Congratulations!! I am not an engineer, but I am interested in some aspects. Kariba Dam is the largest man-made dam (185 km3 of water). It is almost five times bigger than the Chinese Three Gorges Dam (38 km3). However, the Three-Gorges Dam has an installed capacity of 22,500 MW compared to Kariba's 1,626 MW (with the Zambia side). Is the difference only in terms of number turbines, Kariba has 14 compared to 34 and their capacity? What is the maximum that can be harnessed from Kariba, if financial resources were available (a simple matchbox calculation says 110,000 MW)?
Yes...bigger than Chinese three gorges dam..change of units with higher output with matching demand on live water could enhance karibas overall installed capacity
True but note..... 1. Turbines used at three gorges are the world's most efficient currently available. This means the use less water. 2. Zambezi river's catchment area is less than that of the yangtze river. 3. Zambezi's average discharge i to the ocean is 3000m³ yet Yangtze is 30000m³ 4. Drainage systems in those countries are more advanced thereby havesting more water than us here in africa. These few facts here make kariba small to an extent.
@@muziwethumoyo6633 (1) if the demand and financial resources were available, then it is possible to increase to at least 20,000 MW through more, larger, and more efficient turbines (2) The volume that Kariba has of 183 km3 compared to 3 Gorges's 38 km3 means that there is spare capacity exceeding 20,000 MW. (3) The current low levels maybe due to inefficient turbines, and inefficient water management b4 we consider the drought situation (4) It maybe possible to increase the water holding capacity b4 the dam without affecting Cahora Bassa downstream in order to increase the required head to produce at least 20,000 MW I am just wondering if we've become small-minded (some may argue fit-for-purpose) compared to the original plan of the world's largest water reservoir.
I would like to see some effort put into solar power but of course to be absolutely fair the whole issue is really one of gross underinvestment over decades due to the authorities concentrating on politics.
they could but then for enviromental reasons they will keep it like that and besides it would be an expensive exercise in both installation and repairs in the event that the turbines are affected
Hello, I am doing a thesis on hydroelectric power plant design, but I could not find a clear enough source. If there is a source that explains the principles of hydroelectric power plant design step by step, could you suggest you know?
