Hydro Nepal Research Articles

A dynamic analysis of in-situ stress state at the Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project area, Nepal

The in-situ stress condition in the rock mass is influenced by both tectonic and geological environment, such as faulting and shearing in the rock mass. This influence is of considerable magnitude in the Himalayan region where the tectonic movement is active, resulting periodic dynamic earthquakes. Each large-scale earthquake causes both accumulation and sudden release of strain energy instigating changes in the in-situ stress environment in the rock mass. This paper evaluates the influence of local shear fault on the in-situ stress state along the shot crete lined high pressure tunnel of Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project, 456 MW in Nepal. A detailed assessment of the in-situ stress state is carried out by using both; measured data and three-dimensional numerical analysis using FLAC3D. The analysis includes evaluation on the possible changes in the in-situ stress state in the rock mass caused by seismic activities (dynamic loading). HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water, Energy and Environment Issue: 23Year: 2018

Environmental Flow Assessment of Hewa Khola A and Lower Hewa Khola Hydropower Projects in Nepal

One of the elements of sustainable hydropower development is the release of the environmental flows (Eflows). This Eflows is meant to ensure that prior use(r)s of the river water are respected and that essential riverine ecosystem functions are maintained. This paper presents the results of an e-flows assessment, using the hydrological index method, of Hewa Khola A and Lower Hewa Khola Hydropower Projects, in Phidim, Nepal. These projects are being developed in the tributaries of Tamor River in Eastern part of Nepal. The e-flows assessment results are compared with the current releases made from the projects in operation. Current operations are prone to lead to severe degradation and social conflict. Based on an evaluation of the effects of a higher Eflows release on the power production, the paper concludes with recommendations for appropriate Eflow releases, and thus for socially and environmentally sustainable operations of the hydropower projects. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water, Energy and Environment Issue: 23Year: 2018

Energy Banking with India : Path of Least Resistance

Once the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project is commissioned by the end of 2018, Nepal is expected to have surplus energy during the wet/monsoon season of 2019. Nepal’s Energy Ministry has decided to resolve this surplus issue through Energy Banking with India whereby Nepal exports her wet season power for India’s dry season import on “the same volume”. This is an extremely naïve assumption even if it is for the sake of mere negotiation. Discussing the short-sightedness of Energy Banking concept, this article stresses that Nepal should have, instead, activated the other two prevailing instruments of power trading, that of bilateral and regional 2014 Indo-Nepal Electric Power Trade, Cross-Border Transmission and Grid Connectivity Agreement and the 2014 SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity) respectively. Activating these two agreements would have ‘Open Sesame’-d the doors to Nepal’s growing hydropower capabilities – a win-win situation for both countries. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water, Energy and Environment Issue: 23Year: 2018

A GIS Approach for Rapid Identification of Run-of-River (RoR) Hydropower Potential Site in Watershed: A case study of Bhote Koshi Watershed, Nepal

A new Geographical Information System (GIS) approach is proposed to assess primary potential hydropower site, explicitly identifying highly possible hydropower locations spatially, over a large area in a short time. The results from this approach were validated with an existing hydropower site in the Bhote Koshi catchment in Nepal. Altogether 885 number of searches made along the river streams each covered a circular area of radius 10 km, with distance between headwork and power houses of 500 m intervals, thus, identified 297 highly potential sites out of total 2655 during evaluation. The results indicate that, 52 sub-catchments have potential areas and seven specific hydropower locations overlapped with existing hydropower projects. This approach is suitable for initial screening only and the produced results significantly facilitate further in-depth feasibility study to engineering and economic analysis for hydropower potential of the basin. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water, Energy and Environment Issue: 23Year: 2018

Contractual Issues for Hydropower Construction in Nepal

Nepal is located at the foot of the Himalayas and has numerous perennial rivers flowing from North to South, making it an ideal place for production of massive scale of hydropower. Hence, there are many hydropower projects in construction phase, but they are facing several contractual issues such as, contractual inefficacy of the parties, payment problems, Force Majeure and claims handling mechanism. In order to build the capacity of existing contract personnel working in various projects, it is high time for the stakeholders of Nepalese construction industry to train their human resources to the required standard, such that they can properly prepare, assess and handle the contractual issues that may arise, in the international standard. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water, Energy and Environment Issue: 23Year: 2018

An Interview with Mr. Moti Lal Dugar

In light of ongoing discourses, at present, on prevailing energy crisis and exciting participation of IPPs in hydropower development in Nepal, HYDRO Nepal Journal felt this opportune to review and assess the present hydropower development scenario of Nepal from the perspective of independent power producer. Hence, HYDRO Nepal takes pleasure in presenting an interview with Mr. Moti Lal Dugar, Chairman of MV Dugar Group, Nepal by Rajendra P Thanju, Managing Editor of HYDRO Nepal Journal. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 51-52Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

Personality Profile

With an objective to highlight the prominent Nepali personalities who have played important roles in major donor agency, Asian Development Bank (ADB), HYDRO Nepal Journal considers it appropriate to underline the profile of Dr. Bindu N. Lohani to its readers. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 53-53Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

Comparison between Predicted Rock Mass Classes and Actual Rock Mass Classes in Headrace Tunnel of Upper Mai Hydroelectric Project, Nepal

This study involves comparison of predicted rock mass classes in design stage with actual rock mass classes of headrace tunnel of Upper Mai Hydroelectric Project. The total length of headrace tunnel is 2070.52 m. The lithology of the study area consists of gneiss, schistose gneiss and mica schist. The rock mass classifications, Q-system were used to predict rock mass classes during the design phase as well as for classify rock mass during excavation of headrace tunnel. The applicability and validity of proposed classification has been checked by comparing the prediction with actual observation after completion of excavation. It was found that the predicted classes does not exactly matches with the actual rock masses as a results effecting in construction time as well as in cost and economy of the project. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 41-44Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

Hydropower in New Roles in Changed Context

This article focuses on how hydropower can facilitate to integrate more and more renewable in the grid. Doing so, we will have to create new hydropower products and market them. This will be possible if we have a vibrant power market allowing marketing of innovative hydropower products offering primary supply as well as other services in the grid. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 48-50Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

Peak Demand Management in Micro Hydro using Battery Bank

Millions of Nepali inhabit in a far-flung hamlet of Nepal, where the extension of national grid is unlikely even in the new future. Isolated Micro-hydro power plants are extensively used in these areas. This paper addresses the problem of deficient electricity during peak period in existing conventional micro-hydro plants by the introduction of battery storage in the plant. Micro-hydro plant with battery bank storages surplus power, which would be wasted in case of conventional micro-hydro plant, during off- peak period and supplies during peak period. The control strategies for Electronic Load Controller (ELC), three - phase ac/dc converter and buck converter are realized in Matlab Simulink environment. The simulated system was able to store surplus power into battery bank when load demand was less than power generated by Synchronous Generator (SG) and supply when the load demand was higher than generator’s generation. This model can be implemented in the already existing micro-hydro plants where the load demand for a short time has increased beyond generation capacity of generator. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 34-40Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

China’s SHP Policy and its Role in Promoting SHP Development

The development of China’s small hydropower (SHP) has a history of over 100 years. Especially after the formal establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), China has attached great importance to the development of SHP and implemented specific policies to overcome the challenges at different stages of SHP development. This paper briefly introduces the management system of SHP in the Chinese context, reviews different policies related to SHP development, analyzes the role of different policies in promoting SHP development over time, and finally discusses the pertinence, effectiveness and sustainability of SHP policies. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 25-33Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

“Hamro Jhora, Hamro Pani” (Our Spring, Our Water): Water and the Politics of Appropriation of ‘Commons’ in Darjeeling Town, India

Based on the study of Darjeeling Municipality, the paper engages with issues pertaining to understanding the matrixes of power relations involved in the supply of water in Darjeeling town in India. The discussions in the paper focuses on urbanization, the shrinking water resources, and increased demand for water on the one hand; and the role of local administration, the emergence of the water mafia, and the ‘Samaj’ (society) all contributing to a skewed and inequitable distribution of water and the assumption of proprietorship or the appropriation of water commons, culminating in the accentuation of water-rights deprivation in Darjeeling Municipal Area. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 16-24Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

Methods Applied in the Prediction of Brittle Failure in Tunnels and Underground Caverns

Tunnels and underground caverns located at greater depth (high rock cover or overburden) are subjected to high in-situ stress environment. Those rock mass that are relatively unjointed and massive are exposed to the brittle failure, which is famously known as rock spalling/ rock bursting phenomenon. Establishing state of the stress and evaluating stress-induced instability in tunnels passing through such rock mass at relatively greater depth is therefore a challenge. The aim of this manuscript is to describes existing brittle failure (rock burst) prediction methods that are being practiced worldwide and propose necessary editions so that quality of assessment is enhanced. The methods described are very practical and the author is confident that professional engineers will use them to evaluate and predict potential rock burst/ rock spalling scenario in the tunnels during planning, design and construction phases. Each method of prediction is explained, applicability extent is highlighted and comparisons between the methods are made. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 5-9Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

Reflections on SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity) Vis-a-vis India’s “Guidelines on Cross Border Trade of Electricity”

Despite the Indo-Nepal Electric Power Trade, Cross Border Transmission and Grid Connectivity Agreement of October 2014 and despite the SAARC Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation (Electricity) of November 2014, the Government of India issued the discriminatory Guidelines on Cross Border Trade of Electricity on December 5, 2016. The Guidelines provide preferential one-time approval for all entities with 51% or more Indian ownership wishing to export electricity from Nepal to India. All other entities, the Guidelines stated, had to undergo the case-to-case basis. Historically, such unilateral actions have always been the modus operandi of India. Despite the regular regional cooperation preaching by India, Nepal will have to, like the Tanakpur and Laxmanpur barrages, BUT accept India’s discriminatory December 2016 Guidelines as her fait accompli! HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 1-4Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

Characterization and Quantification of Municipal Solid Waste in Jeetpur Simara Sub- Metropolitan City, Nepal

Waste management, being one of the most important aspects of urban development, is gaining importance among developing nation like Nepal where rapid population growth, unmanaged urbanization, lack of public awareness and poor management by municipalities have intensified environmental problems in towns in Nepal. In Nepal only six municipalities i.e. Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Pokhara, Dhankuta, Tansen and Ghorahi practice sanitary landfill for waste management and other municipality practices open dumping which has become major cause of environmental and human health hazards (ADB, 2013).Jeetpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City (JSSMC) is a recently formed sub-metropolitan city. This city has not performed any study on solid waste management till date and lacks data on quantity and composition of municipal solid waste generation that facilitates effective planning of municipal solid waste management. The household survey revealed an average per capita household waste generation rate of 120 g/capita/day. The total Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation is estimated about 15 tons/day and 5475 tons/year. The analysis of household waste composition indicated that the highest waste category was organic waste with 80% followed by plastics with 10%, paper and paper products with 6% and inert with 4%. The composition analysis of institutional wastes revealed 41% paper and paper products, 33% plastics, 13% organic wastes and 13% inert. The study found that commercial waste comprised 59% paper and paper products, 21% plastics, 17% organic and 3% inert. In aggregate, MSW is composed of 56% organic waste, 21% paper and paper products, 19% plastics, and 3% inert. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue No: 22Page: 45-47Uploaded date: January 14, 2018

Numerical Study of Wall Shear and Velocities Using a Commercial CFD Code: Some Crucial Aspects to Consider

This paper presents the numerical prediction of wall shear and velocities in steady and superposed pulsatile turbulent flow in a pipe, the phenomena that can be observed in hydropower. The previously conducted experiment is a base for this study and some crucial aspects of CFD while using a commercial code have been emphasized. The widely-accepted grid convergence index approach is adopted to quantify the discretization uncertainty and the results are validated against the experiment. The influence of the wall functions applied in the code is also studied with two turbulence models: standard k-ε and kω based SST model. The time-averaged results of superposed flow with small amplitude unsteadiness are equivalent to results from the steady flow. The results and the method used in this paper may be useful for the CFD simulations in hydropower applications like penstock and bifurcations designs. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue: 21, July, 2017Page: 45-49Upload Date: July 20, 2017

Hydropower development in Nepal: WHAT went WRONG!

Not Available. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue: 21, July, 2017Page 1-1Upload Date: July 18, 2017

Stabilization Measure Adopted for Controlling Landslide: A Case Study of Upper Mai Hydroelectric Project

Stability is the key issue in landslide stabilization. Methodology and component adopted in stabilizing the slide play vital role in this regards. In many occasion, stability measure adopted for controlling slide has been found to be unsuccessful, inadequate causing not only the safety risk but also huge economic loss. This paper describe history, effects, causes, stabilization measures and effectiveness of these measures played for controlling landslide of headwork area of Upper Mai Hydroelectric Project. The pioneering solution applied for landslide stabilization such as application of rock bolts, shotcrete and water management found to be highly effective in controlling the landslide. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue: 21, July, 2017Page: 11-14Upload Date: July 18, 2017

Variation Orders and It's Procedure for Hydropower Construction

There is lots of construction going in Nepal, of which hydropower construction is also moving in significant pace. As the design and drawings prepared during development of the hydropower project may not fully reflect the construction situation, due to the different circumstances led by the Employer, Engineer or Contractor working for the Project. It has been observed globally that the design during project preparation in hydropower projects needs revision during implementation; hence the basic understanding of Variation Orders is very important to the hydropower professionals. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue: 21, July, 2017Page: 15-16Upload Date: July 18, 2017

3D in-Situ Stress Model of Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project Area

Reliable estimation of in-situ stress state is very important in implementing the shotcrete lined/ unlined tunnels and shafts. The in-situ stress state of the area of concern is mainly governed by the gravity-induced stress, tectonic activity of the earth’s crust and topographic condition of that area. The local tectonic and geological environment such as faulting and shearing activities in general influences the magnitude of tectonic stress level. The Himalayan region is renowned with its active tectonic movement (earthquake activities), which causes accumulation and sudden release of strain energy instigating changes in the stress environment. This paper aims to evaluate in-situ stress state at the Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project, where shotcrete lined/ unlined headrace tunnel with considerable hydrostatic head is being implemented. A detailed assessment of the in-situ stress state is carried out by using both measured data and three-dimensional numerical analysis using FLAC3D. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue: 21, July, 2017Page: 34-41Upload Date: July 18, 2017