ha Pa (na, Ha, Qa) Pk (nk, Hk, Qk)

Hk(na, Qa)

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 23

Assumptions
 Inflow to pond of Kpong plant is only the
discharge from Akosombo plant
 Outflow from Kpong pond is only through
the turbines
 Power output and flow through the turbines
are the same

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 24

System Model

For a hydropower plant
P = ρgηQH
Pt = Pa + Pk
⇒ P = ρg(η g(ηaQaHa + ηkQkHk)
Akosombo Plant
Pa = ρgηaQaHa
Pa = KQa Where K = ρgηaHa
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 25
 System Model Hk(na, qa)
 Qa − Qk 
Kpong Plant H k = (Lk′1 − Lk 2 ) +  t
 A 
Qa

Pk = αQk − βQk
2
x

ρg η k
Qk

[A(Lk′1 − Lk 2 ) + tQa ]
Lk1

α=
L'k1 A A
ρg η k
Datum

β= t
A
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 26
Water body Area
Lake Volta Kpong pond
Level /ft(m) Area/ km2 Level /m Area/ km2
199.5 (60.8) 2331.0 1 1.0
249.5 (76.1) 5766.0 4 4.1
259.5 (79.1) 6799.0 6.1 8.1
269.5 (82.2) 7848.0 9.1 11.3
275.5 (84.0) 8482.0 9.4 12.1
279.5 (85.2) 8897.0 10.6 16.2
11.3 20.2
12.0 24.3
12.6 28.3
13.4 32.4
14.6 36.4
15.2 38.4
16.6 40.8
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 27
 Akosombo Dam Inflow
Monthly Inflow into Akosombo Dam (1994 - 1999)

12000

1994
10000
1995
1996
1997
8000 1998
1999
Average
6000

4000

2000

0
January February M arch April M ay June July August September October November December
16 March 2003 M o ntYAK
h Fiagbe 28
Simulation

Subjecting models to various inputs or
environmental conditions

Observe how the models behave

explore the nature of the results

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 29

Akosombo Plant Simulation
The results of the simulation and operation
values show that the model
Pa = KQa

average efficiency of 83.5%.

Graphs

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 30

Kpong Plant Simulation
The results of the simulation and the
operated values show that the model
Pk = α Q k − β Q k
2

average efficiency of 93.5%.

Graphs

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 31

Optimization
 Optimization is the process of finding the
conditions that gives maximum or minimum value
of a function
function..
 Optimization is of two levels
levels::
• 1. Comparison of alternate concepts
• 2. Optimization within a concept.
concept.
Optimization involves the solution to
an Objective equation
with respect to
• Constraint equations.

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 32

 Optimization
Input: Constraint:
• Initial Akosombo Dam & Kpong pond ∆H a
 Q
=  in − n aq a

 t ≤ ∆ L a
 A a 
elevation
• Tail water elevation at Akosombo and in a day and
 n q − nk qk 
Kpong plants and L k′ 1 + ∆ H k = L k′ 1 +  a a  t ≥ L k
 Ak 
• Estimated Inflow into the Lake Volta
in an hour
Objective Function: where ‘L’ is a define headwater level and ‘A’ is the

P = γnaHaqa + αnkqk - β(nkqk)2

estimated area of the dam covered by the water body.

Where Output:
γ = ρgη
ηa
· Number of Turbine-generator units
· Power output
ρgη k
[A (L ′k 1 − L k 2 ) + tn a q a ]
· Discharge through the plants
α = · Head water level expected after the period of run.
A
ρg η k t
and β=
A
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 33
Techniques of Optimization
Main Techniques

• Linear Programming (Simplex method)

• Calculus Method (Lagrange Multipliers)
• Dynamic Programming
• Geometric Programming (Degree of Difficulty = T-
T-{N+1})
• Search Method

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 34

 ALGORITHM
1. Input data (head and tail water elevations)
elevations)..
2. For stage i, set allowable decrease in head water level for
Akosombo Plant, ∆Hia. (1 – 0.15
15in)
in)
3. For number of units, nia = 6 to 1
• find for a day duration the number of units to satisfy step 2
∆Hia = (Qin - niaqa ) ×time/area
• with nia determine the maximum possible discharge that satisfy
step 2.
4. Find net head:
head: Head water level – Tail water level
i.e. Hi = Lia1 – Lia2
5. Determine new head water level i+1 = Li - ∆Hi
level.. Lai+1 a a

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 35

ALGORITHM
6. Set minimum head water level for Kpong Plant. Plant. Lik (14
14..7m)
7. For number of units, nik = 4 to 1
8. find for an hour duration, number of units to satisfy step
6. Lik = Li-1 + (niaqa – nikqk )×time/area
9. with nik determine the maximum possible discharge that
satisfy step 6.
ρgη
10. Evaluate a) γ = ρgηa b) α = k
[A (L ′ − L ) + tn q ]
k1 k2 a a
A
c) β = ρgAη t
k
and
Pi = γniaHiaqa + αnikqa - β(nikqa)2
11. if Akosombo head water level > 236 236ftft or day < 7 then go
to next stage i + 1 at step 2.
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 36
Flow Chart
START

INPUT DATA

FIND ALLOWED DECERASE IN

LEVEL, DL

FOR na = 6 TO 1

FIND CHANGE IN FLOW

+
IS CHANGE IN
FLOW + OR - ?

FIND No. OF DAYS

No
IS No. OF
DAYS ≥ 1?

Yes
FOR Qa = 265 TO 250

FIND CHANGE IN LEVEL

NO
IS CHANGE IN
LEVEL ≤ DL

YES
F B
A
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 37
Figure 3.6 The Flow Chart
 A
F B

FIND FOR AKOSOMBO PLANT:

POWER OUTPUT
LEVEL
NEW HEAD
D C
E
FOR nk = 4 T0 1

FIND POND LEVEL, PL

NO
IS HOUR
24 ?
NO IS POND
LEVEL ≥ SL ?
YES

YES

FOR Qk = 350 TO 345

YES IS
LEVEL ≥ 236
FIND POND LEVEL
AND DAY ≤ 7
?

NO NO
IS POND
LEVEL ≥ SL
?
OUTPUT DATA
YES

FIND FOR KPONG PLANT:

POWER OUTPUT
NEW POND LEVEL
END
FIND
TOTAL POWER OUTPUT

C
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 38
E D
Sample Results – 0m3/s
INFLOW= 0.0m3/s

1000.0

6/4
Level = 247ft
900.0
5/4 (246.85ft)
Level = 245ft
800.0
Level = 242ft
5/3
700.0 5/3 Level = 240ft
4/3 (244.70ft)
4/3 (244.68ft)
600.0
Level = 237ft
Power (MW)

4/2 4/2 3/3 (242.52ft)

3/3 (242.56ft)
500.0 3/3

3/2
400.0
2/2 2/2 (240.41
300.0
2/1
200.0 1/1 (238.28ft)
1/1

100.0 1/0 1/0

0/0 (236.14ft)
0.0
1021
1081
1141
1201
1261
1321
1381
1441
1501
1561
1621
1681
1741
1801
1861
1921
1981
2041
2101
2161
2221
2281
2341
61
121
181
241
301
361
421
481
541
601
661
721
781
841
901
961
1

16 March 2003 YAK

HourFiagbe 39
 Sample Results – 62m3/s
INFLOW = 62.0m3/s

1000.0
Level = 247ft
6/4
900.0 Level = 245ft
5/4 (246.27ft) Level = 242ft
800.0 5/4
Level = 240ft

5/3 5/3 Level = 237ft

700.0
4/3 (244.16ft)
4/3 (244.16ft)
600.0
3/3
Power (MW)

4/2 (242.03ft)
3/3 (242.02ft)
500.0 3/3

3/2 3/2
400.0
2/2 (239.89ft) 2/2 (239.91ft)

300.0
2/1
1/1 (237.76ft)
200.0 1/1

100.0
1/0

0.0
1
75
149
223
297
371
445
519
593
667
741
815
889
963
1037
1111
1185
1259
1333
1407
1481
1555
1629
1703
1777
1851
1925
1999
2073
2147
2221
2295
2369
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 40
Hour
 Sample Results – 223m3/s
INFLOW = 225m3/s

1000.0
Level = 247ft
6/4
900.0 Level = 245ft

5/4 (244.92ft) Level = 242ft

5/4 (244.93ft)
800.0 Level = 240ft
5/3 Level = 237ft
700.0
4/3 (242.79ft) 4/3 (242.99ft)
4/3
600.0
Power (MW)

4/2 4/2
3/3 (240.66ft) 3/3 (240.66ft)
500.0
3/3
3/2
400.0
2/2 (238.55ft)
2/2
300.0
2/1 2/1
1/1 (236.40ft)
200.0

100.0 1/0

0.0
1
75
149
223
297
371
445
519
593
667
741
815
889
963
1037
1111
1185
1259
1333
1407
1481
1555
1629
1703
1777
1851
1925
1999
2073
2147
2221
2295
2369
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 41
Hour
 Sample Results – 500m3/s
INFLOW = 500m3/s

1000.0
6/4
900.0

5/4 (242.64ft)
800.0 5/4 (242.64ft)
5/4

700.0 5/3

4/3 4/3 (240.53ft)

600.0
Power (MW)

4/2
3/3 (238.39ft)
500.0 3/3

3/2 3/2
400.0
2/2 (236.25ft)
Level = 247ft
300.0
Level = 245ft 2/1

200.0 Level = 242ft

Level = 240ft
100.0 Level = 237ft

0.0
1
75
149
223
297
371
445
519
593
667
741
815
889
963
1037
1111
1185
1259
1333
1407
1481
1555
1629
1703
1777
1851
1925
1999
2073
2147
2221
2295
2369
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 42
Hour
 Generation and Simulation Power

1000.000

Total Power Generated (MW)

900.000
Total Power Simulated (MW)

800.000

700.000

600.000
Power (MW)

500.000

400.000

300.000

200.000

100.000

0.000
1st June, 18th June, 19th July, 4th May, 25th May, 1st June, 25th June, 30th 4th 2nd March, 2nd March,
1995 1995 1995 1999 1999 1999 1999 January, February, 2002 2002 (95%)
2002 2002
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe
Date
43
 Percentage Difference Between Generation and Simulation

50.000

40.000

30.000
Percentage (%)

20.000

10.000

0.000

-10.000

-20.000
30th 4th 2nd 2nd
1st June, 18th June, 19th July, 4th May, 25th May, 1st June, 25th June,
January, February, March, March,
1995 1995 1995 1999 1999 1999 1999
2002 2002 2002 2002
16 MarchIncrease
Percentage 2003 (%) 36.114 41.429 29.460 YAK Fiagbe
7.758 30.052 19.838 -3.891 19.902 20.042 -8.018 44
1.602
Date
Conclusion
A model developed
Optimum conditions found
Software developed
Results good

16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 45

Acknowledgement
 DAAD
 Dr. D.M. Obeng
 Mr. Kosi McCarthy
 Dr. CK. Kpodze,
 Dr. L.E. Ansong
 Prof. Abeeku Brew-
Brew-Hammond
 Mr. Kwaw Anaman
 Mr. Abeiku Ackora-
Ackora-Prah
 All staffs of the Mechanical Eng. Department
 Colleague students
 My Dad & Mum and siblings
16 March 2003 YAK Fiagbe 46
Thank You