The consequences of silting in the operation of dam made reservoirs

Author(s)

Adelena Gonçalves Maia

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2006-11-24

Examining board members

Swami Marcondes Villela; Evaldo Miranda Coiado; Frederico Fabio Mauad; Rubem La Laina Porto; Carlos Lloret Ramos

• Advisor: Swami Marcondes Villela

Abstract

The silting of reservoirs formed from the building of dams interferes unavoidably in their useful volumes. The useful volume is the compartment responsible by storing water to supply consumptive and not-consumptive water uses, and its reduction changes the demands supply. In this research, the interference of Promissão reservoir (located in Middle Tietê watershed) silting process in the electric energy generation of Mário Lopes Leão Hydroelectric Power Plant was investigated. The quantification of reservoir silting in the last thirty years of operation was accomplished by the comparison of lake’s original topography in the reservoir filling period, in 1975, with the topobathymetry obtained in 2005. The RESSASS model was used in the analysis of reservoir volume change between 1975 and 2005, and to preview the reservoir silting until the years 2055 and 2105. The loss of reservoir useful volume was 4,31% between 1975 and 2005, reaching 9,59% in 2105. The reservoir silting was also investigated through qualitative analysis of data, identifying influents that present higher degree of silting. The interference of reservoir useful volume variation in the hydropower electricity generation analysis was accomplished by using AcquaNet model. Promissão reservoir was investigated isolately. Simulations were done considering differents stage vs. area vs. volume curves to the years 1975, 2005, 2055, and 2105, besides the consideration of two minimal operational levels: 379,7 m, minimal reservoir level, and 381,0 m, minimal operational level in which the reservoir is operated to allow navigation. The interference of 130 years of reservoir silting in the monthly average provided by the hydropower system was not significant. Nevertheless, in the dry period, silting was responsible by a reduction of 335,69 MWh in the monthly average electricity excess, in the minimal operation level 381,0 m, and 471,16 MWh, in the minimal operation level 379,7 m. (AU)