Use of Artificial Intelligence for Modeling the Flows of the Kalamu River and the Congo River at Boma for Energy Security
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59228/rcst.026.v5.i1.232Keywords:
Intelligence artificielle, Modélisation des débits, Forêt aléatoire, Sécurité énergétique, Gestion des ressources en eau, Artificial intelligence, Flow modeling, Random Forest, Energy security, Water resource managementAbstract
Water resource assessment is crucial in the face of growing energy and environmental security challenges. This study focuses on the feasibility of installing a pumped-storage hydroelectric system in Boma, Democratic Republic of Congo, in response to frequent power outages. Objectives include modeling the river of the Kalamu and Congo Rivers to determine the project's viability. To do this, historical data on river levels, collected between 1960 and 2017, as well as precipitation and evaporation data collected between 1992 and 2023, were analyzed, taking into account the lack of flow data on the Kalamu River, using artificial intelligence methods, including the Random Forest approach. The results show significant fluctuations in flow rates, with periods of prolonged drought affecting water availability for the project. The study highlights significant challenges related to water resource management, including flow variability, which may compromise the effectiveness of the proposed system. It is recommended that Congo River flows be considered as a viable alternative while integrating sustainable water resource management strategies to meet local needs.
Downloads
References
Ago, E. E., Petit, F., & Ozer, P. (2005). Flood Analysis Downstream of the Nangbeto Dam on the Mono River (Togo and Benin). Geo-Eco-Trop: International Journal of Tropical Geology, Geography and Ecology, 29. Al Hasibi, R. A. (2010). The Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Providing Electrical Energy and Reducing CO₂ Emissions in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province. Semesta Teknika, 13(2), 155-164. https://doi.org/10.18196/jst.v13i2.716 Alturki, F. A., and Awwad, E. M. (2021). Sizing and Cost Minimization of Standalone Hybrid WT/PV/Biomass/Pump-Hydro Storage-Based Energy Systems. Energy, 14(2), 489. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14020489 Assani, A. A. (2004). Comparison of interannual flow variability under artificial hydrological regimes in a dam complex on the Saint-Maurice River (Quebec, Canada). Bulletin of the Geographical Society of Liège, 44, 87-96. Blakers, A., Stocks, M., Lu, B., and Chen, C. (2021). A review of pumped hydro energy storage. Progress in Energy, 3, 022003. https://doi.org/10.1088/2516-1083/abeb5b. Douches, K. B. (2009). The Congo River Grand Inga Hydroelectric Project: Linking Environmental History, Politics, and Impact. Water History, 1(1), 31-58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12685-009-0001-8 Gnassou, L. (2019). Solving the Renewable Energy Enigma in DR Congo: Focus on the Grand Inga Hydroelectric Dam Project. Energy Strategy Reviews, 26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2019.100400 Ioan, D., Camélia, S., and Ioan, V. (2020). A Simplified Example of a Hydropower Plant Upgrade by Retrofitting and Extending with a Hydro Pump-Turbine Storage Unit. Transaction on Hydroponics. Scientific Bulletin of Politehnica University of Timişoara, 65(79), 1-6. Kayser, G., Zeimetz, F., Manso, P., Schleiss, A., & Jordan, F. (2019). Synergies between hydropower generation and flood protection: A case study of the Sihl in Switzerland. La Houille Blanche, 105(3–4), 102–115. https://doi.org/10.1051/lhb/2019028.
Kose, F., and Kaya, M. N. (2018). Use of pumped hydro energy storage to complement wind energy: A case study. Thermal Science, 22(4), 2300–2310. https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI180402300K Laraque, A., Le Coz, J., Moukandi N’kaya, G. D., Bissemo, G., Ayissou, L., Rouché, N., Gulemvuga, G. (2022). Rating curves of the Congo River in Brazzaville and Kinshasa. LHB, 108(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/27678490.2022.2082338 Laraque, A., Moukandi N’kaya, G. D., Orange, D., Tshimanga, R., Tshitenge, J. M., Mahé, G., ... & Gulemvuga, G. (2020). Recent budget of hydroclimatology and hydrosedimentology of the Congo River in central Africa. Water, 12(9), 2613. Magrin, G., & Mugelé, R. (2020). The Anthropocene Loop in the Sahel: Nature and Societies in the Face of Major Environmental Projects (Great Green Wall, Safeguarding Lake Chad). Belgeo. Belgian Journal of Geography, (3). https://doi.org/10.4000/belgeo.42872 Mampuya Nzita, A., Phuku Phuati, E., Muanda Ngimbi, R., Dituba Ngoma, G., Masiala Mavungu, N. (2024). Study of Lateral Vibrations in Turbine-Alternator Unit 5 of the Inga 2 Hydroelectric Power Plant. IgMin Res, 2(4), 255-260. https://doi.org/10.61927/igmin173 Mbuangi, M., and Ntoto, R. (2021). Charcoal consumption in the city of Boma (DR Congo): socioeconomic and ecological issues. International Journal of Water and Environmental Sciences and Technology, 6 (vi): 52-61. Mpanzu Balomba, P., Ngonde Nsakala, H., Bonkena Bokombola, P. (2018). Forest exploitation and wood energy consumption in the DRC. Tropicultura, 36(3), 553-564. https://doi.org/10.25518/2295-8010.688 Nzita, A. M., Mizengi, L. M., Ndiwulu, G. W., Ngoma, G. D., Umba-di-Mbudi, C. N. Z., Ngimbi, R. M., and Phuati, E. P. (2024). Statistical analysis of the aging of electrical components in group 6 of the Inga 2 hydroelectric power plant following sudden shutdowns. Computational and experimental research on materials and renewable energies, 7(2), 78-92. https://doi.org/10.19184/cerimre.v7i2.51268
Pierrefeu, G., Roumieu, P., Delamarre Pobanz, K., & Peteuil, C. (2022). Innovative hybrid approach for measuring flow rates in the pipes of medium-head hydroelectric groups. LHB, 108(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/27678490.2022.2163200 Regideso. (1992). New Plant Project Report 1995 and 2005. Regideso, 1-89. Vuni, A., Aloni, J., Lelo, F., and Nzau, M.C. (2020). Kalamu to Boma, a River Under Attack: Diagnosis for a River Contract. Bulletin of the Centre for Geological and Mining Research, 8, 195–213.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mampuya et al.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
