Small Hydropower Technology Program

Small Hydro Power Equipment Testing and Research Laboratory

About the Laboratory
The small Hydropower (SHP) program was initiated in the fiscal year 2071/72 at NAST under the Faculty of Technology. This program was developed for the development of research and standardized testing of Small Hydro Power equipment within the country. Since hydropower is the main potential electrical energy source in our country, in this context there is a high necessity for R&D in this field.

The laboratory facilities the on-site and laboratory-based testing of equipment using a Vibration Meter, Insulation Tester, Ultrasonic Crack Finder, Eddy Current Flaw Detection Unit, Magnetic Particle Inspection Unit, and Energy Meter.

The laboratory conducts the activities on the following topics:

• Identification of major problems in Small Hydro Power plants particularly in the electromechanical section within the country.
• Solutions in short, and long terms for the identified problems.
• Addition of basic testing and measuring instruments to the hydro-lab facility at NAST.
• Demand-based research in the Small Hydro Power sector. 
• Continual capacity building of the hydropower equipment standardization at NAST
• Establishment of various testing facilities for Small Hydro Power producers.
• Performance evaluation and analysis unit for assessment of various hydropower equipment
• Well-equipped lab for different hydropower components testing and technology transfer within Nepal.
• Lab-based research on different components and machines related to small hydropower.
• Expansion of research work on hydropower and other similar problems.
• Continual research and innovation in the modernization of hydro lab

Objective
The main objective of this program is to initiate field and lab-based research in the field of hydropower with the establishment of a hydro testing lab facility at NAST.

Recent Activities

• For the performance examination and study in the small hydropower sector, a one-day field visit was conducted to the Panauti Hydropower Plant on 8 August 2022.

 

Figure: During Panauti Hydropower Visit

• 7 days long field visit to small hydropower projects such as Chameliya Hydropower, Naugadh Gad Hydropower, and Upper Naugadh Gad of Darchula district was conducted and issues were identified and consultation with the officials of the hydropower sites for the feasibility study about the Nano-Coating technology in the hydropower projects was done.

 

Figure: At Chameliya Hydroelectric Power House during a visit to Darchula

 

• The Vice-Chancellor of NAST, participated virtually in the conference 'Today’s Hydropower Forum 2021', as a special guest, commissioned by the UNDP, Ministry of Water Resources in China
• To coordinate with various organizations in the small hydropower sector, the necessary procedure was initiated by visiting Pharping Hydropower Plant

 

Figure: During a site visit to Pharping Hydropower Plant

Ongoing and To Be Conducted Research Activities
•    Supersonic Thermal Spraying (HVOF) Nano-Coating technology for hydro turbines
•    Installation of Turbine Test-Rig
•    The prototype design, simulation using the simulating software, and study of equipment used in hydropower are being studied

NAST has the MOU with following organizations and institutes for Small Hydro Power activities
•    Ministry of Energy, Government of Nepal
•    National Research Institute for Rural Electrification (NRIRE), also called Hangzhou Regional Centre for Small Hydro Power (Asia-Pacific) (HRC), Ministry of Water Resources, PR China
•    International Centre on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP), PR China
•    A tripartite agreement among ICSHP China Hangzhou Jianghe Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Engineering Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Mechanical Research Institute (MWR), China and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Nepal