Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Prefeasibility Study of Upper Khudi -A Hydropower Project

Prefeasibility Study of Upper Khudi -A Hydropower Project CE1.1.1 This project entitled Prefeasibility Study of Upper Khudi -A hydropower project is one prepared by group of five students in partial fulfilment of requirement for the bachelors degree in civil engineering. This project was carried out at Kantipur Engineering College, Dhapakhel, Lalitpur, affiliated to Tribhuwan University. Our team comprised of five members and the project itself was supervised by Er. Baburam Bharadwaj (Project Manager of Khudi hydropower limited) CE1.1.2 Being the final year project of our engineering program, the timespan for this project was 1 year. We worked on it from June 2010 to November 2010. During this period, we presented the proposal, conducted the feasibility analysis, project analysis, project design, project defence, final presentation and final report. I was the team lead for my project and was a dedicated member from start to finish CE.1.2 Background CE1.2.1 As the name suggests, Prefeasibility Study of Upper Khudi -A hydropower project, is prefeasibility study aimed to use the theoretical knowledge we had from out text books to better understand the feasibility and optimization of the design of small scale hydropower project centered on Upper Khudi River in Lamjung district of Western Nepal. Majority of Nepalese households rely upon hydropower for their energy needs. So, developing small scale hydropower energy plants can be very efficient energy solutions as the rivers in Nepal are mostly mountain rivers with enough water throughout the year. CE1.2.2 Khudi River has an average slope of 1 in 30 with gravels and boulders forming the river bed. It has a high sediment transport capacity. Upper Khudi Hydropower Project is a run of the river type hydropower scheme designed to produce power using the discharge of the Khudi River. It begins from the confluence of two Rivers, Sundar Khola and Khudi Khola. The catchments area of the River is 133 km2 at the Department of Hydrology Metrology (DHM) station located at Khudi Bazar, which when transformed to our catchments is 25 km2, running from north to south. CE1.2.3 The learning exercise included optimizing schemes per project capacity, sizes of hydraulic structures, penstock and electromechanical equipment and check the sensitivity analysis for the financial parameters which comprised of a significant result of in this feasibility analysis report. The study shows the feasibility of project with sufficient alternatives. We made sure we followed all the organizational rules and regulations of the University as well as the Hydropower Project. CE1.2.4 The project was divided into five parts namely Data collection, Design and modelling, Cost estimation, Project planning and scheduling, Economic and financial analysis. Each member of the team was given one sector each as a main area of study and was responsible for the literature review of that part. I was given the Project planning and scheduling and the Design and Modelling part. CE1.2.5 Organisational Chart CE1.2.6 Project Objective The objective of this study is to find the best project alternative and carry out the pre-feasibility study of the same. The main objectives are highlighted below: To be acquainted with the various aspects of hydropower planning and development. To find out the feasibility of project To know about the major components of the hydropower project. To select the best project alternative. To carry out the engineering design of hydropower components. To calculate the power and energy generated from the project. To carry out the quantity estimation and their cost. To prepare implementation schedule of the project. To carry out optimization of project capacity and components. To carry out financial analysis and sensitivity analysis of the project CE1.3 Personal Engineering Activities CE1.3.1 I have always been passionate about renewable energy and it is the main reason I took engineering as my career. In the context of Nepal, hydropower energy has a lot of scope. Most of the country in the upper hilly and mountainous parts are deprived of energy which is not a hard goal to achieve if small-scale hydropower projects implemented. I consulted my friends to form a group of five. We prepared the proposal to study for a hydropower project that could be used for a real project in the future. Then we prepared the proposal and submitted to the Dept. Of Civil Engineering with a detailed timeline graphed in a Gantt Chart. We consulted with the head engineer designated for this project and proposed that we would submit a study that could somehow facilitate the funded government project. He agreed to help us in every possible way and agreed to become our supervisor. CE1.3.2 Before we started, we decided that we visit a similar small scale hydropower project. We drove to a similar hydropower project that powered a small city called Banepa east of Kathmandu. We talked to the authorities and they allowed us to walk through the entire project and see the dam, the turbines control room, and allowed us to take the specifications of the turbine so that we could have a rough idea of what equipment we had to choose to prepare the analysis of the hydropower project we had to do the project for. I also conducted weekly progress meetings with the team and supervisor to tackle any hurdles that we faced. We consulted with senior professors about my problems and ideas. CE1.3.3 The entire work of this study is done by desk Study and field visit and survey by minor instrument such as Tape, and Abney level etc. All the data and information available from different sources were carefully analyzed to perform the preliminary study of all the necessary components. For the hydrological study of the project, mean monthly discharge of 13 years records of Khudi Khola at Khudi Bazar station (439.3) are obtained from DHM and analyzed using catchment area correlation method to find necessary hydrological parameters. Topographic maps (1:50000) of proposed site was studied for the allocation and design of civil as well as electro-mechanical components of the project. The methodology employed to undertake the study were desk study and map study, field survey and social interaction, literature review, hydrological analysis, screening and selection of the best alternative, hydraulic design of the components of the chosen alternative, cost analysis and preparation of bill of quantities and finally report preparation and presentation. CE1.3.4 The topography of the site is steep and rocky and thus we proceeded deciding that tunneling is the best possible alternative for waterway. As I was given the responsibility of design and modelling, I am explaining what the engineering design from the headwork to the penstock is comprised of in brief. CE1.3.5 The headwork was located at 1290 m elevation. The trench weir was provided for diversion of flow to the intake and passage of high flood water. For design of the weir with length 10m, the design flood is taken as 40.073 m3/s for hundred years-return periods. The trench size has been calculated considering 50% of the trash rack is clogged and the design discharge will be conveyed. The intake was designed to allow abstraction of water from the source with as little sediment as possible, thereby minimizing maintenance and operational costs and providing some measure of protection against damage too (e.g. blocking of the conduit by incoming sediment and debris). A.) Design Aspects of Gravel Trap and Settling Basin: The main design principle of the gravel rap was that the velocity through it should be less than that required to move the smallest size of gravel to be removed. Since the water abstracted from sediment loaded river not only reduces the capacity of the conveyancesystem but also damages the hydro turbines, thereby causing operation and maintenance problems. To cope with economy of energy generation from this, I wanted to design and construct a settling basin before water enters the plant, which helps to limit the entry of sediment into the plant by trapping the particle size greater than 0.2 mm. B.) Headrace Tunnel: The shape as well as the dimensions of the tunnel should be selected such that it should be readily accessible from every direction for control, maintenance and repair. In pressure tunnels operating under high heads, the provisions of lining of concrete (PCC or RCC) and even steel lining including steel pipes may be embedded. To reduce construction costs, relatively high flow velocities should be permitted in tunnels, higher ones than those of open canals. In addition to this I also calculated Friction losses Darcy Weisbach formula. The resulting dimension of the tunnel after all analysis was Inverted D shape 2m in diameter and 1500 m in length. C.) Surge tank: A surge tank is generally constructed immediately prior to penstock or pressure shaft so as to damp out the oscillation in water level as soon as possible and to store water during load rejection until the new velocity has been established. Final design composed of a circular surge with diameter 2 m and height of 13.5 having upsurge and down surge of 6.256m and 4.704 m respectively. D.) Penstock: Penstock is usually the pipeline in between surge tank and turbine inlet. Penstock may be low pressure or high-pressure penstock. Usually it is high pressure. The materials used are usually of steel, reinforced concrete. The pipe diameter and the thickness are such that the stress in steel computed from hoop stress criteria is well within the allowable limit. The hoop stress developed is given by the thin cylinder theory. I design we used inclined underground shaft made of mild steel. E.) Turbine: To maintain the supply even in peak load conditions, two units of Pelton turbines with horizontal Shaft are in housed in the Powerhouse. Two units of generator are used to generate electrical energy. Turbine was selected on the analysis based on available head and design discharge. Two units are provided for continuation of supply on maintenance of one unit also. Also, a tailrace was set to convey the water leaving the power plant back to the river. The tailrace should be designed to maintain the water surface at the elevation specified by the turbine manufacturer and to protect the power plant against flooding by the expected design flood level in the river. E.) Power generation: A 66 KV transmission line has been proposed for the safe and economic transmission of the generated power, along a length of 30 Km for the interconnection of the supply to the national grid at Udaypur. CE1.3.6 The subjects that I was enrolled in the undergraduate like fluid mechanics, hydraulics, water supply, engineering hydrology, survey, engineering drawing etc. helped me a lot to complete and prepare my project. I tried to utilise all my knowledge in utmost way to realise a hydropower project. While doing this project, I not only experienced the applied part of civil and hydropower engineering but also learned a lot of practical skills like communication skills, time management, project presentation and team work. During this project interval, being a group leader I had to solve not only my own but I have to help my group members in technical and other calculation part as well. CE1.3.7 Me along with my team members worked together very hard and could complete the project in the defined time. We could study the pre-feasibility of Upper Khudi and prepare the final report in the designated time. After the completion of this project, I felt a big rise in my confidence level as an engineer and I felt I could easily tackle the obstacles by studying about it, applying the solutions in real life problems. We used various software like MS-Word, MS-Excel, MS-PowerPoint to document the report, prepare presentations and analyze available data. I feel like my reporting skills, drafting skills and drawing skills also utilised professionally over the course of this project. CE1.4 Summary Undertaking this project helped me to use my theoretical knowledge on practical and real life work scenarios relating design and construction of a hydro power plant. We were very happy that the project met all the initial objectives. The project has a conventional B/C ratio of 2.1 and modified of 2.13 and IRR of 23.4%. The total cost of the project is NRs 605,089,628.69 and cost per kilowatt is within the range of prevailing Cost per KW for the projects recently built in Nepal. Hence, the project was financially, technically, socially and environmentally viable, and can be forwarded for further study. In a nutshell, I was efficiently and successfully able to undertake, manage and complete the project ensuring that it met all its objectives within a designated time frame.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Análisis de la Revolución Social Nicaragüense Essay -- actores politico

1. Introduccià ³n En primer lugar deberà ­amos destacar que la revolucià ³n nicaragà ¼ense fue una revolucià ³n social, no una revolucià ³n polà ­tica, una rebelià ³n o un golpe de estado. En efecto, la revolucià ³n social es el â€Å"derrocamiento de una à ©lite gobernante por parte de una à ©lite insurrecta (o vanguardia revolucionaria) que ha conseguido movilizar y capitalizar un amplio apoyo popular y que pretende, desde el poder, transformar las estructuras sociales, polà ­ticas y econà ³micas de la sociedad† (Selbin, 1993:11-13). Asà ­ pues, esta revolucià ³n supone la progresià ³n dialà ©ctica protagonizada por los actores polà ­ticos, concienciados como sujetos polà ­ticos -en el sentido de que han dejado de ser clase en sà ­ para ser clase para sà ­- y capacitados para modificar la realidad, que tiene como consecuencia una primera etapa de destruccià ³n del rà ©gimen anterior durante el proceso revolucionario, posteriormente la institucionalizacià ³n revolucionaria y, por à ºltimo, el desmantelamiento de esta à ºltima. Todo esto en un perà ­odo que abarca el aà ±os 1977 hasta el 1996. Sin embargo, en el presente trabajo nos limitaremos a los primeros aà ±os de la insurreccià ³n para estudiar y analizar el objetivo que se describirà ¡ en el apartado siguiente. 2. Objetivo El objetivo del presente ensayo se estructura en dos fases, las cuales deben ser concebidas como una progresià ³n segà ºn la cual, la segunda no puede tener lugar sin la primera, aunque el à ¡mbito de actuacià ³n de ambas sea diferente. La primera fase es la investigadora-analà ­tica, o intelectual, y, como su propio nombre indica, debe hacer posible una mejor compresià ³n de la realidad en la que vivimos, aclarando procesos, continuidades y conceptos. Una vez realizado este esfuerzo intelectual, debemos acceder a la segunda fase, ... .... Smith, C. ed. 1996. Disruptive Religion: The Force of Faith in Social Movement Activism. Routledge, Nueva York. Snow, D. E., y Benford, R. 1992. Master Frames and Cycles of Protest, en Aldon Morris y Carol McClurg Mueller, eds., Frontiers in Social Movement Theory, pp. 133- 155. Yale University Press, New Haven. Snow, D. 1986. Frame Alignment Processes, Micromobilization, and Movement participation. American Sociological Review 51: 464-481. Randall, M. 1983. Cristianos en la revolucià ³n. Nueva Nicaragua-Monumbà ³, Mangua. Ronchon, T. R. 1998. Culture Moves: Ideas, Activism, and Changing Valuis. Princeton University Press, Priceton. Tilly, C. 1993. European Revolutions, 1492-1992. Blackwell, Oxford. Wickham-Crowley, T.P. 1992. Guerrillas and Revolution in Latin America: A comparative study of Insurgents and Regimes since 1956. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. 22

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Effective leader Essay

Imagine a world without leaders. A leader, defined by Websters Dictionary, is a person who rules, or guides others. When we think of leaders, we think of leaders of things as big as countries or nations, and as small as towns or even schools. Different types of leaders have duties they have to fulfill but one thing that all effective leaders are, is strong willed, knowledgeable, and powerful. In some times in history, it may be true that these three words bring out a side of the word â€Å"effective† that is not usually thought of. Effective means, producing the desired or intended result. The â€Å"intended result† varies for different leaders. So could a leader be effective even when they do not cause a positive effect to their followers? How about leaders Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Napoleon Bonaparte? One effective leader to date is Adolf Hitler, a political leader of the Nazi Party and chancellor leader in Germany from 1933 to 1945. Adolf Hitler was a very powerful leader while also being an evil leader. Joseph Stalin, an underestimated monster in European history, was as effective as it gets. Stalin is known for two things, industrially revolutionizing, and agriculturally revolutionizing. He was strong-willed about both of these plans. Stalin’s famous Five-Year Plans started off with developing the Soviet Union’s economy by setting extremely high numerical goals, to increase the output of steel, coal, oil, and electricity. To achieve these quotas, people had to face shortages of food, clothing and other necessities. This proves Stalin was strong-willed because he set a goal for himself and his country and although it put his people at risk, he had an idea in his mind that nothing would come in between. Another example of how Joseph Stalin was an effective leader is his success during his agricultural revolution. In 1928, the government began to s ixver 25 million private farms in the Soviet Union and combined these small farms into large, government owned farms, called collective farms. The collective farms were expected to boost food production because of the modern machinery, and reduce the number of workers. When workers resisted, Stalin used terror and violence in hope for them to react in a working manner. The  ends justified the means for Stalin. Stalin is a Machiavellian figure in history, and that is why this example shows that Stalin was a strong-willed leader. A well formed military is one of the keys to a successful nation. Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most well known military leaders of all times, but why? To be a good military leader, you have to be a lot of things, one of them being knowledgeable. In order to have a successful military, it is not just about the weapons and the strength of the soldiers but even more about the thought process, strategies, and tactics. Napoleon commanded 34 battles and lost only 6 and ended up dominating Europe. This proves Napoleon was a knowledgeable leader because to be able to command an army that is able to win 28 out 34 battles in Europe in the 23 year time frame of 1792-1815, that commander really would have had to have an idea of what he was doing. Another example of how Napoleon was a knowledgeable leader is his military strategies. Wherever you go, you are bound to find someone who is not a proud follower of the leader of the place that they are in. Sometimes, this is because of ignorant opinions, but more importantly, sometimes it is because of the choices that leader makes. Being a leader of anything is the hardest job in the world. You are put in charge of something and you are expected to well educated, fair, etc., but what if your â€Å"fair† is different than one of your followers’ â€Å"fair†. Disagreements between leaders and followers are the main reason of political controversy and separation between groups. From good leaders to bad leaders, it is notable that all leaders are strong-willed, knowledgeable, and powerful. Wherever you go, you are bound to find someone who is not a proud follower of the leader of the place that they are in. Sometimes, this is because of ignorant opinions, but more importantly, sometimes it is because of the choices that leader makes. Being a leader of anything is the hardest job in the world. You are put in charge of something and you are expected to well educated, fair, etc., but what if your â€Å"fair† is different than one of your followers’ â€Å"fair†. Disagreements between leaders and followers are the main reason of political controversy and separation between groups. From good leaders to bad leaders, it is notable  that all leaders are strong-willed, knowledgeable, and powerful. Wherever you go, you are bound to find someone who is not a proud follower of the leader of the place that they are in. Sometimes, this is because of ignorant opinions, but more importantly, sometimes it is because of the choices that leader makes. Being a leader of anything is the hardest job in the world. You are put in charge of something and you are expected to well educated, fair, etc., but what if your â€Å"fair† is different than one of your followers’ â€Å"fair†. Disagreements between leaders and followers are the main reason of political controversy and separation between groups. From good leaders to bad leaders, it is notable that all leaders are strong-willed, knowledgeable, and powerful.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Social Inequality And Social Class Essay - 1377 Words

The idea of social inequality dates back since the time of our founding fathers. The mistreatment and unlawful equality and opportunity that these foreigners received became embedded into our history—this endless list includes, just to name a few, the Irish, Chinese, Jews, and most notably the African Americans (Blacks), who became slaves to the American people. Here in the United States, the current social class system is known as the class system, where families are distributed and placed into three different existing class—the upper class (wealthy), middle class (working), and lower class (poor). Since then, improvisations have been worked on into the class system, establishing now roughly six social classes: upper class, new money, middle class, working class, working poor, and poverty level. Social stratification is a widely common topic of debate because there have since been many arguments and debates on this controversial situation of social inequality and how it relates to social class and social mobility. According to Economist Robert Reich, he states that The probability that a poor child in America will become a poor adult is higher now than it was 30 years ago... (Reich, par. 5), meaning the given amount of equality, opportunity, and support that these struggle families obtain have gone mainly unnoticed by the government that it has gotten worst. The constant uproar of social inequality and injustice that these middle and lower working class families stemShow MoreRelatedSocial Inequalities And Social Class1150 Words   |  5 PagesSocial classes have been prominent in societies since the beginning of civilizations. These classes are shaped by the distribution of unequal opportunities amongst each division. 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