A Feasibility Study of Mini-Hydroelectric Power Plant for Seasonal Base Load

This paper presents a feasibility study of a mini-hydroelectric power plant for seasonal base load at the main campus of University of Abuja, along Airport Expressway, Abuja, Nigeria. The study was premised on the need to mitigate the insufficient electricity supply being experienced by  the University. The use of backup diesel and petrol generating sets was noted to increased the overall operating costs of the University due to the need to purchase fuel, in addition to the associated maintenance cost. The presence of River Wuye within the University brought to fore the need to explore the establishment of a hydropower plant as an alternative means of mininmizing the energy shortage. The methodology adopted included determination of the University electricity demand using clamp-on meter, determination of the river run-off via data obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), flow rate with the use of float and river geometry, while the head was obtained by Global Positioning System (GPS). Furthermore, the hydroelectric power potential, site layout for equipment installation and project cost were determined. The results indicated that the monthly lowest energy consumption (base load) at the University during the period of study was at 667 kW, while the highest (peak) load was 883 kW. River Wuye assessment favoured conventional hydro power plant instead of  hydro power plant technologies with out dam such as paddle wheel system as Giri river flow was low and seasonal. River Giri  has run-off of 1,330 mm with the proposed dam estimated to have height and length of 10 m  and 120 m, respectively. River Wuye has a flow rate of 14.5 m3/s, maximum head of 10 m and hydropower potential of about 855 kW. The cost of the proposed hydro power plant ranged from 80.3-615.6 million Naira (N) (equivalent to N93,960/kW- N720,000/kW or $261/kW-$2000/kW).The range arose due to variation on cost of refurbished or new turbine-generator system and civil works. The electricity generation unit cost from the hydropower plant is expected to be N24.74-50.14/kWh. This feasibility work is significant as it will aid commencement of detailed project report (DPR) that will highlight detailed study of hydrology and geology, environmental impact assessment, flood control and weir structures for a hydropower plant on River Wuye at 885 kW. In addition, when River Wuye has low flow, wind and solar power plants could be deployed to provide the shortfall in electricity supply to the University     &nbsp

Impact of Climate Change on the Design Parameters of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems for Manned Spacecraft

Climatic design information has been published for several locations in the world by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) but there has not been data for Nigerian cities in these publications. Therefore, this study was embarked upon to bridge the gap in knowledge. The study of impact of climate change on the design parameters of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems for spacecraft cabin environment is presented with particular focus on Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria. Firstly, the characteristics climate parameters such as outdoor dry-bulb temperature, coincident wet-bulb temperature, relative humidity, pressures, air composition, among others as it affects manned spacecraft were discussed. The data for climatic parameters for Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria, for a period of fifteen years (1995-2009) were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Oshodi-Lagos. Statistical data and Microsoft excel were used for evaluation of variation trends of the climate parameters for departure city. This is very important in determining thermal human comfort in spacecrafts on ascent. Results obtained from this study are hereby presented. The Ikeja-Lagos dry-bulb temperature average results obtained were 33.81°C, 32.98°C, 32.3°C, 22.1°C, 21.19°C, 20.43°C, 23.84°C and 31.65oC.at 0.4%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 97.5%, 99.0%, 99.6%, median of extreme lows and median of extreme highs, respectively. The Ikeja-Lagos relative humidity average results were 116.3, 112.65, 109.14, 99.83 and 49.42 at 0.4%, 1% and 2.0% occurrence as well as at median of extreme highs and median of extreme lows, respectively. Ikeja-Lagos had mean coincident dry bulb temperature of 33.81°C and 32.98°C at 0.4% and 1% percentile respectively. The dry bulb temperature for Ikeja-Lagos was determined to be an average range from 20.43°C to 22.1°C between January to December, in the period of 1995-2009, at 97.5% 99% and 99.6% percentile respectively. These results provide values of design parameters which are useful in the design of HVAC for space crafts with climate change adequately taken into consideration as it applies to Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeri

Determination of Maiganga Lignite Coal Combustion Characteristics for Application in Thermal Power Plant using Standard Mathematical Models

This paper presents determination of Maiganga lignite coal combustion characteristics for application in thermal power plant using standard mathematical models. The problem statement was that Nigeria cement plants uses rotary kiln coal burner despite its associated drawbacks such as sudden explosion and incomplete combustion. Fluidized bed technology has less of the drawbacks associated with rotary kiln coal burner. The integration of Maiganga coal in mathematical models will increase accurate prediction of operating variables useful in design and sizing the components of fluidized bed thermal power plant. The methodology of the study includes utilization of established numerical models based on energy balance and fuel properties for Maiganga lignite combustion. The coal was fired in a pilot atmospheric fluidized bed combustor (FBC). The results obtained include the theoretical air required per kg of Maiganga lignite was 7.4, at an excess air of 10% and maximum mass of air supplied per kg of Maiganga lignite of 8.82. The time for burn out of particle sized 0.4 mm was determined to be 2.64 min, with burning rate of 0.23 kg/min (3.8 g/s). The ignition temperature of 797 K and fuel power of 84 kW for Maiganga coal were determined for the pilot FBC in this study. The Maiganga lignite fuel, air and sorbent flow rates through the fluidized bed combustor were predicted to be 14.2 kg/hr (0.23 kg/min), 202.4 kg/hr and 1.26 kg/hr respectively. The combustion performance evaluation of the fluidized bed combustor had specific firing rate for the lignite at graded particle size of between 0.2-1.12 mm at bed temperature of 1173 K was 2.8 g/m2s, air-fuel ratio of 23 and equivalence ratio of 0.45. The above results are similar to coal burnout time of 3 minutes and equivalence ratio of 0.40 in an atmospheric fluidized bed combustor in the literature. Hence, above parameters can be used to design and model a safe ignition and good combustion characteristics in other lignite fired power plants similar to that of Maiganga lignite coal