Feasibility study for the construction of small hydropower plants

The required amount of water with sufficient hydropower runoff potential for the final generation of electricity and the selection-of a suitable location area are two important factors in the construction of a small hydropower plant. The capacity of small-hydropower plants and the exact location must be estimated based on geomorphological conditions and runoff duration-characteristics. The sewage treatment facilities of the city of Chelyabinsk, located in Russia's Chelyabinsk region, were-chosen as the main object of study. A preliminary analysis of the flow of wastewater to treatment facilities at wastewater-metering stations was carried out. The duration characteristics and duration curve were determined using monthly discharge data using ArcGIS. Relevant information on small hydro power plants in other regions of Russia has been provided as an adaptation to the situation at the sewage treatment plant in the city of Chelyabinsk. It has been established that the water flow at the site of the proposed installation of the SHPP and the effective head are 4.40 m³/s and 13.5 m, respectively. The capacity of the proposed SHPP, based on the feasibility study presented in the paper, was estimated at 972 kW. The expected annual electricity generation will be 1245 kWh. Thus, the construction of a small hydroelectric power plant for sewage treatment plants using treated wastewater is considered economically and environmentally justified.