Hydraulic Power Research Articles

Numerical evaluation of doubly clamped self-adaptive fins acting as vortex generators inside micro heat sinks (MHS)

The continuous increase in the power density of integrated circuits (ICs) has placed thermal management as a key focus for the ICT community. Current liquid cooling systems are usually not optimized for the real operating conditions of advanced electronics, which have heat loads that can vary in time and space. Hence, conventional cooling devices lead to non-uniform temperature patterns at the package level and overcooled systems. This work proposes the use of thermally adaptive actuators, based on doubly clamped fins able to change its shape with temperature, to improve the performance of micro heat sinks with an optimized adaptation to temporal and spatially variable thermal parameters. The effect of this thermally responsive bistable fins on the efficiency of two different micro heat sinks (MHS), one based on microchannels and other on a matrix of microfluidic cells, is numerically evaluated. Results demonstrated a maximum heat transfer enhancement of 40% when adding the clamped-clamped fins within a microchannel and 20% when the fins were placed inside a microfluidic cell. Additionally, savings on hydraulic pumping power have been quantified between 8% and 11%.

Analysis of Efficiency Characteristics of a Deep-Sea Hydraulic Power Source

Deep-sea submersibles carry limited energy sources, so a high efficiency of the equipment is required to improve endurance. In the deep-sea environment, the hydraulic power source is filled with oil, which causes structural deformation of the power source and changes in the physical properties of the medium, leading to unknown changes in the efficiency characteristics of the power source. In order to explore the efficiency characteristics of the deep-sea hydraulic power source composed of a gear pump and a DC (direct current) brushless motor in a variable sea depth environment, we undertook the following. First, considering the effects of seawater pressure and temperature on the physical properties of the medium and the radial clearance deformation of the gear pump, a mathematical model for the total efficiency of the hydraulic power source was established. The results indicate that the deformation of the pump body is mainly determined by the seawater pressure and working pressure. Subsequently, by analyzing the effects of the two factors on the efficiency of the power source, respectively, when the oil temperature range is large enough, the total efficiency of the power source will increase and then decrease under six sea depths; the total efficiency of the power source decreases with the increase in the rotational speed. However, in a land environment, the trend of the efficiency characteristics of the power source is opposite to that of the remaining six deep-sea environments, both in terms of oil temperature and rotational speed. Finally, the efficiency trend of the power source with changes in sea depth under rated conditions was obtained. Under different sea depth ranges, the optimal operating oil temperatures and suitable rotational speed ranges of the power source could be obtained. This paper could provide a certain theoretical basis for the research and development of deep-sea equipment.

Hydraulic disturbance characteristics and power control of pumped storage power plant with fixed and variable speed units under generating mode

Hydraulic disturbance characteristics and power control of pumped storage power plant with fixed and variable speed units under generating mode

Research on the complete vehicle control strategy of the composite accumulator hydraulic hybrid power system

The compound accumulator is an energy storage device consisting of a large accumulator and a small accumulator. Compared with the traditional single accumulator hydraulic hybrid vehicle, it has the characteristics and advantages of fast braking response for the small accumulator and more energy recovery for the large accumulator, combining braking characteristics and energy recovery rate. This paper proposes the control strategy for parallel hydraulic hybrid vehicle based on compound accumulator, which can determine the working timing for large and small accumulators according to the specific driving conditions, thereby improving the braking performance and fuel economy for the vehicle. Under NEDC conditions, this paper uses dynamic programming algorithm to find the optimal control sequence for torque distribution and energy management of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle with composite accumulator, obtains the control rules and logic thresholds of the logic threshold control strategy, and obtains the switching rule of the working timing of the composite accumulator. The simulation of specific cycle conditions is carried out to verify the rationality of vehicle control strategy and to explore the energy-saving mechanism of parallel hydraulic hybrid power system based on composite accumulator. The NEDC urban cycle test was carried out, and the comparison between the test and simulation results showed that the hydraulic hybrid operation mode, large and small accumulator pressure, and engine fuel consumption during the test were basically consistent with the simulation results and verified the control effect of the vehicle control strategy and the energy-saving mechanism of the parallel hydraulic hybrid system based on the composite accumulator.

Numerical simulation of operations of hydraulic excavators for polydisperse bulk materials and different configurated buckets

Excavators have been used in construction for a century, and simulation-based performance prediction is cost-effective for equipment design. In practice, particle size varies, and it is of interest to investigate how excavators perform differently when handling polydisperse bulk materials using different configurated buckets. This work simulates three ternary-sized material stockpiles and evaluates the performance of excavators with different bucket configurations (including width, depth, and number of tooth stations) on the basis of co-simulation of multibody dynamics and discrete element method. The results show how excavator performance indicators such as bucket payload and hydraulic power consumption relate to particle size distribution and bucket configuration. This work demonstrates the usefulness and potential of co-simulation in optimising equipment design and operation. Further research directions should be focused on the prediction of excavator performance and bucket wear in more complex working environments and the improvement of operating strategies.

An approach for optimization of controllable drilling parameters for motorized bottom hole assembly in a specific formation

This study focuses on optimizing drilling parameters when using Positive Displacement Motors (PDMs). In drilling operations involving mud motors, weight-on-bit (WOB) alterations lead to variations in the system's parasitic pressure drop. Consequently, this affects the optimum flow rate and the hydraulic power of the bit. Also, if the flow rate changes, the bit's rotations per minute (RPM) also change. In other words, using PDMs creates a link between the hydraulic system and the drilling speed, such that changing drilling parameters such as the WOB causes changes in the hydraulic system's performance. Therefore, one possible way to optimize the drilling parameters is to consider the drilling rate and hydraulic system simultaneously using a multi-objective approach. This study used an integrated approach encompassing data mining and mathematical modeling, employing a multi-objective framework to identify optimal parameters. The approach was applied to Dariyan Formation drilling data. The data mining approach revealed a well-distributed data set covering optimal and suboptimal zones suitable for optimization. In data mining, the identification of optimal conditions included a WOB of 11500 lb, a rotation speed of 105.8 rev/min, and a flow rate of 843 gpm, leading to an ROP of 44.23 ft/h. In multi-objective optimization, the optimal parameters consisted of a WOB of 14480 lb, a rotation speed of 115 rev/min, and a flow rate of 920.8 gpm, resulting in an ROP of 40.49 ft/h. Comparing optimal results with the drilling data shows a substantial MSE reduction of over 35 %. The results show the good performance of this approach in detecting the optimal and non-optimal drilling variables.

A study of the erosion characteristics of an EN AE-6060 aluminium alloy processed using middle and high power continuous and modulated water jets

This study investigates the erosion performances of a high-speed modulated jet (MWJ) and continuous water jet (CWJ). Two sets of hydrodynamic nozzles (HDNs) and two circular water nozzles (CWNs) were compared for two levels of hydraulic power (26 and 62 kW), representing middle- and high-power energetic water jets. The HDNs and CWNs were selected based on their size equivalence factor. The erosion effects of modulated and continuous jets were compared using the aluminum alloy EN AW-6060. Owing to the anisotropy of the modulated jet, two orientation angles (0° and 90°) were used in the experiment with a traverse speed of v = 1 mm/s at an optimal standoff distance z (mm). The hydraulic power of the generated water jets was monitored online using a flowmeter and pressure sensor. Overall, 36 runs were performed for mutual comparison. Optical and scanning electron microscopy were employed to investigate the grooves created using these techniques. Achieving a sharper interface in a deeper groove is possible under certain conditions, thereby inducing the effect of the liquid saw blade. In addition, this phenomenon reduces the effect of lateral flow action, which causes significant extrusion of the material above the original plane of the surface when using a pulsating water jet.

ANALYSIS OF DYNAMICS OF VOLUME HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SELF-PROPELLED TRACTOR CHASSIS

Goal. Analysis of the dynamics of the hydraulic fluid power steering drive of the wheeled tractor self-propelled chassis СШ2540 by simulating the operation of a hydraulic cylinder with a one-sided rod for moving the steering trapezoid when turning the wheels and studying the change in the pressure of the working fluid and the movement of the hydraulic cylinder rod under different load modes. Research methodology. The method of simulation modeling is used, when the variables describing the behavior of the steering hydraulic cylinder are determined by certain load algorithms and operating fluid flows, and are described by differential equations. The differential equations that determine the pressure of the working fluid in the cavities of the hydraulic cylinder and the movement of its rod when the working fluid is fed into the piston or rod cavity are based on the laws of mechanics, the principle of the continuity of the flow of the working fluid and its compressibility. The VisSim package of application programs was used for modeling according to the proposed methodology. The changes of the parameters in the hydraulic cylinder of turning the wheels when they are shifted from the task of the control action in the form of an increase in the external load and the flow of the working fluid in the output channels of the metering pump overcome by the hydraulic cylinder were studied. The influence of the modulus of elasticity of the working fluid, which decreases when it is saturated with undissolved air, was also investigated. The results. When starting the hydraulic steering drive, i.e. when turning the steering wheel from its neutral position, depending on the external load and the intensity of the driver's work at the wheel, oscillatory processes take place in the hydraulic cylinder cavities, which can significantly exceed the working pressure. The results of the research give a reason to conclude that it is necessary to study the nature of the increase in the flow rate and pressure of the working fluid on a full-scale sample of the tractor chassis metering pump, i.e. by replacing the flow rate simulation with its actual value. Setting the loading time and flow rate of the working fluid using the map-VisSim unit is more convenient than setting it with analytical expressions, as it makes it possible to simulate different acceleration rates of the hydraulic cylinder and, if necessary, to control the stationary mode of the steering wheel in the neutral position.

Analysis of the technical level of hydraulic fluid power with motor-wheels

The analysis of the use of hydraulic fluid power of rotation of hydraulic motor-wheels for tracked and wheeled machines was carried out. The hydraulic principle schemes for the use of high-speed axial-piston hydraulic motors with planetary gearboxes and high-torque low-speed radial-piston hydraulic motors are considered, in particular, hydraulic devices for ensuring reliable movement in the event of obstacles from the road surface. The features of static and dynamic calculation methods using a mathematical model for the numerical solution of differential equations when calculating pressure fluctuations and the frequency of rotation of hydraulic motors depending on the tasks of changing the intensity of the pump supply and the working volume of the hydraulic motor, taking into account its efficiency, are shown. A comparative analysis of the technical level of hydraulic motor-wheels was carried out and a significant increase in the output parameters of high-torque radial piston hydraulic motors with respect to pressure, rotation frequency and mass-to-torque ratio was revealed. The article may be useful for engineers, scientists and master's students.

Accelerating the Consolidation of Thickened Tailings Using Sand Co-Disposal

Only grams or kilograms of valuable resources are extracted for each tonne of ore processed, generating immense amounts of tailings. Returning tailings-containment dams to their equivalent pre-disturbance landscape state is many stakeholders’ acceptable management strategy. The depositing of thickened fluid fine tailings (FFT), which the industry has relied upon to develop geotechnically stable dry landscapes, has not materialised due to the low hydraulic conductivity of such placements. The addition of sand to thickened FFT is proposed to accelerate the consolidation of thickened FFT in a co-disposal scheme, and this study evaluates its impact. In the continuum of solid wastes from mining operations, sand is the next-larger-sized grade of solids after “fine” that is produced in high proportions. Blends of highly-plastic FFT and fine-grade sand tailings at varying sand-to-fine ratio (SFR) values were tested. Sand lowered the liquid limit but did not significantly affect the plastic limit of FFT. The changes in liquid and plastic limits for SFR ≥ 1 blends were under 5% of water content. The maximum unit weight for the co-disposal mixes was obtained at SFR 3. Despite increases in unit weights, hydraulic conductivity increased with increasing SFR, while the trend for compression rates was in the reverse order. Void ratio—effective pressure—hydraulic conductivity power law relationships at varying SFR were obtained from the consolidation measurements. The constitutive constants of these relationships were used to model settlement of 30 m deep pits over a 25-year period. For all the deposits studied, the dewatering converged to a maximum solids content characteristic of each SFR in the order 74, 85, 88, and 94% (w/w) for thickened FFT and SFRs 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The numerically calculated average solid contents of the deep-pit placements grew closer with increasing SFR becoming 59, 77, 82, and 86% (w/w), respectively. Balancing the consolidation-rate gains and the land footprint required for storage with SFR increase, the optimal composition for co-disposal for this material and similar tailings is SFR 1.

Influence of Hydraulic Oil Brands on the Completeness and Accuracy of Diagnostics of Hydraulic Units of Russian and Foreign Production

Introduction. Russian and foreign manufacturers of volumetric hydraulic drives recommend using hydraulic oils (working fluid) from certain manufacturers for their hydraulic units: Lukoil, Gazpromneft, Mobil, Hydrau Gard, SHELL, Total, etc. The oils have different physicochemical properties, because of different additive packages in their composition. However, changes in these properties during operation are a negative factor. In this regard, the physicochemical properties of the power fluid will affect the determination of diagnostic parameters, namely their accuracy and reliability. Therefore, when monitoring the technical condition of volumetric hydraulic drives in bench equipment, it is necessary to use hydraulic oil, with constant physico-chemical properties. To select power fluid for determining the parameters of diagnosing new and existing volumetric hydraulic drives of Russian and foreign production with a minimum error, it is necessary to conduct experimental studies. Aim of the Article. The study was aimed at determining the dependence of changes in the parameters of diagnosing new and operating hydraulic units of Russian and foreign production on the power fluid temperature. Materials and Methods. As power fluid there were used Hydraulic oils MGE-46B and SHELL TELLUS S2 V46 recommended by manufacturers for volumetric hydraulic drives НST-90, НST-112 and Danfoss Power Solutions 90-series respectively. During the experiment, the volume efficiency and torque of volumetric hydraulic drives were tested as diagnostic parameters. The tests were carried out on specialized bench equipment in accordance with the requirements (methodology) of the manufacturers. Results. Experimental studies presented in the article have shown that the changes in the temperature of the power fluid affect significantly the accuracy of the diagnosed parameters of hydraulic units under study. It was found that the power fluid SHELL TELLUS S2 V46 allows reliably determining the diagnostic parameters of new and having operating time domestic hydraulic units. Optimal temperature ranges equal to 60...69 °C were obtained for power fluid – MGE-46V when testing new and having operating time foreign hydraulic units Danfoss Power Solutions 90-series. Discussion and Conclusion. It has been found that the power fluid MGE-46B in optimal temperature ranges ensures the completeness and high accuracy of diagnosing new and having operating time hydraulic units of Russian and foreign production in accordance with the requirements of GOST 17108 and manufacturers. Therefore, this hydraulic oil can be used as a universal power fluid for monitoring the technical condition of various hydraulic units at repair enterprises.

Experimental and CFD Assessment of Harmonic Characteristics of Point-Absorber Wave-Energy Converters with Nonlinear Power Take-Off System

The wave-energy excitation of point absorbers is highly associated with their resonant movement, and harmonic characteristics are of increasing concern in affecting resonance. However, the commonly used linearized power take-off (PTO) systems underestimate the impact of harmonics. The purpose of this study is to address the knowledge gap in assessing the contribution of hydraulic PTO systems to higher harmonic wave loads and velocities. In the present work, higher harmonics in point-absorber wave-energy converters (PA-WECs) with hydraulic power take-off (PTO) systems are investigated through both experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. The fast Fourier transform is used to decompose the high-order harmonics. To account for the influence of nonlinear wave–wave interaction on harmonics, the isolated PA-WEC is used as a basis for comparison with the paired PA-WECs. The influence of wave steepness is also estimated at two resonance periods. Results indicate that the additional resonance of the paired PA-WECs may be attributed to the harmonic wave loads at longer wave periods. Harmonic wave loads of paired PA-WECs typically have a more substantial impact and increase more rapidly with increasing wave steepness compared to isolated PA-WECs. Furthermore, as the wave steepness increases, there are significant enhancements in both the harmonic wave loads and heaving velocity, which strongly correlate with the instantaneous maximum hydraulic power. Consequently, our study will contribute to enhancing the maximum power output in the design of future point absorber arrays.

Some technical and economic indicators for operating an irrigation pump using natural gas

This paper presents the experimental study of the types of mixers used in mixing natural gas with air to operate the irrigation pump to save energy; many measurements were carried out in the 2021 year in workshops of the Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Egypt. Used engine single-cylinder, air-cooled. A new pump with a discharge diameter of 2 inches, which was an Egyptian manufacturer. Before entering the engine, several mixers were manufactured to mix natural gas with air. Three types of mixers were used using iron pipes of different diameters: Mixer with a perforated inner tube of 8, 10. Using the engine speed measuring device, 12cm (L8, L10, L12) was selected to determine the four shaft speeds (1750, 2300, 2900 and 3500 rpm). The results here dealt with the study of the analysis of technical indicators for the types of mixers used in mixing natural gas with air to operate the irrigation pump where the actual power (Braking power) is superior to all types when operating with gasoline (3.07 kW). A comparison with natural gas, where the mixer type (L10) (2.69 kW) was 10% less than gasoline. The lowest Specific fuel consumption (s. fc) for gasoline was (219.025 gm/Kw.h) at an engine speed of (2900 rpm). The lowest (S.fc) for the types of mixers was the mixer (L10) (340.144 gm/Kw.h) at an engine speed of (2900 rpm). The highest pump discharge was with the L8 mixer (32.98 m3/h), an increase of 1.8% over gasoline at an engine speed of (3500 rpm). The highest actual hydraulic power with the L10 type mixer compared to other type L mixers (0.782 kW) was 12 % lower than gasoline. As for the economic indicators, the lowest Internal Rate of Return (IRR) was gasoline ( 0.44), and the highest (IRR) when carrying the mixer type (L8) was (0.60), an increase of 26.6 % over gasoline. The lowest payback period was for the type of mixer (L8) (1.66 years), and the highest payback period was When the Gasoline was (2.27 years). Keywords: Irrigation pump, natural gas, gasoline, mixer, Engine speed, power, economic.

“There Should Be No Life”: Environmental Perspectives on Genocide in Northern Iraq

ABSTRACT This article examines the natural environment during the Kurdish genocide in northern Iraq. The genocide killed between 50,000 and 180,000 people and destroyed some 4,500 Kurdish villages from the 1960s to 1980s, reach peak violence during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88). The paper uses American, British, and Iraqi archival documents to analyse how the violence affected the natural landscape and how ecological conditions constrained the violence. Iraqi leaders regarded dams and other modes of environmental engineering as levers to facilitate agricultural modernization and social integration. Protecting and projecting hydraulic power justified greater military exertion. Iraqi leaders, frustrated by the lack of progress in development and hostile to the claims of Kurdish nationalism, resorted to more coercive options to combat guerrillas. But the inadequacies of military exertion prompted the government to redouble efforts to tame unruly nature and those who dwelled in it. This escalation contributed significantly to the lethal violence against rural Kurdish society. At a theoretical level, these findings highlight the troubling ways in which policies aimed to improve environmental conditions fold into campaigns of mass violence. The article also adds to understanding of violence in Iraq, showing how Iraq’s attempts to use environmental engineering for development intersected with security concerns and ethnic marginalization to create more intensive repression.

Biofilm prevention in the generator of a direct drive wave energy converter

Power take off in a wave energy converter has a number of unique requirements. It must convert low speed oscillating motion into electricity in a reliable, low maintenance manner. A direct drive system, where the electrical machine is optimised to operate at low speed, has the potential to offer a mechanically robust and simple solution. Similar to a hydraulic power take off, the only regular maintenance would be to inspect and replace the seal between moving parts. One strategy for removing regular maintenance is to have an unsealed system, i.e. one where sea water is allowed throughout the electrical machine. A fully flooded electrical machine has benefits in terms of cooling, but poses challenges relating to reliability, corrosion, biofouling and lubrication.
 Biofilm refers to a thin layer of fouling organisms which can interfere with the operation of components. Recent work has found that submerged surfaces can be kept free of biofouling using projected ultraviolet (UV) light from LEDs. This paper discusses the testing procedure and impact of the UVC irradiation on biofilm prevention within the active part of an electric generator in a systematic manner, with a view to accelerate its translation to full-scale applications.
 A prototype generator is being developed which will be installed in the North Sea, consisting of a submerged linear tubular electrical machine. A magnetic tubular translator will oscillate within a cylinder that houses stator coils. Lubrication will be by way of solid polymer bearings. In order that the active part of the electrical machine can oscillate smoothly, it is imperative that biofilm is prevented from colonising on the bearing surface, which also makes up the magnetic gap of the electrical machine.
 The system will have a slow reciprocating oscillation, with a peak speed of perhaps 2m/s. For most wave energy converters there will be brief static periods twice in every wave, and in calm seas these could be prolonged to several hours or even days. In low energy sea states oscillation amplitude could be less than the fully rated amplitude, meaning different parts of the bearing surface could be exposed for different amounts of time.
 Early-stage work is underway to investigate the use of UV irradiation in the active part of the electrical machine and bearing surface as biofilm prevention. Flat panels (600mm x 220mm) are used to simulate the original surfaces between moving parts. To achieve biofilm growth, an artificial slime farm was deployed which allows test panels to be subjected to a continuous dynamic flow. The light source of UV irradiation was provided by Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) with 278nm wavelength. The effectiveness of the biofilm prevention by UVC were evaluated by Image Analysis
 The results indicate that UVC can significantly control biofilm presence on the panels. It also has demonstrated that intermittent UV can achieve successful biofilm prevention on submerged surfaces. However, observations indicate the actual UVC light intensity may perform below the manufacturer’s specifications, and this could lead to a detrimental effect on its biofilm control performance.

A Comparison of Hydraulic and Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering Control Systems for Increasing Energy Efficiency

A Comparison of Hydraulic and Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering Control Systems for Increasing Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency onboard hydraulic power for quadruped robot based on high-low double pumps supply

Energy efficiency onboard hydraulic power for quadruped robot based on high-low double pumps supply

Thermal-Hydraulic Modeling of Oil-Immersed Motor Pump

The integrated design of the motor and axial piston pump eliminates the coupling structure, resulting in a compact and lightweight motor-pump structure. The challenge of motors overheating has always been a major concern. To address this issue, the hydraulic oil throughout the motor pump is utilized for cooling the high-speed motor, effectively improving the power density and heat dissipation capability of the hydraulic power unit. This integrated design approach has successfully resolved the significant issue of overheating motors, leading to enhanced performance of the hydraulic power unit. To address this concern, the entire motor pump’s oil is utilized to cool the high-speed motor. Consequently, the thermodynamic prediction of high-speed motor pumps has become increasingly important. In this study, the impact of motor heat generation on hydrodynamics is analyzed, and the heat transfer of the motor pump is investigated using the control volume method. Furthermore, thermodynamic models of hysteresis loss, eddy current loss, alternating current loss, churning loss, and throttling loss are established for the oil-immersed motor pump. The change in oil viscosity is also considered. The instantaneous temperature change rule of the oil within the oil-immersed motor pump is derived. Additionally, the influence of various working conditions such as pressure and speed on the temperature of the motor pump’s key node is examined. The experimental results indicate the accuracy of the thermodynamic calculation, and the significant effect of motor loss on the leakage temperature.

Front wheel angle control for steering system of intelligent commercial vehicle based on model predictive control

AbstractAccurate control of front wheel angle is essential in intelligent vehicle electric‐hydraulic power steering (EHPS) system, because it has a significant impact on the safety, comfort, and reliability of vehicle steering. However, the accurate control of front wheel angle is a challenging problem due to the non‐linearity of hydraulic power in steering system and the uncertainty of steering resistance. In this paper, a model predictive control (MPC) method for front wheel angle based on steering resistance estimation is proposed. Firstly, through theoretical analysis and practical experiment of EHPS system model, the relationship between front wheel angle and steering wheel angle and the non‐linear characteristics of hydraulic power are obtained. Secondly, a sliding mode observer is established to estimate the front axle lateral tyre force and steering resistance, which is verified by MATLAB/TruckSim co‐simulation. Then a controller based on the MPC theory is designed and applied to the accurate control unit of front wheel angle in the EHPS system for real‐time control. Finally, the simulation and test platform results show that the control algorithm proposed in this paper can precisely control the vehicle's front wheel turning angle within a certain frequency range.

Micro-hydropower systems for smallholder farmers in rural communities of Taraba state, Nigeria: Feasibility study, system analysis, design and performance evaluation (Part II)

This article deals with the feasibility study, system analysis, design, and performance evaluation of micro-hydropower systems for smallholder farmers in rural communities of Taraba state in Nigeria. The hydrologic data used to determine the available flow rate to produce the required hydraulic power were obtained from GEO Global Water Sustainability (GEOGloWS) Service. The principle of Darcy and Weisbach, applied in the Colebrook and Haaland’s equations were employed to analytically estimate the hydraulic head loss due to friction in the penstock, installed trash rack, and fitted valves. The Hydro-Power Plant (HPP) Design professional tool was used to size the different constituents of the proposed micro-hydropower plant, and to evaluate its overall performance. With a low net head of 5.2 m, and a maximum discharge of 1.21 m3/s, two vertical Kaplan turbines with combined peak power of 106 kW were obtained. The Kaplan turbines drive two 6-pole, 50-Hz asynchronous generators with nominal power of 50 kW each. The simulation results from the HPP design tool show that the system achieved a minimum efficiency of 56% with the flow ratio of 0.2, and maximum efficiency 86.1% with flow ratio ranging from 0.6 to 0.8. The Renewable Energy Project Analysis Software (RETScreen) Expert was utilized to perform cost, cash flows, financial sensitivity, and risk analysis of the proposed micro-hydropower plant in Wurno-Gassol. The RETScreen Expert estimated the risk level is at 10%, with minimum and maximum levels of confidence on risk associated with equity payback to occur in 4.6 years and 13.2 years respectively, with median level of confidence in year 7.2. Furthermore, the risk level on energy production cost is estimated at 10%, with minimum and maximum levels of confidence sitting at 101 USD/MWh and 140 USD/MWh respectively, with the median level of confidence at 118 USD/MWh.