Cost Optimisation Based on Electro-Mechanical Equipment of Canal Based Low Head Small Hydropower Scheme

In the present paper an attempt has been made to develop the correlations for the cost of different components of canal based small hydropower (SHP) schemes. The cost has been determined based on actual quantities of various items having prevailing rates. The developed correlations give the plant cost as the function of cost sensitive parameters for various layouts based on different type of turbines and generators. An attempt has also been made to evolve the optimum selection of layout based on installation cost, generation cost and benefit cost ratio at different load factors. It has been found that the power house layout having tubular turbine with propellor runner and induction genertor is optimum layout at high load factors i.e. 90 to 100%, while, layout having bulb turbine with Kaplan runner is optimum at low load factor (50%).