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Power and Energy Potential Study

Data Processing
Normally, the basic observed data shall be processed before or
immediately after their publication to organize them in forms that are
useful to analysts.
Stream Flow Rating Curves and Their Extrapolation
Stream flow data shall be processed and presented in graphical form as
rating curves or in tabular form as rating tables. In addition, a continuous
record of flow at a gauging station may be computed from a record of the
stage and a stage-discharge relation (rating curve) through extrapolation.
The end product of this computation shall be a tabulation of the mean
discharge for each day, month and year. The tabulation shall also include
a list of the instantaneous peak discharges.

If G represents stage for discharge Q, then

Q = Cr (G-a)β
where, Q = river discharge
G = stage (gauge height)

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a = constant representing gauge reading corresponding to zero

discharge
Cr and β are rating curve constants.

Precipitation
Precipitation data may be presented in the form of average depth of
precipitation over a specific area on a storm, seasonal or annual basis. As
run-of-river hydropower projects are generally planned in hilly or
mountainous areas, the Thiessen polygon method and the isohyetal
method shall be used for averaging the precipitation over the catchment
area.

Procedures for Data Processing

The following procedures shall be adopted to process hydrological and
meteorological data for hydrological investigations:
a. Notes on the method of measurement, standards followed,
instruments used, frequency of observations, history of the station,
shifts in location of the station and shifts in ratings shall be prepared.
b. If the given discharges are observed discharges or are computed from
observed stages using stage-discharge ratings, the development of
stage-discharge rating curves at the gauge-discharge site, including
the extrapolation involved, shall be discussed.

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Procedures for Data Processing

c. The need for filling up small data gaps by gap-filling techniques shall
be stated. Gap filling techniques may include:
Random choice from values observed for the period in question.
Interpolation from adjoining values by plotting a smooth hydrograph
(for runoff alone).
Using the average proportion with normal for adjoining stations.
Double-mass curve technique.
Correlation with adjoining stations either of the same hydrologic
element or of a different hydrologic element.
Autocorrelation with earlier periods at the same station.

d. Gap filling for annual maximum discharge may not be necessary if

the gap itself is not caused by any hydrologic reasons which are liable to
introduce bias in the incomplete sample (e.g. washing away of the gauge
due to a very high flood). In this case, the whole series shall be treated as
one, i.e. the gap shall be ignored

Use of Extreme and Long-term Hydrological Data

As the long-term data required for needed design of hydropower projects
are not adequately available in Nepal, short-term hydro-meteorological
data may, where required, be extended using the following long-term
records:
a. Long-term stream flow data at HSC.
b. Long-term precipitation record.
Extension with Long-term Stream Flow Data at HSC
If stream flow data for a sufficiently long period are available at an HSC
or at a downstream location on the same river, these stream flow record
may be extended using the following methods:
a. Double mass curve method
b. Basin area ratio method
c. Regression analysis method
d. Index station method
e. Lanbein’s log-deviation method
f. Mean ratio method

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Double-Mass Curve Method

In this method, the cumulative stream flow of the base station (proposed
site under study) and the index station shall be plotted on a graph, and
the relation between stream flows at the two stations shall be obtained
from the slope of the double-mass curve thus generated. While using this
method, note should be taken of the limitation of that this method that it
yields a constant slope regardless of variation in size of yearly (or
monthly) increments, even though the flow records of the two streams
may not necessarily correlate with each other as straight lines.
Basin Area Ratio Method
If two basins are hydro-meteorologically similar, data extension may
accomplished simply by multiplying the available long-term data at the
HSC with the ratio of the basin areas of the base station (proposed site
under study) and the index (HSC) station. In the context of Nepal, more
accurate results may be obtained using Dicken’s flood formula.

where, Qb and Qi are the discharges at the base and index stations,
respectively, and Ab and Ai are the corresponding basin areas.

Regression Analysis Method

Using regression analysis, the association between the discharge at the
base station, Qb, and that at the index station, Qi, may be determined by
fitting the regression line.
Qb = a + b Qi
where, a and b are regression coefficients which can be determined by
standard formula.
Index Station Method
In this method, stream flow data extension shall be achieved using
duration curves. For this, the values of the hydrologic event shall be
arranged in descending order of magnitude, and the percent of time that
each magnitude is equaled or exceeded shall be computed. The duration
curve shall then be prepared by plotting the magnitudes as ordinates and
the corresponding percentage of time as the abscissa.

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Langbein’s Log-Deviation Method

Using this method, correlations between the base and index stations shall
be made in terms of the logarithms of discharges to remove the skewness
inherent in stream flow data. The correlation shall usually be made
between the 10-daily mean discharges or the monthly mean discharges;
however, flood peaks, daily means or annual means could also be used
for this purpose. For correlation, the regression equation shall be of the
form
Y = bX (1)
Where, Y and X are log-deviations for discharges at the base station and
the index station, respectively, and

(2)

The correlation coefficient for the regression analysis shall be computed

as
(3)

For data extension, Y shall be computed for the available discharge at the
base station by deducting the mean of the logarithms of discharges from
the logarithm of discharges. X shall similarly be computed for the
concurrent discharge data at the index station. If the value of r computed
from Eq. 3 using these values of X and Y is satisfactory, i.e. r > 0.6, b
shall be computed from Eq. 2, and the log-deviation Y for the base
station for the extended period shall be estimated from the log-deviation
X of the index station using Eq. 1. After this, logarithms of discharges at
the base station shall be estimated by adding the mean of logarithms of
the base station to the computed Y. Antilogarithms of the values
estimated in the foregoing step shall give the required data at the
proposed site extended from the HSC.

Mean Ratio Method

This method consists of computing the mean ratio, rm, for the base and
index stations as
rm = Qbm/Qim

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where, Qbm is the mean of the short-term record at the base station and
Qim is the long-term record for the same period at the index station of the
HSC. The remaining records at base station shall then be calculated by
multiplying each record of the index station of the HSC with rm.

Extension with Long-term Precipitation Record

Extension of short-term data using long-term precipitation records may
be performed for the following cases that generally arise in practice:

Case I: Long-term precipitation records and stream flow data for a few
years are available at the site.
Case II: Long-term precipitation record is available at the site and stream
flow data for a few years or concurrent rainfall-runoff data are available
at an HSC.
Case III: Only precipitation record is available at the site.
Case IV: No data are available.

Extension for Case I

When long-term precipitation records and a few years’ stream flow data
are available at the site, a statistical correlation between the observed
precipitation and the stream flow shall be established and plotted on a
log-log graph. If the relationship is not a straight line, it shall be suitably
extended to find out the stream flow corresponding to the weighted
precipitation of each year.

Extension for Case II

When long-term precipitation record is available at the site and a few
years’ stream flow data or concurrent rainfall-runoff data are available at
an HSC, the rainfall-runoff correlation shall be established as for Case I
for the HSC. The runoff series at proposed site shall then be worked out
by feeding the long-term rainfall data of the base station in the
correlation equation thus established.

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Extension for Case III

If only precipitation records are available at the site, empirical formulae
may be used to compute runoff (Mutreja, 1995). For Nepal, the empirical
formulae discussed below may be used with extreme caution.

Khosla’s Formula
Using Khosla’s formula, the runoff R in cm shall be computed as
R = P-T/3.74 (1)
where, P is the precipitation in cm and T is the mean temperature in ºC.

Similarly, the monthly runoff Rm in mm shall be obtained from the

relation
Rm = Pm – Lm (2)
where, Pm is the monthly precipitation in mm and Lm represents the
monthly losses in mm. Lm shall be estimated from the mean monthly
temperature Tm. For Tm > 4.5 ºC,
Lm = 5 Tm (3)
For Tm < 4.5 ºC, Lm shall be adopted from Table given below.

Tm (ºC) 4.5 -1 -7 -12 -18

Lm (mm) 21 18 15 12.5 10
(Source: Mutreja, 1995)

UPIRI Formulae
Among the several statistical correlations between runoff and
precipitation developed by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Research Institute
for Himalayan rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India, the following formula
derived for the Ganga basin at Hardwar may be used to estimate runoff
for Nepali rivers:
0.6
R = 5.45 P (4)
where, R is the runoff in cm and P is the precipitation in cm.

Likewise, the following relation developed for the Sharda basin at

Banbasa may be used for this purpose:
0.8
R = 2.7 P (5)
Extreme caution shall be exercised in using Eq. 4 and Eq. 5.

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ICAR Formula
The runoff from small watersheds, having an area up to 100 sq. km, may
be estimated from the following formula developed by the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (Mutreja, 1995):

(6)

where, Q is the annual runoff in cm, P is the annual precipitation in cm,

Tm is the mean annual temperature in ºC and A is the watershed area in
sq. km.

Extension for Case IV

Where no data is available, the stream flow (generally flood) at the
proposed site may be estimated by making a regional flood-frequency
analysis in the following two steps:
a. Plotting a curve between the catchment area and the mean flood.
b. Plotting a curve between return periods and the ratio of flood to
mean flood.

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INSTALLED CAPACITY OPTIMIZATION

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