Evaluation of a multi-reservoir hydropower system using a simulation model

Abstract

In the present study, the operation of a multi-reservoir hydropower system is evaluated using a monthly simulation model for power production and irrigation releases. The hydropower production is assessed for two operating scenarios, namely, unconstrained and constrained scenarios based on hard bound constraint on powerhouse releases and also for various duration of hydropower plants operation. Further, the behaviour of the system is analysed using the statistical performance indices such as reliability, resilience and vulnerability. The results show that the power production is high for the unconstrained operating scenario due to unrestricted releases to the powerhouses. On the other hand, the constrained scenario has resulted in lesser but reliable steady power production irrespective of duration of operation. It is found that the power production can be increased by 14% without compromising the irrigation releases. The statistical performance analyses show that lesser the duration of operation of powerhouses, higher is the reliability and resilience with less vulnerability.

Keywords:

• hydropower production
• multi-reservoir
• simulation
• reliability
• resilience
• vulnerability

Acknowledgement

The financial support of Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, New Delhi, through the Indian National Committee on Surface Water is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank Chief Engineer, KHEP and Executive Engineer, Koyna Dam and Kolkewadi Dam for providing necessary data.