Simulating Reservoir

Systems
HEC-ResSim

Hydrologic Engineering Center

Topic Objective:
To know the basic principles for simulating

reservoir operation:
Operation goals by purpose
Reservoir system data requirements

Physical data
Operational data
Flow data

Simulation considerations

Reservoir
System
System extent?
Purposes?
Study objectives?
Data resources
Operational

constraints
Evaluation criteria
Appropriate model

Authorized Purposes
from: Digest of Water Resource Policy and Authorities, (USACE, 1989)

Basic Operating Questions

from: Economics of Water Resources Planning by James and Lee

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Store or pass inflow?

Release water from storage or save?
Release from which reservoir?
Allocation of released water?
From what level in reservoir to make release?

Operational Goals
Flood:

Reduce damages
Water Quality: Meet specified requirements (water
quality may be as important as
quantity)
Meet seasonal diversion schedule
Irrigation:
Maintain channel depth with flow
Navigation:
Meet demand, use all release
Hydropower:
Maintain pool during season
Recreation:
Pool fluctuation for habitat; flow and
Fishery:
temperature in channel

Flood Damage Reduction

Considerations
Do not endanger the dam
Do not contribute to downstream flooding
Do not unnecessarily store water in the flood

pool
Evacuate flood storage as quickly as possible
Bottom line: Never make the downstream
flooding worse than it would have been without
the project!

Water Supply Considerations

Conflict between flood and supply storage
Save space for future flood
Save water for future supply
Demand for water
Varies with season
Varies over the years
Deficiencies met from storage withdrawal
Different priorities among customers

Hydroelectric Considerations
Must be a Demand for Energy
Must economically meet demand
Role in meeting load affects analysis
Estimation of power potential
Firm vs. Secondary energy
Peaking vs. Base load
Capacity vs. Energy

Environmental
Considerations
In-Stream flows
Low flows and high flows important
Magnitude, timing, frequency, eco-response
Temperature management
Selective withdrawal
Water quality management
Ecosystem in pool

Steps for Simulation Analysis

Define study objectives
Develop data sets
Physical, operational, flows
Validate data & operations
Check flow continuity through the system
Compare simulation to historic data
Perform simulation with specified demands
Evaluate output & performance
Compare output with evaluation criteria

Physical Data for Reservoir

Systems
Watershed & System Network
Reservoir physical data
Pool Elevation - Storage - Area
Dam and emergency spillway data
Controlled outlet capacity - elevation
Diversion facilities
Computation points Junctions
Routings between junctions

Physical Data Considerations &

Limitations
Outdated Records and Information
Missing Information
Use of HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS
Introduction of Model Errors
Operation data recorded versus actual field

process

Operational Rules for Reservoirs

Instream flow requirements
Non-damaging channel flow
Demand schedules for diversions
Drought contingency operation plan
Defined as rules for storage zones

Max and min flows

Specified release schedule
Elevation - release schedule
Rates of change
Priorities among rules

Storage Allocation for Simulation

Operation Zones
Flood storage
Conservation
Inactive
Additional Zones for
Emergency operation
Drought conditions
Other changes in
operation goals

Reservoir System Flow Data

Select appropriate time interval
Short time interval (hourly) for flood simulations
Longer time interval for water supply, ecosystem,
Determine simulation duration
Period-of-record for multiple-purpose, or
Critical period for high and low flow events
(must define initial conditions for each event)
Define flow data requirements for analysis
Historic (gauged) events and time series
Synthetic events design and frequency floods
Stochastic extension of flow record?

Developing Flow Data

Define model locations and flow required
Obtain available historical data
Fill missing records
Statistical processes
Simulation to estimate flow for ungauged locations
Develop local flows for model locations
HMS rainfall-runoff model with DSS output
Headwater inflows
Incremental local flows (flow from area between model
nodes)
Map model locations to DSS flow records

To the Simulation, Finally!

Combine Physical, Operation, & Flow data
Set Initial conditions
Reservoir pool level
Reservoir release
Set Time Window for simulation
Set optional parameters
Perform simulation for Existing Conditions

Release Considerations for

Existing Conditions
Reservoir considers present state
Pool level compared to guide curve
If above, release to draw down to curve

Limited by:
Rate-of-change (operational or physical)
Channel capacity at outlet
Maximum release capacity

If below, release minimum flow required

Release Considerations for

Existing Conditions
Look Downstream:
Downstream inflow (uncontrolled local flow)
Release hydrograph translation (routing effect)
Future releases, based on present release
Maximum non-damaging flow (channel capacity)
Priorities among operational rules

Simulation Complete!
Evaluate Output (performance criteria)
Downstream flow impacts (flood damage)
Storage utilization (risk of exceeding?)
Potential upstream impacts (pool backwater)
Impacts on other purposes (velocities, depths,
duration, etc.)
Simulate Alternatives
Did the model reasonably simulate alternative?
If not, modify model data and repeat
Performance criteria compare with Existing

Model and Data Factors

Emergency Spillway Adequacy - save the dam
Emergency Gate Operations Induced Surcharge

routing
Downstream channel capacity in future

Floodplain development
Changing channel due to regulated flow

Preserving storage capacity and utilization

Development around pool (especially for stable pool)
Sediment accumulation in pool
Low flow concerns
Evaporation
Seepage
Channel losses

References:
Economics of Water Resources Planning,

L. D. James & R. R. Lee, McGraw-Hill, 1971

Management of Water Control Systems,
EM 1110-2-3600, 1987
Digest of Water Resources Policies and Authorities,
USACE, 1989, EP 1165-2-1
A Preliminary Assessment of Corps of Engineers Reservoirs,
Their Purposes and Susceptibility to Drought,
HEC RD #33, 1990
Authorized and Operating Purposes of Corps of Engineers
Reservoirs, USACE, 1992
Flood-Runoff Analysis, EM 1110-2-1417, 1994
Hydrologic Engineering Requirements for Reservoirs, EM
1110-2-1420, 1997