American University in Cairo AUC Knowledge Fountain Theses and Dissertations 2-1-2017 Study of Qattara depression and its hydropower potential Aly El Shafei Follow this and additional works at: https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds Recommended Citation APA Citation El Shafei, A. (2017).Study of Qattara depression and its hydropower potential [Master’s thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/647 MLA Citation El Shafei, Aly. Study of Qattara depression and its hydropower potential. 2017. American University in Cairo, Master's thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/647 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by AUC Knowledge Fountain. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of AUC Knowledge Fountain. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The American University in Cairo School of Sciences and Engineering Study of Qattara Depression and its Hydropower Potential By Aly Mamdouh El Shafei A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Under supervision of: Dr. Mohamed Amr Serag El Din Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering January, 2017 Acknowledgments The author would also like to show his gratitude to the Dr. Amr Serag El Din for his continuous support during the course of this research. He would also like to express gratitude to Dr. Mohamed Ezz El Din whose work on this area has been of great help and all of the Department faculty members for their help and support. He is deeply indebted to his parents for the unceasing encouragement, support and attention. 4 Study of Qattara Depression and its Hydro Power Potential by Aly Mamdouh El Shafei Submitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering on January 12, 2017, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Abstract The Qattara Depression is a very interesting geomorphic feature that has been sug- gested to be used for hydropower production. This research will investigate hydrolog- ical elements affecting the water balance of the Qattara Depression region. Climatic data obtained from weather stations surrounding the region will be used in the inves- tigation, as climatic factors such as rain and water evaporation would affect the mass balance equation. Then environmental and economic implications of such a project will also be studied. Many schemes have been suggested in the past for the project. All these schemes are compared economically in this work for the first time as far as the author knows. And the model employed investigates elements that had not been previously investigated. The outward seepage calculation and its affect on the plant lifetime is included in the model and the economic study and also its environmen- tal impacts are checked. The effect of the channel flow of water before reaching the lowest point of the depression as it was not previously included in the evaporation calculation, but it is investigated in this model. Also a detailed study of the effect of the salinity increase of the water in the depression is investigated. The way all this enabled is by using data from three weather stations near Qattara Depression (Siwa, Dabaa, Wadi El Natroon) and the data is used on a monthly bases to calculate the evaporation that would occur as it would be used in the mass balance equation that includes the evaporation, that is affected by the progressive salinity increase, the inward and outward seepage, the rainfall, and the inflow from the sea. Using that calculation the progressive increase in the surface level in the depression is always obtained and the best design and economic study is planned accordingly. 5 Contents 1 INTRODUCTION 16 1.1 Objectives of Present Research: . 20 2 LITERATURE SURVEY AND PREVIOUS WORK 21 2.0.1 Hydro power . 21 2.1 PREVIOUS WORK . 24 2.1.1 Study of Ball . 24 2.1.2 Bassler’s Commission . 28 2.1.3 Gohar’s Study . 30 2.1.4 Assem Afify . 31 2.1.5 Mohamed Ezz El Din . 35 2.2 Geology of Qattara Depression . 45 2.3 Moghera Aquifer . 46 2.3.1 Seepage . 49 2.4 Alternative Resources and Economic Studies . 52 2.4.1 Solar Energy . 52 2.4.2 Wind . 53 2.4.3 Mohamed Ezz el Din’s Cost Analysis . 56 3 Qattara Depression Evaporation, Salinity, Seepage and Channel Flow Models 58 3.0.1 Solar Radiation Model . 58 3.0.2 Evaporation Model . 60 6 3.0.3 Topography Model . 63 3.0.4 Salinity Model . 64 3.0.5 Chanel Flow . 67 3.0.6 Effect of Salinity on Evaporation Rate . 70 3.0.7 Seepage . 78 4 Economic Analysis 84 4.1 Cost estimation . 88 4.1.1 Economic comparison between conventional power plants and the base load scheme . 92 4.1.2 Economic comparison between conventional power plants and the pumped hydro storage scheme . 98 5 Discussion of Results 102 6 Conclusion and Recommendations for Future Work 131 6.0.1 Conclusion . 131 6.0.2 Recomendations for Future Work . 132 7 List of Figures 1.1 Qattara Depression’s location . 19 2.1 Network Demand . 22 2.2 Routes D,E and F . 26 2.3 Qattara Depression’s level for different project scenarios . 27 2.4 Qattara Depression’s salinity . 27 2.5 Qattara Depression’s pumped storage alternative route 1 . 29 2.6 Qattara Depression’s pumped storage alternative route 2 . 29 2.7 Proposal offered by Gohar . 31 2.8 Qattara Depression’s osmotic power plant schematic . 33 2.9 Qattara Depression’s aerial view . 34 2.10 Qattara Depression’s two hydropower plants and a Solar-Pond-Chimney power plant . 35 2.11 Curve showing relation between temperature and vapor pressure . 42 2.12 Monthly Evaporation in Dabaa station . 43 2.13 Monthly Evaporation in Siwa station . 44 2.14 Monthly Evaporation in Wadi El Natroon station . 44 2.15 Qattara Depression’s Geology . 47 2.16 Measured water table variations . 48 2.17 Transmissivity map for the Moghra aquifer in (m2=day), determined through model calibration . 49 2.18 Annual Integrated Direct Normal Irradiation kWh/m2:yr . 52 8 2.19 Wind resource map:mean wind speed at 50 m agl(above ground level). Source: Wind Atlas of Egypt . 54 2.20 Proposed approach with wind turbines and pipes at the Qattara De- pression . 55 2.21 Previously suggested design for pumped storage . 55 3.1 Meteorogical Data from el Dabaa station . 62 3.2 Meteorogical Data from Wadi El Natroon station . 63 3.3 Meteorogical Data from Siwa station . 64 3.4 Area change with level . 65 3.5 Volume change with Level . 66 3.6 SRTM data . 68 3.7 Topography . 69 3.8 Evaporation factor . 70 3.9 Evaporation rate Wadi El Natron 1999 S.G=1 . 72 3.10 Evaporation rate Wadi El Natron 1999 S.G=1.1 . 72 3.11 Evaporation rate Wadi El Natron 1999 S.G=1.15 . 73 3.12 Evaporation rate Wadi El Natron 1999 S.G=1.2 . 73 3.13 Evaporation rate Dabaa 1999 S.G=1.25 . 74 3.14 Evaporation rate Dabaa 1999 S.G=1.3 . 74 3.15 Evaporation rate Wadi El Natron 1999 S.G=1.25 . 75 3.16 Evaporation rate Wadi El Natron 1999 S.G=1.3 . 75 3.17 Evaporation rate Wadi El Natron 1999 S.G=1.35 . 76 3.18 Evaporation rate Siwa 1999 S.G=1.0 . 76 3.19 Evaporation rate Siwa 1999 S.G=1.1 . 77 3.20 Evaporation rate Siwa 1999 S.G=1.15 . 77 3.21 Evaporation rate Siwa 1999 S.G. = 1.2 . 78 3.22 Node i . 81 3.23 TDMA . 82 3.24 Flow Chart of Matlab Code . 83 9 4.1 Data about hydro power plants . 84 4.2 Cross section . 86 4.3 Fuel consumption in Egypt . 87 4.4 HydroHelp 1.6 generating equipment details . 88 4.5 HydroHelp 1.6 power house details used in cost estimation . 88 4.6 HydroHelp 1.6 reaction turbine details used in cost estimation . 89 4.7 HydroHelp 1.6 reaction turbine selection for route D . 89 4.8 Data used for cost estimation of gas and steam turbine power plants . 91 4.9 Oil prices . 91 4.10 HydroHelp 1.6 reaction turbine selection for route D . 96 4.11 HydroHelp 1.6 reaction turbine selection for route E . 96 4.12 HydroHelp 1.6 reaction turbine selection for route F . 96 4.13 HydroHelp 1.6 reaction turbine selection for route H1 . 97 4.14 HydroHelp 1.6 reaction turbine selection for route L1 . 97 4.15 HydroHelp 1.6 reaction turbine selection for route L2 . 97 4.16 Power demand and supply with base load scheme . 98 4.17 Power demand and supply with peak load scheme . 99 4.18 HydroHelp 1.6 reaction turbine selection for route L2 . 99 4.19 Egypt’s Central Grid . 101 5.1 Increase in surface level (S.L) in years with a flow of m656 3=sec with no channel flow included was the same as when the channel flow was included . 103 5.2 Increase in area in years with a flow of m656 3/s salinity included . 104 5.3 Increase in the specific gravity with time with a656m3=sec . 105 5.4 Surface level increase in years with a 656m3=sec flow and salinity not included . 106 5.5 Surface level increase in years with seepage and salinity included and a 656m3=s Flow .