Interpolation of Rainfall-River Orle Discharge for Developing 1.032 MW of Hydropower in Estako-West, Nigeria

Abstract

Annual rainfall is of great importance to every nation and provides useful data on agricultural, hydrology and hydraulics designs. The research study presents the evaluation of the hydropower potential of river Orle using the analytical potential interpolation of hydrological elements (Rainfall, river discharges e.t.c) with emphasis of developing 1.032 MW power plant-reservoirs. Hydropower is a renewable energy source based on the natural water cycle and most mature, reliable and cost-effective renewable power generation technology. Gumbel’s Probability Distribution method, U.S Soil Conservation technique and empirical formulation were used to estimate maximum flood design, rainfall distribution and intensity and peak river flow. The hydrological data provided by Benin-Owena River Basin stationed in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi and attached to Department of Civil Engineering Technology were applied for the analysis. The outputs revealed that annual average rainfall of 98.1 mm or more in 75-year; 130.1 mm or more in 50-year out of 100 years. The exceedence probability for a rainfall of 158.1mm is 0.25 with observed rainfall greater than normal. At discharge (10.77 * 10-2 m3/s), the proposed Orle hydropower scheme generated 1.032MW during the peak of wet and 76.6 KW was evaluated during the drying season at (0.80 * 10-2m3/s). The study draws a conclusion that for runoff river scheme at 41.7% flow, the total hydropower potential of 0.676 MW was evaluated.