Author(s): Jon E. Zufelt
Linked Author(s): Jon Zufelt
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Hydropower operations alter the natural levels of discharge in a river. In a seasonal sense, the effect of hydropower regulation is to average the flow, cutting off the very high and very low periods of discharge that may result in flooding or drought conditions. Peaking operations, however, may reverse this trend, resulting in flows that are much higher or lower than the natural flow levels for that time of the year. During winter, natural discharge levels are typically low and regulation for hydroelectric generation may result in brief periods of abnormally high and possibly low discharge under ice-covered conditions. Large variations in discharge over the hydropower cycling period may result in ice movement or grounding. Therefore, the range of discharge fluctuation is often limited during ice formation and breakup periods when the ice cover is most likely to move. This paper looks at the effects of these unsteady discharge fluctuations on the resulting ice cover thickness through the use of a numerical model. Two reservoir configurations are presented, which help examine the effects of hydropower regulation on the ice cover thickness in the reaches upstream and downstream from a hydropower facility.
Year: 1997