POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER

POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER

POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER
POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER
TIS ABAY I &II AND TANA BELES HYDROPOWER
PLANTS

MONITORING REPORT

POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER

1/26/2021

POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER

POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER
POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER
POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER
POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER
POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER
POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER
POWER FOR ETHIOPIA POWER
 Table of Contents
PART ONE- TIS ABAY I&II POWER PLANTS...................................................................................................2
1. GENERAL..................................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Objective of the Visit.........................................................................................................................2
1.2 Background of Tis Abay I and II HPP...............................................................................................2
2. NATURAL FEATURES OF THE POWER PLANT AREA..................................................................................5
2.1 Hydrology..........................................................................................................................................5
2.2 Topography........................................................................................................................................6
2.3 Geology..............................................................................................................................................6
3. THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF TIS ABAY II HYDRO ELECTRIC PLANT (TIS ABAY II HEP) SCHEME...............6
3.1 Chara Chara spillway at Lake Tana.....................................................................................................6
3.2 Head Pond at Tis Issat Falls, Main Intake...........................................................................................7
3.3 Canal and Intermediate Intake..........................................................................................................7
3.4 Penstock & Power House...................................................................................................................8
3.5 The Switch Yard at Tis Abay, Double circuit 132 KV Transmission line & the Bahir Dar Substation...9
4. ANALYSIS ON HYDROLOGY....................................................................................................................10
4.1 Broad-Crested Weir Discharge.........................................................................................................10
5. Tis Abay II Hydroelectric Power Plant Data Summary............................................................................13
5.1. MAIN FEATURES OF THE POWER PLANT.........................................................................................13
6. REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................14
PART TWO -TANA BELES HYDRO POWER PLANT.......................................................................................14
1. General Description of Tana Beles Hydro Power Plant..........................................................................14
1.1.Main Features..................................................................................................................................15
1.2. OBJECTIVE OF THE SITE VISIT..........................................................................................................15
1.2.1 General objective......................................................................................................................15
1.2.2 Specific objective......................................................................................................................16
2. PROBLEMS OBSERVED AT TANA BELES POWER PLANTS......................................................16
PART ONE- TIS ABAY I&II POWER PLANTS

1. GENERAL
1.1 Objective of the Visit
The aim of monitoring work done at Tis Abay I and Tis Abay II HPP is to investigate and
analyze hydrological phenomena of the Lake Tana and Chara Chara weir in relation to water
management and power generation synchronization.
1.2 Background of Tis Abay I and II HPP

Tis Abay II hydroelectric power plant is located on the Abay River, some 32 km downstream of
Lake Tana at site where the riverbed suddenly drops by approximately 45 meters; thus creating
the well-known Tis Issat Water Falls.

Fig 1.1 Tis Abay II HPP

This head naturally created by the falls has already been used to generate electricity since 1964
and named, Tis Abay I hydroelectric plant with installed capacity of 11.4 MW.
Commissioning of Tis Abay II Hydroelectric Project had been boosted installed hydropower
capacity of the country from 375 MW to 450 MW (20% increase on the existing installed
hydropower capacity at that year).

The construction of a low height weir at Chara Chara in 1995-1997, across the Abay River at the
out let of Lake Tana, enables to regulate the out flow of water from the Lake Tana as long as the
lake level is below the crest of the spillway (1787.00 masl).
 Lake Tana and Abay River

Chara chara weir

Fig 1.2 Chara Chara weir

The above mentioned main important features, regulated flow from Lake Tana and a natural
head at 35 km downstream of the lake, had created ideal conditions for an economical and
environment friendly hydropower to be designed and implemented.

With aim of such project development, the Engineer (Joint Venture Coyne et Bellier, Howard
Humphrevs & Rust Kennedy & Donkin) had commenced its Feasibility Studies of Tis Abay II
Hydro Power Project under the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR).

In 1996 the Consultant has finalized its study and submitted the results of the study, which was
more detailed in discussing the important features of the project and its impact on the
environment.

The results of the study has confirmed that, unlike other Hydropower projects with a big dam,
Tis Abay II Hydro Electric Project has negligible impact on the environment and it is
economically very attractive for investment.

The study finally leads to a scheme which consists of building a new hydropower plant named
Tis Abay II Hydro Electric plant capable of turbining a discharge of 150m3/s, with an
approximate gross head of 53 m, with 73 MW installed capacity producing a firm energy of 359
GWH yearly.

2. NATURAL FEATURES OF THE POWER PLANT AREA

2.1 Hydrology

The Chara Chara weir regulates the out flow of the Lake Tana, which controls a catchment area
of 15320 km2 including approximately 3000 km2 of Lake Tana. The intermediate catchment
between Chara Chara and Tis Abay has an area of 1,100 km2, two third of which is the catchment
of Andassa River, main tributary of the Abay River on the right bank.

The controlled active storage of Lake Tana, between elevation 1784.00 and elevation 1787.00
masl, is 9.1 Billion m3, which represents approximately 2.4 times the average annual out flow of
the lake.

On average, the contribution of the intermediate catchment, (between Lake Tana and Tis Abay
roughly 35 km apart) to the discharge of Abay River is 12 m3/s.

 
2.2 Topography

The topography of the project area is characterized by the plateau shape of the right bank of the
Abay River and the narrow gorge, which has been formed by the River.

2.3 Geology

The power plant entirely lies in a series of Lava flow of the Aden formation, which is also most
probably the cause of the formation of Lake Tana.

The plateau of the right bank, on which the entire power plant is situated, is formed successively
from top to bottom by:

• A variable thickness of overburden material made essentially of black cotton soil, weathered
product of basaltic materials. This layer is generally 2 to 3 m thick along the waterways.

• A layer of strong basalt, approximately 10 to 20 meters thick.

• A layer of poor volcanic material, 20 to 25 m thick

• A layer of strong basalt again at the bottom of the series.

3. THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF TIS ABAY II HYDRO ELECTRIC PLANT (TIS

ABAY II HEP) SCHEME
3.1 Chara Chara spillway at Lake Tana

The water required to turbine both hydropower plants (Tis Abay I&II HEP) and also to the fall at
Tis Abay location is being regulated and released using the seven gates at Chara Chara (two of
which were constructed in 1995 — 1996 together with 635 m long spillway).

The released water will start its natural journey having its famous name as Abay River or the
Blue Nile, after being joined by Andasa River. It will travel approximately 32 km to face a
sudden 45m fall of its bed at Tis Issat Fall.

Just before the fall on the plateau, there is a weir to divert some of the released water at Chara-
Chara to be used for power generation at Tis Abay I HEP & TIS Abay II HEP with a maximum
discharge of 30m3/s &150 m3/s, respectively.

Currently Tis Abay I HPP is not working due to electromechanical problem and Tis Abay II is
working with only one of the two units for the same problem.

 
3.2 Head Pond at Tis Issat Falls, Main Intake

The diverted water from the fall using small weir constructed on the top of the fall, will be
momentarily accumulated in the pond to be led into main channel through four main intake
gates. The poundage capacity has been increased by about 80,000 m3 of excavation and by
rehabilitating the small weir along the edge of Tis Issat Fall, which was constructed together with
Tis Abay I HEP.

There are four main intake Gates, two of them are newly constructed by demolishing and
extending the left wing of the old gates which was serving Tis Abay I hydroelectric plant for
more than 30 years before Tis Abay II is constructed.

The four gates are capable of allowing inflow of 180m3/s, which is the maximum discharge
required to run both plants, Tis Abay I & Tis Abay II.

3.3 Canal and Intermediate Intake

The old headrace channel for Tis Abay I HEP, made of masonry wall, has been enlarged by
demolishing right-side of its slanted wall and half of its bed, increasing the bed by 8.2 m.

Lake Tana

Chara chara weir

Continues to natural river flow route

 Flow to Tis Abay I&II Flow to Tis Isat Fall

Tis Abay I Intake

Tis Isat Fall

Tis Abay II intake

Fig 3.1 areal map of Tis Abay I&II

The new section is made of half concrete slab with integrated vertical wall and half masonry bed
with its slant masonry wall.

The water from the head pond will be let in through the four main intake gates and it will
bifurcate just before Tis Abay I penstock intake, after being conveyed by the composite channel
section for 332 m.

At the point of bifurcation, there is an intermediate gate made of metal plates to control the flow
to Tis Abay II Hydro plant.

The newly constructed rectangular concrete canal, with 16-17 m bed width and 8.5 m height
internal dimensions, will convey the water remained from Tis Abay I plant to Tis Abay II Plant's
penstock intake covering a distance of 1,500 m.

3.4 Penstock & Power House

The twin surface penstocks (Figure Manufactured by local manufacturer, Mesfin Industrial
Engineering, with an internal diameter of 4.60 in each, serve to bring down water from the fore
bay to center of Francis turbines, which have operating level differences of 59 m.
Fig 3.1 Tis Abay II Penstock

After turbining both units, the water wilt eventually merge with those separated from it at Tis
Issat Fall to play the role for site sighting seeing at Tis Issat and to turbine Tis Abay I
Hydroelectric plant and continue its rest of journey with its name as Abay River or Blue Nile.

3.5 The Switch Yard at Tis Abay, Double circuit 132 KV Transmission line &
the Bahir Dar Substation

The power generated from Tis Abay II Hydro plant will be transmitted to Bahir Dar substation
via Tis Abay switchyard (roughly 3,200 m2) using a double circuit 132 KV power transmission
tine.
By being connected to Bahir Dar substation, the power contributed from Tis Abay II
Hydropower plant will play its part by boosting the interconnected grid power capacity of the
Country. Tis Abay II HP project data summary is given in Table 1.

4. ANALYSIS ON HYDROLOGY

Since there are different stakeholders around Lake Tana like irrigation land use and Tis Isat fall,
effective management and use of reservoir water is highly recommended. Thus to use the water
effectively without affecting others there should be systematic controlling method and guideline
that shows at what point of reservoir volume should decrease load and at what point of volume to
generate full load of power.

Water level characteristic at Chara chara weir is used to relate the time when to stop Tis Abay II
for the use of the remaining head of lake water at Beles Hpp which is giving better power than
using the water at Tis Abay II.

To practice water management technique at chara chara, we need to calculate the discharge at the
weir for different reservoir level. Since chara chara is broad crusted weir type we have to use
General formula of Broad crusted weir discharge calculation as shown below:

4.1 Broad-Crested Weir Discharge

Flow over a broad-crested weir is highly dependent on the weir’s geometry. Simply discharge
can be calculated as follows Q= CLHn

Where:

Q = Volumetric flow rate

C = Constant for the specific weir structure

L = Width of the weir

H = Height of water head upstream in relation to the weir’s crest

n = structure variant (usually 3/2 for a horizontal weir)

Broad crusted weir discharge calculation

Q=CLH3/2 where,
H=head of water over the crust of the weir
P=height of the weir which is 3m for chara chara weir
C= 0.602+0.083H/P) Rehbook equation for coefficient of
discharge
L=Length weir which is 635m for chara chara weir
weir height from 1784 to 1787 which is 3m for chara chara

Here below the Table and the graph shows the volume versus discharge relation at chara chara
weir. This graph shows at what point of flow to decrease load of Tis Abay II.

Here we assume all units of Tis Abay I and II are working at full load. Although we can find the
relation when different unit loads are applied.
Because of Tis Abay I needs 30m3/s and Tis Abay II needs 150m3/s discharge at full loading,
we can show from the Height to Discharge relation that

 Minimum discharge for Tis Abay I at 1787.20 masl, which is about 30m3/s; below this
level the power plant can’t generate unless controlled gate has opened.
 Minimum discharge for Tis Abay II is at 1787.60 masl which is180m3/s considering that
both Tis Abay I &II are working. When only Tis Abay II working minimum head is at
1787.53 masl for 150m3/s discharge for full load without opening any gate.

Currently only Tis Abay II is working by only one unit and low load since the overflow of water
at chara chara is decreasing to 8.68m3/s. because of this discharge is not enough the one of four
gates of controlled spill way is opened to supplement the needed discharge. The gate is opened
by 10% of 4m height and the plant is working at lower load.

Note: the catchment below chara chara is contributing averagely about 12m3/s discharge form
Andasa River and other flows for the Tis Abay and Tis Isat fall as well.

5. Tis Abay II Hydroelectric Power Plant Data Summary

5.1. MAIN FEATURES OF THE POWER PLANT
I. HYDROLOGY
 Catchment Area at Tis Abay ------------------16300 km2
 Average Discharge at Chara Chara ----------118 m3/s
 Firm Release at Chara Chara ------------------110 m3/s
 Flood Peak of Abay at the Power House ----1720 m3/s
II. DIMENSION

Canal Dimension

 Length of Enlarged Part ---------335 m

 Length of New Part --------------1,500 m
III. PENSTOCK AND FOREBAY
 Penstock Number --------------2
 Penstock Length ---------------135 & 145 m
 Penstock Diameter ------------4.6m
 Penstock Thickness----------- 0.012 m
IV. POWER HOUSE
 Width -----------29 m
 Length ----------54 m
V. POWER GENERATION
 Number of Units------------------------------- 2
 Turbine Type ------------------------------------Francis
 Turbine Rated Output (Each)--- -------------36.8 MW
 Turbine Rated Discharge (Each) --------------75 m3/s
 Turbine Rated speed ---------------------------214.3 rpm
  Generator Rated Capacity (Each) ---------40 MVA
 Generator Rated Power Factor----------- 0.9
 Generator Voltage -----------------------13.8 KV
 Generator Transformer Rated Voltage ----13.8/132 KV
 Firm Energy (Total) ----------------------400 GWH/Year (Depending on Allocation of
Water to the Fall)
VI. SUBSTATIONS
 Tis Abay II 132 KV Switchyard
 Extension to Bahir Dar Substation
VII. TRANSMISSION LINE
 Length --------------------------------32km
 Voltage (Double Circuit)---------- 132 KV
VIII. Lake Tana Control at Chara Chara
 New Radial Gates (Each 4.8 x 6.0 m)  

6. REFERENCES

1. Abebe Tesfaye, B.Sc. Civil Engineering, the Project Coordinator for Tis Abbay and
Gojeb hydropower projects. His major interest is on hydropower engineering.
2. The article appears in the publication of the EACE (Ethiopian Association of Civil
Engineers) who owns the copyright. All due acknowledgements and copyright belong
to EACE (POBox 20930, Code 1000, Addis Ababa)
3. EA CE Bulletin Vol 2, No 1, 2000
PART TWO -TANA BELES HYDRO POWER PLANT

1. General Description of Tana Beles Hydro Power Plant

The project was promoted by the Ethiopian Government to exploit the hydropower potential of
Lake Tana and the Beles River, situated in the Blue Nile basin.

The Plant, which minimizes the environmental impact because it is fully, constructed
underground, supplies Addis Abeba with energy at low cost, since 2010.

The approach channel is located on the south-west side of Lake Tana in order to convey the
flows from the lake to the Intake structure and finally into a 12 km long headrace tunnel.
The intake structure houses trash racks set to avoid passage of debris and floating material and
has also four sliding gates installed to stop the flow and allow dewatering of the headrace tunnel,
for inspection and maintenance activities.
This 12 km long headrace tunnel connects the intake structure with the penstock shaft.
The tunnel is almost entirely excavated with a TBM and lined with concrete precast elements.
Given the great length of the waterways, a surge shaft is provided at the end of the headrace
tunnel to mitigate the water hammer effects during the plant’s shut-downs or rapid flow
variation. The shaft is a cylindrical structure 93 m in height, with a throttle located at the bottom.
It is mostly excavated underground, adopting the rise boring technique, and only partially
developed above ground.
The steel penstock embedded in rock, leads the flow from the surge shaft to the powerhouse. It is
subdivided into three stretches, namely the vertical penstock shaft 270 m in depth, the sub-
horizontal high pressure headrace tunnel and a four branches manifold.

The underground Powerhouse is located at a depth of about 300 m. It houses four Francis type
generating units, the erection bay and the control building. The transformer cavern is located
downstream and parallel to the powerhouse and contains the four step-up transformers. The
Powerhouse and Transformer caverns are linked by the four bus-ducts and the access tunnels.
A 275 m deep cable shaft connects the transformer cavern to the open air switchyard.
The flow discharged by the Powerhouse, is conveyed into Jehana river through a 7 km long
headrace tunnel, operating with a free flow regime.

Three regulation weirs are constructed downstream of the Tailrace outlet in order to mitigate the
effects of the additional discharge into the Jehana river.

The plant has an installed capacity of 460 MW and it is the second largest power plant in the
country. It is also expected to help provide water for the irrigation of 140,000 ha (350,000 acres).
It was inaugurated in May 2010 and the last generator was operational in February 2012. Its
construction was negatively perceived by downstream Egypt.
1.1. Main Features
 Lake Tana as a reservoir (V = 32'270 Mm³)
 Headrace tunnel (L = 12 km, D = 7.2 m)
 Surge shaft (H = 93 m, D = 18 m)
 Penstock (L = 286 m, D = 6.5 m)
 Underground power house (No. 4 Francis turbines, IP = 460 MW, E = 1'840 GWh/y)
 No. 3 weirs for river regulation purposes

1.2. OBJECTIVE OF THE SITE VISIT

1.2.1 General objective

The general objective of the site visit is to monitor overall Power Plant’s status

1.2.2 Specific objective

The specific objective is

 To identify the problem of floating land mass and debris at Tana Beles Intake and
to recommend the best solution so far.
 To identify other problems of the HPP and to give recommended solution.

2. PROBLEMS OBSERVED AT TANA BELES POWER PLANTS

During our site visit we have observed some problems at Tana Beles HEPP, such as:-
 We have visualized the problem of floating debris becoming big problem for the power
plant operation. Here the solution is to build stronger, effective to trap large float and
non-corrosion barriers for catching the float and routine clearance activity is also required
for the trapped debris.
 There is also problem of leakage water at power house inside store house. This leakage is
assumed to come from firefighting tanker located upstream of the power house inside the
right corner of access road to the underground power house. This cooling water conveyed
from the tanker through pipe casted with concrete on the floor of the access road right
side. So the pipe may brock at some point inside casted concrete and leak to the store
floor.
This leakage is causing damage materials inside the store. Although cooling water is drained out
that is another problem for the plant.
This problem should be studied deeply by using deep water detector instrument and maintained
at the point of breakage of pipe.
  The other problem is the Federal camp at the outlet is farthest from the site to be guarded.
They are coming long distance on foot and their camp is inside of the village which is not
secured for the solders. Somebody may attack them on the way they go.
It is recommended to build another camp near to the outlet. There is a field which is favorable
for camp location there.
 Road to power house maintenance is required at some points.
 Employee’s houses and Gust houses require maintenance work soon.

2. Recommendations
We have recommended the following main issues

1. Tana Beles hydroelectric power is the most preferred plant that produces power all year round,
but there is no efficient rehabilitation and inspection works done on the plant.
2. The appropriate time to construct proposed boom is during this dry season, but it is not still
begin this will cause a clogging problem that was happened on the past summer for the next
summer seasons (flood seasons).
3. Chara chara weir and Tana Beles HEPP should be environmentally friendly with Lake Tana
ecosystem and biodiversity, and there should be efficient lake water management system for
continuous use of the lake water.