Operating multireservoir hydropower systems for downstream water quality
Hydropower reservoir operations often impact tailwater quality and water quality in the stream or river below the impoundment for many miles. Determining optimal operating strategies for a system of hydropower reservoirs involves solving a highly dimensional nonlinear, nonconvex optimization problem. This research adds the additional complexities of downstream water quality considerations within the optimization formulation to determine operating strategies for a system of hydropower reservoirs operating in series (tandem) or parallel. The formulation was used to determine operating strategies for six reservoirs of the upper Cumberland river basin in Tennessee and Kentucky. Significant dissolved oxygen (DO) violations occur just upstream of Nashville, Tennessee below Old Hickory dam during the months of August and September. Daily reservoir releases were determined for the period of June through September which would produce the maximum hydropower revenue while meeting downstream water quality objectives. Optimal releases for three operational strategies were compared to historical operations for the years 1985, 1986, and 1988. These strategies included: spilling as necessary to meet water quality criteria, near normal operation (minimal spills), and drawdown of reservoirs as necessary to meet criteria without spills. Optimization results showed an 8% to 15% hydropower loss may be necessary to meet water quality criteria through spills and a 2% to 9% improvement in DO below Old Hickory may be possible without significant spills. Results also showed that substantial increases in initial headwater elevations would be necessary to meet daily DO criteria and avoid spills. The optimal control theory algorithm used to solve the problem proved to be an efficient and robust solver of this large optimization problem.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6245096
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Regulatory approaches for addressing dissolved oxygen concerns at hydropower facilities
Determination of Optimal Operating Schemes for a Multi-Reservoir System Under Environmental Constraints
Related Subjects
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
WATER RESERVOIRS
RIVERS
WATER QUALITY
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
ALGORITHMS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CUMBERLAND RIVER
DAMS
DISSOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
KENTUCKY
OPERATION
OPTIMIZATION
OXYGEN
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
STRATIFICATION
TENNESSEE
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EVALUATION
FEDERAL REGION IV
MANAGEMENT
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VARIATIONS
130600* - Hydro Energy- Environmental Aspects