Abstract
Erosion on reservoir margins causes losses in the production of energy in Hydroelectric Power Plants (HPPs), making it necessary to implement control techniques that ensure the reduction in sediment deposits inside reservoirs. Among these techniques, geomats (geosynthetic erosion mats) are widely used to control erosion processes in slopes and watercourses. This material protects the margins both in the short and long term, contributing to strengthening the vegetation’s roots developed in the erosion areas. This paper studies the performance of geomats (with and without sack gabion) installed in six margin sections distributed in three experimental units of the Brazilian HPPs called Porto Colômbia and Volta Grande. The geomat performance was evaluated over four years of monitoring through a qualitative evaluation matrix and differential bathymetry. The influence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the degradation of geomats installed in each section (natural conditions), as well as on geomat ultraviolet-aging samples in the laboratory (accelerated conditions), was also evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed no significant difference in performance between using the erosion control technique consisting only of geomats and the technique consisting of geomats and sack gabion. The highest bathymetric difference value obtained in the present study was 1.62 m in the experimental unit VG1, controlled with geomat without the application of sack gabion on the margin.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
Due to the importance of erosion in environmental and economic terms, the main objective of this study was to investigate the performance of geomats and geomats with sack gabion used in erosion control in different sections of three experimental units located on the reservoir margins of the Hydroelectric Power Plants (HPPs) called Porto Colômbia and Volta Grande
The effect of UV radiation on the degradation of geomats installed under natural conditions, as well as under accelerated conditions, was observed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Excess sediment in watercourses is the most common contaminant on the planet. Economic and social losses and the growing reduction in productive land and navigable watercourses exceed losses caused by the release of pollutants and toxic waste. This problem is exacerbated as we move downstream towards coasts and population centers [1]
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