Purdue-ACREST Hydroelectric Project
Hydroelectric Powerplant Project Information
Electric power is one of the basic needs for the development of any community. With electricity missing from most rural communities in Africa, providing basic necessities such as potable water, electric equipment in health and dental clinics, computer for schools, radio in homes, and the operation of equipment in micro-economic industries is challenging. Currently there are four small hydro power sites in various stages of development in the village of Bangang, Cameroon which have the potential of providing about 300 kW of clean, local hydropower for the community. Development of these hydro systems have begun, but they are not fully operational due to faulty designs, lack of funds, and limited technical expertise. The main goal of this Purdue Global Design Team is work with our partner, ACREST, to improve the existing hydropower project sites by designing, fabricating, and installing an operational hydropower turbine in the village of Bangang. Phase I of the project involved environmental studies, turbine design and community impact assessment. This was accomplished by an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate engineering students supervised by two faculty advisors and a graduate student. A turbine was designed for 150 kW generation based on the water head potential in the area. Additionally, the environmental and economic impact assessment conducted both showed positive returns to the environment and community. Excellent progress has been made since project inception and in July 2013 an updated turbine was successfully installed and is now operating.
2011 Hydroelectric Construction and testing in Cameroon (African Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies (ACREST)
