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Extensive Monitoring System of Sediment Transport for Reservoir Sediment Management

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Natural Resources and Control Processes

Part of the book series: Handbook of Environmental Engineering ((HEE,volume 17))

Abstract

Sedimentation is a serious threat to long-term water resource management worldwide. In particular, reservoir sedimentation is becoming more serious in Taiwan due to geological weathering and climate change in watersheds. Large amount of sediments transport to reservoirs during storm events at hyperpycnal concentration. Full-event monitoring of sediment transport in a reservoir plays an important role in sustainable reservoir management. This chapter begins by reviewing existing surrogate techniques in need for monitoring suspended-sediment transport in reservoirs with high concentration range and wide spatial coverage. More commercially available techniques suffer from particle-size dependency and limited measurement range. This chapter introduces a relatively new technique based on time-domain reflectometry. It possesses several advantages, including particle-size independence, high measurement range, durability, and cost-effective multiplexing. This chapter describes a modified TDR technique for better field applicability and demonstrates its application in an extensive SSC monitoring program for reservoir management through a case study in Shihmen Reservoir, Taiwan. Monitoring stations were installed at the major inflow river mouth and outlet works with fixed protective structures to provide inflow and outflow sediment-discharge records. To capture the characteristics of density currents, a multi-depth monitoring station was designed and deployed on floating platforms in the reservoir. Some of the data collected during typhoons are presented as an example to demonstrate the effectiveness and benefits of the TDR-based monitoring program.

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Abbreviations

\( c= \) :

Speed of light (2.998 × 108 m s−1) [m s−1]

\( dt= \) :

Sampling interval [s]

\( {\mathrm{G}}_{\mathrm{s}}= \) :

Specific gravity of suspended sediment [—]

\( L= \) :

Length of the sensing waveguide[m]

\( ppm= \) :

Parts per million (or milligram per liter [mg L−1])

\( SS= \) :

Suspended-sediment concentration in terms of volume fraction [—]

\( T= \) :

Measured temperature in degree Celsius [°C]

\( \Delta t= \) :

Round-trip travel time of the EM pulse in the sensing waveguide [s]

\( \varepsilon = \) :

Dielectric constant [—]

\( {\varepsilon}_{ss}= \) :

Dielectric constant of suspended sediment [—]

\( {\varepsilon}_w= \) :

Dielectric constant of water [—]

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta-Hsueh Rd, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan

    Chih-Ping Lin

  2. Disaster Prevention and Water Environment Research Center, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta-Hsueh Rd, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan

    I-Ling Wu, Po-Lin Wu & Chun-Hung Lin

  3. Water Resources Planning Institute, Water Resources Agency, 1340 Chung-Cheng Rd., Wu-Fong, Taichung, Taichung County, Taiwan

    Ching-Hsien Wu

  4. Disaster Prevention and Water Environment Research Center, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC

    Chih-Chung Chung

Authors
  1. Chih-Ping Lin
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  2. Chih-Chung Chung
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  3. I-Ling Wu
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  4. Po-Lin Wu
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  5. Chun-Hung Lin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chih-Ping Lin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Newtonville, New York, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang

  2. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Newtonville, New York, USA

    Mu-Hao Sung Wang

  3. Cleveland State University , Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Yung-Tse Hung

  4. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

    Nazih K. Shammas

Glossary

Acoustic backscatter

Acoustic backscatter (ABS) measurement is a technique that emits and receives the acoustic (or echoes) energy for the monitoring of suspended-sediment particles in the water column.

Acoustic Doppler current profiler

An acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP or ADP) is a hydro-acoustic current meter similar to a sonar, attempting to measure water current velocities over a depth range using the Doppler effect of sound waves scattered back from particles within the water column.

Dam

A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water.

Density currents

A highly turbid, relatively dense current carrying large quantities of clay, silt, and sand in suspension which flows down a submarine slope through less dense water.

Dielectric constant

The dielectric constant is the ratio of the dielectric permittivity of a substance to the dielectric permittivity of free space.

Dielectric permittivity

Dielectric permittivity is the measure of the resistance that is encountered when forming an electric field in a medium. In other words, permittivity is a measure of how an electric field affects, and is affected by, a dielectric medium. It is an expression of the extent to which a material concentrates electric flux.

Flow discharge

The amount of water passing a cross section of a stream per unit time, often presented in cubic meter per second (cms).

Hydrograph

A hydrograph is a plot of the variation of discharge with respect to time (it can also be the variation of stage or other water property with respect to time).

Hydrology

Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources, and environmental watershed sustainability.

Hyperpycnal flow

A denser inflow that occurs when a sediment-laden fluid flows down the side of a basin and along the bottom as a turbidity current.

Nephelometer

A nephelometer measures suspended particulates by employing a light beam (source beam) and a light detector set to one side (often 90°) of the source beam.

Nephelometric turbidity units

The units of turbidity from a calibrated nephelometer are called nephelometric turbidity units (NTUs).

Optical backscatter

Optical backscatter measures the light that is scattered in the direction of the incident light beam.

Outlet works

A combination of structures and equipment required for the safe operation and control of water released from a reservoir to serve various purposes.

Particle-size distribution

The particle-size distribution (PSD) of a granular material is a list of values or a mathematical function that defines the relative amount, typically by mass, of particles present according to size. PSD is also known as grain size distribution.

Penstock

A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow or an enclosed pipe that delivers water to hydroturbines and sewerage systems.

Polarization

Polarization is a phenomenon that as a charged body is placed close to a nonconducting substance, the molecule orientation of the substance gets migrated

Plunging point

The plunge point is the main mixing point between river and reservoir water, especially used for the density current transport behavior.

Precipitation

Precipitation is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the planet.

Reservoir

A reservoir is a natural or artificial lake, storage pond, or impoundment from a dam which is used to store water.

Sediment load

The amount of soil solid that is transported by a natural agent, especially by a stream.

Sediment Rating Curves

The relationship between the sediment load and flow discharge.

Sediment yield

The amount of sediment per unit area removed from a watershed by flowing water during a specified period of time.

Sedimentation

The process of deposition of sediment, especially in a reservoir.

Specific gravity

Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density (mass of the same unit volume) of a reference substance, such as water.

Spillway

A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed.

Storage of a reservoir

Volume or storage of a reservoir is usually divided into distinguishable areas. Dead or inactive storage refers to water in a reservoir that cannot be drained by gravity through a dam’s outlet works, spillway, or power plant intake and can only be pumped out. Active or live storage is the portion of the reservoir that can be utilized for flood control, power production, navigation, and downstream releases.

Suspended-sediment concentration

Suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) is generally transported within and at the same velocity as the surrounding fluid. The stronger the flow and/or the finer the sediment, the greater the amount or concentration of sediment that can be suspended by turbulence.

Time-domain reflectometry

Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) is a measurement technique used to determine the characteristics of electrical lines by observing reflected waveforms. It uses a time-domain reflectometer (TDR) as an electromagnetic (EM) wave radar to characterize and locate faults in metallic cables. TDR is also used to determine moisture content or suspended-sediment concentration in soil-water mixture.

Transmissometry

A transmissometry measures suspended particulates by employing a light beam (source beam) and a light detector set to opposite side (often 180°) of the source beam.

Turbidity

Turbidity is an expression of the optical properties of a sample that causes light rays to be scattered and absorbed rather than transmitted in straight lines through the sample.

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Lin, CP., Chung, CC., Wu, IL., Wu, PL., Lin, CH., Wu, CH. (2016). Extensive Monitoring System of Sediment Transport for Reservoir Sediment Management. In: Wang, L., Wang, MH., Hung, YT., Shammas, N. (eds) Natural Resources and Control Processes. Handbook of Environmental Engineering, vol 17. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26800-2_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26800-2_10

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