Assessment of the Kluet River's Potential for Hydrokinetic Power Generation

Abstract

Electricity has become an essential necessity in modern human life, with all aspects of human existence relying on electrical energy. Securing a reliable location for electricity research poses challenges, particularly due to frequent maintenance issues with the South Kluet Diesel Power Plant. The optimal solution lies in harnessing natural energy sources such as wind, water, among others, to mitigate the dwindling conventional energy resources each year. Utilizing the velocity of river flow for hydrokinetic applications is highly feasible, given the significantly higher density of water compared to air. A quantitative approach was employed in this study, involving observations of the flow velocity of the Kluet River in Lawe Melang Village. The results revealed an average velocity of 3.61 m/s, with the highest probability density function velocity recorded at 3.50 m/s. The kinetic energy generated, assuming a turbine cross-sectional area of 1 m^2, amounted to 114 Amperes, capable of supplying electricity to 29 households with a current limit of 4 A.