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- Prediction of Reservoir Sediment Pressure Flushing
Prediction of Reservoir Sediment Pressure Flushing
Project ID: 1754
Principal Investigator: Blair Greimann
Research Topic: Sediment Management and River Restoration
Funded Fiscal Years:
2017,
2018 and
2019
Keywords: None
Research Question
Reservoir sedimentation affects all Reclamation reservoirs to some extent. In some cases reservoir sediment is beginning to approach the intake elevation for either a penstock or water diversion. A gated intake at a lower elevation can be used to remove sediment in the vicinity of the gate and prevent sediment from entering the penstock or water diversion.
Can we construct numerical models to assist in the design and operation of these low level outlets?
Need and Benefit
Many Reclamation facilities are approaching an age of 100 years. Often, the intake elevation for penstocks leading to hydroelectric facilities was set at the elevation expected after 100 years of sedimentation. Our current numerical modeling tools are lacking in their ability to simulate pressure flushing as may occur at facilities where they are attempting to keep the penstock intake clear of sediment by flushing sediment at a lower level intake while keeping the reservoir nearly full. Our current sediment models can only model flushing of sediment when the reservoir is drawdown completely and there is not appreciable reservoir pool left. Therefore, to design appropriate low level outlets and to analyze various operations, it will be necessary to have a numerical model that can simulate this process.
The benefit to Reclamation will be that we will have capability within Reclamation to analyze sedimentation problems that we will encounter in the future. The urgency is that currently, Reclamation does not have the capability to numerically simulate and design reservoir sediment management strategies involving pressure flushing.
Contributing Partners
Contact the Principal Investigator for information about partners.
Research Products
Bureau of Reclamation Review
The following documents were reviewed by experts in fields relating to this project's study and findings. The results were determined to be achieved using valid means.
Modeling of Cherry Creek Reservoir Pressure Flush (final, PDF, 5.3MB)
By Yong Lai, Blair Greimann
Report completed on September 30, 2020
