Rule Curve Optimization of Tarbela Dam for Flood Control and Utilization of Excess Flood Water

Abstract

Reservoir operations are based on necessary optimal guidelines known as Rule curves. There are certain parameters defining the performance of a reservoir, that can be easily assessed by the Optimal Rule Curve which include irrigational needs,industrial, water supply, environmental conservation and hydropower requirements to be addressed. Rule curve is a criteria guideline indicating the limiting rates of the storage and release function of a dam. An optimal rule curve synchronizing with the hydrological condition of the area is necessary for efficient dam operation.Many purposes can be achieved by constructing a rule curve for daily reservoir operations of a multi-purpose hydropower reservoir system,such as: minimum spill water measurement,overall production of electricity,shortages in the reservoir’s water supply water level when the flood season ends,and at the end of dry season the highest water level as compared to the dead water level as well as it should be capable enough to minimize the losses caused by floods by operating efficiently with early flood warning system.A method of optimal rule curve construction has been presented in this researchforhydropowerTarbelaDam using different Dam Parameters with the help of MATLAB specifically for flood control and the utilization of excess flood water savedaccording to the crops water demandin irrigation sector, per capita commercial water requirement, industrial water consumption demand, and the requirements in power production sector.We havemainlyanalysed the 2010flood which was of veryhigh intensity and carried out a comparative study between the optimized and actual rule curves of Tarbela Dam. The results clearly indicate that optimized rule curve lead to considerable reduction in flood losses vis-à-vis conservation ofexcessive floodwater for optimalusage in irrigation, commercial, industrial and power generationsectors.