Hydrology Lecture Note

TABLE OF CONTENTS
6 Reservoirs..........................................................................................................................2
6.1 Types of Reservoirs.......................................................................................................2
6.2 Reservoir Capacity Determination................................................................................2
6.2.1 Mass curve (ripple's) method:................................................................................2
6.3 Reservoirs and sediments..............................................................................................4
6.4 Sediment Load Prediction..............................................................................................5

Hydraulic & Water Resources Engineering Department, AMIT, AMU

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Hydrology Lecture Note

6 Reservoirs
6.1 Types of Reservoirs
Reservoirs can be classified based on the purpose which they are built for. There are
reservoirs which are used for different purposes like:
 Storage for seasonal water variation (the most common types of reservoirs)
 Storage for flood protection
 Storage for transport purpose
 Storage for recreation
 Storage for fishing

6.2 Reservoir Capacity Determination

The reservoir capacity is a term used to represent the reservoir storage capacity. Its
determination is performed using historical inflow records in the stream at the proposed
dam site. There are several methods to determine a reservoir storage capacity. The
most common ones are presented below.

6.2.1 Mass curve (ripple's) method:

A mass curve (or mass inflow curve) is a plot of accumulated flow in a stream against
time. As indicated below a mass curve can be prepared from the flow hydrograph of a
stream for a large number of consecutive previous years. Figure 6.1 shows a typical flow
hydrograph of a stream for a year. The area under the hydrograph from the starting up
to any time tI represents the total quantity of water that has flown through the stream
from the start of the plot to that specific time tr. A mass curve continuously rises as it
shows accumulated flows. The slope of the curve at any point indicates the rate of flow
at that particular time. If there is no flow during certain period the curve will be horizontal
during that period.

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Hydrology Lecture Note

25000

J
20000
Cu mmu lative d isch arg e

F
15000

10000
H

5000
G

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Month

Mass curve Demand curve

Figure 6.1: Mass curve and demand curve

A demand curve on the other hand is a plot between accumulated demand and time
(Figure 6.1). If the demand is at a constant rate then the demand curve is a straight line
having its slope equal to the demand rate. However, if the demand is not constant then
the demand will be curved indicating a variable rate of demand.

The demand and supply curves discussed above are thus the basis of the mass curve
(or ripple's) method of reservoir capacity determination. The reservoir capacity required
for a specified yield or demand may be determined by using mass curve and demand
curve using the following steps.
1) A mass curve is prepared from the flow hydrograph for a number of consecutive
years selected from the available stream flow record such that it includes the most
critical or the driest period.
2) Corresponding to the given rate of demand, a demand curve is prepared. If the rate of
demand is constant then the corresponding demand curve is a straight line
3) Lines such as GH, FJ, etc are drawn parallel to the demand curve and tangential to
the high points G, F etc, of the mass curve (or the points at the beginning of the dry
periods);
4) The maximum vertical intercepts between the tangential lines drawn in step 3 and the
mass curves are measured. The vertical intercepts indicate the volume by which the
total flow in the stream falls short of the demand and hence required to be provided from
the reservoir storage.

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Hydrology Lecture Note

5) The largest of the maximum vertical intercepts, determined in step 4 represents the
reservoir capacity required to satisfy the given demand. However, the requirement of
storage so obtained would be the net storage that must be available for utilization and it
must be increased by the amount of water lost by evaporation and seepage.

If the tangential lines drown (GH, FJ, etc) do not intersect the mass curve, the reservoir
will not be filled again. Moreover, if the reservoir is very large the time interval between
the points G and H, F and J, etc, may be several years. This graphical solution of the
mass method can also be done in tabular calculation easily using computer spreadsheet
programs.

6.3 Reservoirs and sediments

A river entering a water reservoir will loose its capacity to transport sediments. The
water velocity decreases, together with the shear stress on the bed. The sediments will
therefore deposit in the reservoir and decrease its volume.

In the design of dam, it is important to assess the magnitude of sediment deposition in

the reservoir. The problem can be divided I two parts:
1. How much sediments enter the reservoir
2. What is the trap efficiency of the reservoir

In a detailed study, the sediment size distributions also have to be determined for
question 1. Question 2 may also involve determining the location of the deposits and the
concentration and grain size distribution of the sediments entering the water intakes.

In general, there are two approaches to the sedimentation problem:

1. The reservoir is constructed so large that it will take a very long time to fill. The
economical value of the project will thereby be maintained.
2. The reservoir is designed relatively small and the dam gates are constructed
relatively large, so that it is possible to remove the sediments regularly by
flushing. The gates are opened, lowering the water level in the reservoir,
which increases the water velocity. The sediment transport capacity is
increased, causing erosion of the deposits.

A medium sized reservoir will be the least beneficial. Then it will take relatively short
time to fill the reservoir, and the size is so large that only a small part of the sediments
are removed by flushing.

The flushing has to be done while the water discharge in to the reservoir is relatively
high. The water will erode the deposits to a cross-stream magnitude similar to the
normal width of the river. A long and narrow reservoir will therefore be more effectively
flushed than a short and wide geometry. For the later, the sediment deposits may
remain on the sides. The flushing of a reservoir may be investigated by physical model
studies.

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Hydrology Lecture Note

Another question is the location of sediment deposits. Figure 6.5 shows a longitudinal
profile of the reservoir. There is a dead storage below the lowest level the water can be
withdrawn. This storage may be filled with sediments without affecting the operation of
the reservoir.

Figure 6.2: Longitudinal profile of a reservoir. HRW is the highest regulated water level.
The reservoir volume below LRW is called the dead storage, as this can be used.

6.4 Sediment Load Prediction

Rough estimates of sediment load may be taken from regional data. Often the sediment
yield in the area is known from neighboring catchments. It is then possible to assess the
seriousness of the erosion in the present catchment and estimate rough figures of
sediment yield. The land use, slope and size of the catchment are important factors.

For a more detailed assessment, measurements of the sediment concentration in the

river have to be used. Sediment concentrations are measured using standard sampling
techniques, and water discharges are recorded simultaneously. The measurements are
taken at varying water discharges. The values of water discharge and sediment
concentrations are plotted on a graph, and a rating curve is made. This is often on the
form:
(6.1)
Qs is the sediment load, Qw is the water discharge and a and b are constants, obtained
by curve fitting

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Hydrology Lecture Note

Figure 6.3: Example of sediment rating curve.

The annual average sediment transport is obtained by using a time series of the
water discharge over the year together with equation 6.1.

Hydraulic & Water Resources Engineering Department, AMIT, AMU

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