DESIGN AND SIZING OF A 50 KW MICRO-HYDROPOWER PLANT ON THE LOSSO RIVER IN NGULA, KWILU PROVINCE (DRC)

Access to electricity remains a major challenge in rural areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite exceptional hydroelectric potential. This article presents the design and sizing of a 50 kW micro-hydropower plant installed on the Losso River in Ngula village, Kwilu Province. The study is based on a comprehensive methodological approach including the assessment of energy needs, the evaluation of local potentials, and the design of a Cross-Flow turbine and a synchronous alternator with a speed multiplier. The results show that the site has a net head of 3.85 m and a flow rate of 1.72 m³/s, providing a hydraulic power of 64.96 kW. The designed turbine rotates at 68 rpm with an outer diameter of 800 mm and a width of 600 mm, for a mechanical power of 55.16 kW. The three-phase alternator delivers 50 kW at 400 V and 50 Hz with 2 pole pairs (4 poles) and a power factor of 0.80. The total energy needs of the village are estimated at 25.02 kW. This work demonstrates the technical feasibility of locally manufactured micro-hydropower plants and provides a reproducible model for rural electrification in Central Africa.