Costing the Device

Moreover, an important consideration in our design and implementation is the overall cost of the unit, including maintenance of it. Earlier in our report we concluded that a cross flow turbine would be better to use than an axial flow turbine for technical reasons. If we also look at the financial outlay that would be required we find that a cross flow design would also be cheaper to manufacture and maintain for a project of our type, which is a further benefit of the turbine design. Currently a 330mm Pelton wheel that could be used in our turbine can be bought for 287 pounds ¹⁷. An outlay on a generator would also be required for the project, research suggests that a suitable small generator (rated for powers as low as 2KW) could be obtainable for as little as $70 at wholesale prices¹⁸, unfortunately the actual cost to buy and ship one unit to the Republic of Guinea would likely be much more expensive. A light and compact system would be preferable for lower installation costs as well as easier maintenance, to this end it would be desirable to combine both turbine and generator into one small unit - it is possible that our group could attempt to design and manufacture such a unit, if this project is expanded to many locations, or attempt to source one initially at higher cost. When considering the feasibility of the project is prudent to compare the value of the electricity we generate against the prices of power in Guinea to see how much time it takes to recoop outlay, however it is also worth bearing in mind the low levels of rural electrification Guinea, currently standing at 3%, and the fact that high costs mean that such areas are unlikely to be connected to mainline power networks anytime soon.