Abstract
This study is concerned with the optimal operation of cascade reservoir system for hydropower generation. The problem involves optimizing hydropower production while reducing excess water spill during the flood season. A new combined reservoir operation model is proposed based on combined guide curves for optimizing hydropower production and for better storage distribution among cascade reservoirs. The storage distribution among cascade reservoirs is achieved by the storage effectiveness index method. The model is optimized with the particle swarm optimization algorithm and applied to the Qingjiang River cascade reservoir system in China. The optimized combined guide curves for Shuibuya-Geheyan reservoirs are obtained and compared with conventional reservoir operation charts and Lund analytical solution method. Simulation results show that the proposed model can modulate water levels of the Shuibuya reservoir and effectively increase hydropower heads of the Geheyan reservoir. Comparing with the original design, the proposed model enhances hydropower production considerably while reducing the spill release. It is capable to produce an extra amount of 201 GWh electrical energy (a 2.77% increment) and save 1067 Mm3 of flood water resources (a 38.96% reduction) annually in the Qingjiang cascade reservoirs.
Highlights
Water is considered as a scarce resource as a result of the growing demand for its use in various purposes such as hydropower, irrigation, water supply, etc
The Storage Effectiveness Index (SEI) method is used with the proposed combined operation chart as following, If the water levels of every reservoir are in the same operational zone, the SEI method is directly used to achieve better storage distribution among cascade reservoirs
When the water levels of each reservoir come into the same operational zone, the SEI method is used to determine storage distribution among cascade reservoirs as mentioned above
Summary
Water is considered as a scarce resource as a result of the growing demand for its use in various purposes such as hydropower, irrigation, water supply, etc. These predefined operating rules are usually presented in the form of graphs and tables [5,23] and called reservoir operation charts. Various operation models based on optimization and simulation techniques are available, conventional operation chart is still widely used for deriving operation rules due to its concise and directviewing. It is only used in single reservoir operations, and cannot be used in combined operation of cascade reservoirs. The Storage Effectiveness Index (SEI) introduced by U.S Army Corps of Engineers is one of the decision making rules in the cascade reservoirs operation for maximizing firm hydropower production [24]. In order to ascertain the reliability and performance, the proposed model was compared with conventional reservoir operation charts and Lund [25] analytical solution method
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