Hydroelectric Power Plant Reservoir Research Articles

Environmental impacts due to the behavior of limnological variables in water reservoirs of hydroelectric power plants

Environmental impacts due to the behavior of limnological variables in water reservoirs of hydroelectric power plants

New concept on 100.74 kWp floating solar photovoltaic plant and a real mechanical failures assessment: Case of study at Santa Clara hydroelectric power plant reservoir in southern Brazil

Structural failures and partial sinking were assessed in a 100.74 kWp floating solar photovoltaic power plant installed in southern Brazil, at the Santa Clara HPP reservoir. Their occurred during a torrential rain of 159.6 mm, accompanied by wind gusts of 72 km/h, resulting in the platform losing its linearity and causing permanent deformations in the metallic structures. Computer simulation tests calculated the instantaneous forces to be greater than 22 kN. Repairs were carried out replacing the mobile longitudinal fastening elements between modules with rigid and semi-rigid sets. To prevent direct contact between the mooring modules and the PV platform, transverse footbridge lines and a new concept of anchorage modules were introduced, incorporating semi-rigid elements to absorb energy from impacts. Since then, the anchoring systems have been functioning, even under adverse subtropical climate conditions, as occurred in July 2023, with an extratropical cyclone with wind gusts of around 150 km/h.

FIRST RECORD OF THE ASIAN CLAM Corbicula largillierti (PHILIPPI, 1844) IN THE LOWER SÃO FRANCISCO RIVER, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

The Asian clam of the genus Corbicula is the most successful freshwater invader worldwide. In this research note, the presence of the Corbicula largillierti is recorded for the first time in the Lower São Francisco River. This record is based on the collection of living organisms from the Xingó Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir. This is the second corbiculid species recorded in the region. Further investigation is required on characteristics such as its distribution, interactions with native and other invasive species, as well as its possible environmental impact.

The world’s best practices in the development of aquaculture in the framework of the implementation of projects for the multipurpose use of the infrastructure of the fuel and energy complex

The article discusses the current international experience of integrating various aquaculture projects into the infrastructure of the fuel and energy complex. Against the background of the active growth in the production of aquaculture products, there is a tendency for the multipurpose use of energy sector facilities (oil platforms, wind farms, etc.) to obtain valuable aquaculture products both during their operation and after the completion of the project period of use. The specifics of the production and assortment of aquaculture facilities and farming methods in different regions of the world have been identified, which determined the features of the integration of aquaculture into fuel and energy facilities. The most common and has been used for many decades in many countries of the world is the cultivation of aquaculture facilities on the recycled water of thermal power plants and reservoirs of hydroelectric power plants. In the European region, there is an active use of offshore platforms for the extraction of hydrocarbons with simultaneous agricultural, aquaculture, scientific activities and the production of electricity through the installation of wind and wave turbines. Oxygen and hydrogen production is organized on some platforms. In North America, projects of hybrid systems “food-energy-water” are being developed using aquavoltaics technology, which allows maintaining the aquatic environment in optimal condition. Fish farming is combined with the cultivation of crustaceans and shellfish, oil platforms are often repurposed into artificial reefs. A patented project of an integrated floating system consisting of four vertical-axial wind turbines connected to a single system with a solar battery and a floating base for the placement of aquaculture facilities is being implemented in Asia. The development of such projects, in addition to the pronounced positive economic effect, also contributes to improving the level of food security of the regions. The use of engineering structures and other infrastructure facilities as new locations and substrates for the cultivation and free habitat of various hydrobionts can significantly reduce the negative impact of the fuel and energy industry on the environment.

Socio-environmental problems of the development of water management in Dagestan

The article shows the most significant problems of functioning and development of the water economy of the Republic of Dagestan—the southernmost region of Russia. The results of a comprehensive analysis of the state of the waters of the Caspian Sea, the main pollutants of which are coastal cities and other settlements with their wastewater and other waste from human activities, are presented. Ecological problems of Dagestan rivers and reservoirs are considered. The necessity of restoring the natural state of the Terek River Delta, in particular the ecological rehabilitation of its estuarine streams and lakes, is emphasized. Special attention is paid to the task of stopping the uncontrolled economic development of reservoirs of mountain hydroelectric power plants—the main drinking water resources for the cities of Dagestan. The medical and hygienic condition of water supply sources is discussed with an emphasis on the serious problem of contamination of groundwater used for drinking purposes. The issues of water supply and sanitation (non-centralized, centralized, departmental and communal) are considered in detail. It is indicated that urban and district centralized water supply systems do not comply with sanitary and hygienic standards, and there is an extreme shortage of sewage treatment plants in almost all cities of the Republic. The progress of the implementation of a number of federal programs to improve the water supply systems of the population of the Republic is described.

Hydrology, water quality and trophic state of Pergau Reservoir, Kelantan, Malaysia

ABSTRACT To acquire baseline data for a remote Pergau Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir, a hydrological and water quality examination of feeder rivers and reservoir water was conducted in 2013. The water balance of the reservoir was determined, and gauging and sampling were carried out in dry and wet periods. Dilution gauging was used to estimate the feeder river discharge. The total water flow into the reservoir increases nearly fivefold between the dry and wet seasons, while river discharge increases two to fivefold. All of the river intakes had Class 1 NWQS water quality. The lake’s water quality was Class 1 up to the top 3 meters, but below that, at some places, the water quality deteriorated to Class II. In the dry season, the trophic status of Pergau Reservoir is eutrophic as measured by TP (59.21) and chlorophyll-a (52.36) and the TSI (SD) was 53.93 Eutrophication occurrences will cause serious limitations in water use applicability. This research contributes to the biogeographical and limnological understanding of the Pergau catchment, as well as laying the groundwork for more sophisticated hydro-ecological investigations. Anthropogenic activities, together with run-off from agricultural operations and the presence of algae, are some of the sources of contamination noted in the study. Stricter legislation, stricter enforcement of current standards, matching of non-technical and techno-social remedial actions, and education are among the recommendations made for the Pergau Reservoir’s protection.

Proposition of LULC mapping in progressive detailing for the surroundings of hydroelectric powerplant reservoirs: Case study for the Batalha (Brazil)

Surroundings of hydroelectric powerplant reservoirs have peculiar conditions of land use dynamics. In this sense, the objective of this work is to provide a methodological proposal for mapping the land use and land cover (LULC) in progressive detailing of surroundings of reservoirs of Hydroelectric Power Plants (HPP). To achieve this objective, we're mapped Batalha HPP (Brazil) as a case study. The approach to mapping LULC with progressive detailing consisted of three successive and complementary stages: the first, of reconnaissance (1:100,000), is based on the use of secondary cartographic and census data for the period 1985 to 2020, contemplating the Area of Direct Influence (ADI) of the Batalha HPP reservoir; the second stage, of semi-detail (1:25,000), consists of the use of Sentinel 2 images from the year 2021, spectral indices and the incorporation of manually vectorized files, for the spatial clipping of the Direct Contribution Basins (DCBs) and; the third and final step, of detail (1:10,000), made use of merged CBERS 4A images with a spatial resolution of 2 m analyzing the Limit of the Immediate Margins (LIM) of the reservoir. The data from the reconnaissance stage showed a clear dynamic of LULC change between 1985 and 2020 in the ADI of the Batalha HPP reservoir, with reduction and fragmentation of vegetation, due to the incorporation of areas for pasture and mainly, agriculture. In the semi-detail stage, the data showed that the DCBs of the reservoir of Batalha HPP were mainly related to agricultural use. The last step, of detail for the analysis of LIM, portrayed a condition of greater protection of the margins by vegetation cover, due to proximity to reservoirs. Due to the overall accuracy of 0.87, 0.95, and 0.91, respectively, the mapping of LULC changes in the three subsequent steps showed very good performance.

Analysis of hourly price granularity implementation in the Brazilian deregulated electricity contracting environment

Brazil’s electricity market is the largest in Latin America and the ninth largest in the world. It has been implemented as a mixed market in which regulated and deregulated contracting environments coexist. The volume of transactions in the deregulated market has experienced steep growth over the last few years and is expected to surpass the regulated market. Different programs to diversify the country’s energy matrix have been devised, especially by integrating intermittent renewable sources to address the deregulated market expansion. Consequently, such an energy policy path has prompted the need to increase the granularity of the Brazilian deregulated market’s spot price, namely the Difference Settlement Price (DSP). The DSP had been weekly defined accounting for three loading levels and four submarkets, and, as of 2021, it has been hourly defined accounting for four submarkets; the weekly DSP is inefficient in actually signaling prices based on ex-ante marginal cost of operation of the interconnected Brazilian power system. Besides such granularity alteration, Brazil has also undergone a severe hydrological crisis in 2021 that led to significantly lower water inflows into major hydrographic watersheds and, as a result, most hydroelectric power plant reservoirs hit a 91-year low. The described scenario is relevant in utility policies and energy economics since it depicts a significant paradigm shift experience in such a large electricity market. This study presents the first hourly DSP behavior analysis since its implementation in the Brazilian electricity market and explores its statistical characteristics and relationships with exogenous variables throughout 2021. Additionally, we discuss the hourly DSP’s volatility observed in the year 2021 and how it has resulted in price spikes. At last, we compare the behavior of the Brazilian hourly DSP with the energy prices of five other countries’ electricity markets. Despite being a significant market improvement, the DSP granularity increase per se could not accurately represent the actual marginal cost of operation over the year 2021 since, besides instabilities observed in the hourly DSP, market intervention mechanisms had to be applied by Brazilian regulatory agencies to minimize the hydrological crisis’ impacts.

Land cover/use influence on the hydrodynamics of the Barra Grande Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir, Santa Catarina

RESUMO A influência da cobertura/do uso do solo da bacia hidrográfica sobre o reservatório da Usina Hidrelétrica de Barra Grande (lago artificial alongado, profundo em ambiente de cânion) foi analisada por meio de modelagem matemática utilizando o modelo de grandes bacias (MGB-IPH) para estimativa de vazões, o HEC-RAS para qualidade da água e o IPH-ECO na simulação do reservatório. A modelagem da simulação da alteração da cobertura do solo mostrou que a substituição de florestas por outros usos causou aumento nas vazões e nas cargas de nitrogênio total e fósforo total, e a substituição de outros usos por florestas resultou em redução nas vazões e nas cargas de nitrogênio total e fósforo total. A magnitude da anomalia da carga de nutrientes está associada ao grau de alteração causado no processo de transformação da precipitação em escoamento superficial, à declividade do terreno, aos tipos de solo e às práticas de uso do solo. A bacia hidrográfica apresenta solos rasos em 86% de sua área, com declividades do terreno acentuadas nas cabeceiras, o que facilita o escoamento para o reservatório. Anomalias positivas foram estimadas quando agricultura substitui outros usos e anomalias negativas quando áreas de agricultura são substituídas. A carga de nutrientes que chega ao reservatório está relacionada ao grau de alteração no processo de transformação da precipitação em escoamento superficial, à declividade do terreno, aos tipos de solo e às práticas de uso do solo adotadas. Há estratificação térmica na porção mais profunda, com mistura no inverno, quando a operação da usina pode influenciar a mistura na coluna d’água, com efeito oposto entre a região próxima à barragem e as demais regiões mais distantes da barragem, dependendo das condições de temperatura, vazão e tempo de residência. Esse conhecimento é importante para a gestão do reservatório.

Influence of river flow regulation in the Angara-Yenisei region on the hydrochemical regime of the cascade of hydroelectric power plant reservoirs and their downstream sections

The paper gives an analysis of the influence of river regulation on the chemical composition of surface waters in cascades of HPP reservoirs and downstream sections on the example of the largest rivers of Eastern Siberia. After regulation changes in the temperature regime of watercourses occur, which leads to a change in the timing of the onset of the main ice formations and the emergence of non-freezing sections of rivers. There is a local oxygen deficiency in the summer in the bays and the near-bottom horizon. According to the ionic composition surface waters belong to the hydrocarbonate class of the calcium group. A change in the morphometric parameters of water bodies causes a chain of subsequent hydrochemical reactions. In surface waters, there is a violation of fishery standards for the content of Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, Al, Cu, phenols and oil products. The integral assessment of water quality by the value of the specific value of the combinatorial index of water pollution shows a high fluctuation along the rivers. The risk of negative impact on the watercourse increases with increasing concentrations of pollutants relative to natural conditions.

VARIABILIDADE ESPACIAL DA GERAÇÃO E CONECTIVIDADE DE SEDIMENTOS EM BACIAS DE UHES

The knowledge of the spatial variability of the generation and transport of sediments allows the identification with considerable precision critical areas regarding the generation and flow of detrital materials in atersheds. This paper aims to relate the spatial variability of soil loss and sediment connectivity in a contribution basin of the Batalha Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir in the municipality of Cristalina (GO). The methodology comprised the bivariate spatial correlation between production estimates (MUSLE) and the Connectivity Index (CI) applied at a slope scale in the basin's contribution area. The results indicate the configuration of four spatial patterns: low production and low connectivity index in most of the area, comprising the higher and flatter portions; low production and high connectivity index in the vicinity of springs and drainage channels; high production and low connectivity index in the higher, steeper and more distant portions; and high production and high connectivity, predominating in the steepest portions and closest to the channels or even in those portions that are more distant but are connected to the channel, in the latter situation via more intense surface runoff flow lines. In this sense, the importance of this methodology is highlighted in the identification of critical areas, which are priority areas for the implementation of mitigating measures of the impacts resulting from hydric erosive processes. Keywords: Water Erosion, Sediment Contribution, Critical Areas, Water Reservoirs.

Siltation processes and metal sediment profiles in a hydroelectric power plant reservoir in the Paraíba do Sul river Basin, Southeastern Brazil

Siltation processes and metal sediment profiles in a hydroelectric power plant reservoir in the Paraíba do Sul river Basin, Southeastern Brazil

Analysis of the rigid-body fluid–structure interaction on a log boom

Log booms are modular and floating structures that partially cross the hydroelectric power plant reservoir to retain and deflect floating objects in the river that can damage and clog the turbine and reduce energy availability. In rivers with a high volume of logs or vegetation, the correct design of these structures is essential to ensure the operability of the hydroelectric power plant. In order to aid in the design of log booms, this paper proposes a method to predict the hydrodynamics forces and movement of log boom lines using CFD tools. Due to the high computational cost of simulating the entire line, simulations are conducted only on a single log boom module using boundary conditions that simulate the interference effects from its adjacent ones, considering different velocity magnitudes and direction combinations. The individual module results are composed to obtain the expected forces on the log boom line. A towing tank experiment with a model-scale model of a segment of the log boom line is conducted to verify the reliability of the numerical model results, comparing the module movement (heave and pitch) and line extremity tension forces. The agreement between numerical and experimental approaches shows that the proposed method can be used to predict the tension in the log boom line and evaluate other conditions, log boom geometries, or line shapes.

Next-Generation High-Throughput Sequencing to Evaluate Bacterial Communities in Freshwater Ecosystem in Hydroelectric Reservoirs.

The quality of aquatic ecosystems is a major public health concern. The assessment and management of a freshwater system and the ecological monitoring of microorganisms that are present in it can provide indicators of the environment and water quality to protect human and animal health. with bacteria is. It is a major challenge to monitor the microbiological bacterial contamination status of surface water associated with anthropogenic activities within rivers and freshwater reservoirs. Understanding the composition of aquatic microbial communities can be beneficial for the early detection of pathogens, improving our knowledge of their ecological niches, and characterizing the assemblages of microbiota responsible for the degradation of contaminants and microbial substrates. The present study aimed to characterize the bacterial microbiota of water samples collected alongside the Madeira River and its small tributaries in rural areas near the Santo Antonio Energia hydroelectric power plant (SAE) reservoir in the municipality of Porto Velho, Rondonia state, Western Brazil. An Illumina 16s rRNA metagenomic approach was employed and the physicochemical characteristics of the water sample were assessed. We hypothesized that both water metagenomics and physicochemical parameters would vary across sampling sites. The most abundant genera found in the study were Acinetobacter, Deinococcus, and Pseudomonas. PERMANOVA and ANCOM analysis revealed that collection points sampled at the G4 location presented a significantly different microbiome compared to any other group, with the Chlamidomonadaceae family and Enhydrobacter genus being significantly more abundant. Our findings support the use of metagenomics to assess water quality standards for the protection of human and animal health in this microgeographic region.

Population growth of the golden mussel (L. fortunei) in hydroelectric power plants: a study via mathematical and computational modeling

ABSTRACT Golden mussel is an invasive species in Brazil which impacts local environments, dislocating native species and altering microecological conditions as well as affecting hydroelectric power plants and water treatment systems. The objective of this research is to establish a method that is both effective and efficient to quantify the population of the Golden mussel in hydroelectric power plant reservoirs, with a focus on population control measures. A two-dimensional mathematical model was developed combining hydrodynamics and populational dynamics to simulate the distribution of mussels in a reservoir. The results showed that dam’s region was progressively infested, and after 18 months of simulation it has reached around 80% of its carrying capacity. The method proved to be satisfactory and the generated map of cluster locations for the golden mussel corresponds to field observations. Furthermore, the result of the algae density simulation matched chlorophyll-a density map obtained from satellite images. The methodology can be further applied to new areas and could be expanded to predict population variations in order to guide environmental measures for preservation and recovery of impacted reservoirs, presenting another tool for hydroelectric operators who can use information together with field inspections to plan maintenance intervals before infestation damages equipment.

Genetic Structure of Perch Perca Fluviatilis (L.) Populations in Latvian Rivers that are Fragmented (Daugava) and Non-Fragmented (Lielupe) By Hydroelectric Dams

Abstract Water ecosystems have an important role in maintenance of biological diversity and environmental quality in Latvia. Fish resources are one of the most valuable biological resources in Latvia. To evaluate the influence of economic activity (anthropogenic influence of cities, hydroelectric power stations) on freshwater ecosystems, the genetic structure of perch Perca fluviatilis (L.) populations in Daugava River and Lielupe River was studied. The genetic structure of the perch populations from Daugava River and Lielupe River was investigated using 9 DNA microsatellites (Pfla L4, Pfla L10, Pfla L2, Pfla L6, YP111, YP78, YP60, Svi L10, Svi L7), and by genetic diversity, the level of polymorphism, means of alleles per locus, observed and expected heterozygosity, and population structuring. It was shown that the perch population in the Daugava River in the territory of Riga was significantly different from the other populations and there was a lower level of heterozygosity in this population. In the Daugava River, genetic differentiation was significant for fish populations between Ķegums Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) and Riga HPP reservoirs due to the fragmentation of population by HPP dams.

Water quality index and spatio-temporal perspective of a large Brazilian water reservoir

Abstract The water spatio-temporal variability of the Irapé Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir and its main tributaries was evaluated by analysing the temporal trend of the main parameters and applying the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI), using data from 2008 to 2018. This reservoir is in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and covers an area of approximately 143 km2 across seven municipalities. The dissolved iron (DFe) presented the highest percentage of standards violations (31.7% to 80.5%), most frequently in the reservoir tributaries. The Mann–Kendall tests indicated that the monitoring stations showed an increasing trend of 78.5% N–NH4+ and 64.1% DFe. During the evaluated period, the reservoir waters were classified as excellent (1.2%), good (61.3%), acceptable (29.5%), and poor (8.0%) according to the WQI for the proposed use. The poorest quality classes were more frequent in the tributaries, especially in the year 2009. The WQI seasonal assessment indicated a worsening during the rainy season in 57% of the stations, as a result of external material transport to the water bodies. The CCME WQI, in conjunction with temporal statistical analysis, contributed to the interpretation of the monitoring data, generating important information for reservoir water quality management.

EVOLVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHEBOKSARY HPP: TO THE HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE ISSUE

The article presents an overview of research and social-political literature on evolvement and development of Cheboksary hydroelectric power plant. The authors carried out the analysis of scientific papers and publications using such scientific methods as system analysis, logical and structural research. The content of the article considers two periods in the historiography of the topic, each of which has its own peculiarities. The first period is mainly characterized by social-political literature. Publications are devoted to the grandeur of Cheboksary HPP construction. Particular attention is paid to the works, which were published by immediate participants of construction of the hydro-engineering complex. Historiography of this period mainly notes positive aspects of construction, negative aspects are either disregarded or considered insignificantly. The second period is characterized mainly by publications in periodicals. They are observed to contain more critical statements about the state of the hydroelectric power plant and Cheboksary reservoir. Articles about the difficulties in development of the hydro-engineering complex are analyzed. At this time studies of representatives of natural and technical sciences start to be published. They are devoted mainly to problems related to the rise of the water level in Cheboksary reservoir to the design mark. The analysis of publications on the ecological state of the flooding zone and hydrogeological survey of the hydro-engineering complex is also presented.
 
 The study makes it possible to state that the historical aspect of Cheboksary HPP evolvement and development in historiography has been studied extremely insufficiently. Most sources are marked by a departmental focus, journalistic character and a weak documentary base. The results of the review showed that there are no complex studies on the history of implementing the hydroelectric power plant construction in domestic historiography. The materials of the article can be used for further research of this topic, as well as when writing regional natural history works.

High connectivity and migration potentiate the invasion of Limnoperna fortunei (Mollusca: Mytilidae) in South America

Even after almost 30 years of Limnoperna fortunei introduction into South America, it is still unclear how the source and propagules are connected. Here, we present genetic evidence of population connectivity and gene flow of L. fortunei propagules from Asia into South America, proposing the main invasion routes into South America. To achieve that we expanded the sampling effort to cover all occurrence points of L. fortunei in South America. We sequenced the mtDNA COI gene and genotyped eight microsatellite loci (ML), and we evaluated the genetic source of the recently introduced population in Sobradinho hydroelectric power plant reservoir in Northeast Brazil. Our results revealed that China is the main genetic source of propagules for the Sobradinho population. We also found COI haplotypes and ML genotypes unique to South American populations, demonstrating a bridgehead effect likely caused by local mutation, adaptation, and admixture patterns that are maintained by high levels of gene flow among them. However, two genetic barriers were also detected. We concluded that L. fortunei is a well-established invader and is still rapidly expanding in Brazil, and the Amazon hydrographic basin is under an alarming threat of invasion.

EVALUATION OF SENTINEL-2/MSI IMAGERY PRODUCTS LEVEL-2A OBTAINED BY THREE DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERIC CORRECTIONS FOR MONITORING SUSPENDED SEDIMENTS CONCENTRATION IN MADEIRA RIVER, BRAZIL

Abstract. Data provided by spatial sensors combined with remote sensing techniques and analysis of the optical properties of waters allow the mapping of the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in aquatic bodies. For this, estimation models require data with the lowest possible amount of atmospheric artifacts. In this study we compared the water remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) of the Santo Antônio Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir in Porto Velho-RO, Brazil, after applying three different atmospheric corrections algorithms in Sentinel-2/MSI imagery products. The atmospheric corrected reflectances of the MODIS sensor were also used for reference. SSC was calculated with models based on the red and near-infrared (NIR) bands over three distinct regions of the reservoir. Reflectance data showed significant variations for Sentinel-2, bands 4 and 8a, and MODIS, bands RED and IR, when different atmospheric correction algorithms were used. SSC maps and estimates were produced to show sediment load variation as a function of hydrological regime. The analyzes showed that the SSC estimates done with Sentinel-2 / MSI satellite images using GRS (Glint Remove Sentinel) atmospheric correction presented an average difference of 27.3% and were the closest to the in situ measurements. SSC estimates from MODIS products were around 34.6% different from estimates made using the GRS atmospheric correction applied to Sentinel-2 / MSI products.