Auel, Christian
The Solis dam was built in 1986 by the Electric Power Company of Zurich (ewz). Ever since the construction, large amounts of sediments accumulated in the reservoir and led to severe sediment aggradation. As a consequence, the storage volume was reduced by about 50% till 2012 causing loss of energy production. Additionally, in the near future sediments may have caused severe damage at the dam due to blockage of the bottom outlets. Therefore, in 2011 and 2012 a sediment bypass tunnel was realized in order to redirect the incoming sediments into the tailwater to inhibit sediment aggradation. Since its inauguration, the tunnel was operated four times including a 100-year flood event in August 2014. First operational experiences are described herein.
Bedload transport and hydro-abrasive erosion at steep bedrock rivers and hydraulic structures
(2018)
Field Investigation on Hydroabrasion in High-Speed Sediment-Laden Flows at Sediment Bypass Tunnels
(2020)
Wear due to sediment particles in fluid flows, also termed hydroabrasion’ or simply ‘abrasion’, is an omnipresent issue at hydraulic structures as well as in bedrock rivers. However, interactions between flow field, particle motion, channel topography, material properties and abrasion have rarely been investigated on a prototype scale, leaving many open questions as to their quantitative interrelations. Therefore, we investigated hydroabrasion in a multi‐year field study at two Swiss Sediment Bypass Tunnels (SBTs). Abrasion depths of various invert materials, hydraulics and sediment transport conditions were determined and used to compute the abrasion coefficients kv of different abrasion models for high‐strength concrete and granite. The results reveal that these models are useful to estimate spatially averaged abrasion rates. The kv‐value is about one order of magnitude higher for granite than for high‐strength concrete, hence, using material‐specific abrasion coefficients enhances the prediction accuracy. Three‐dimensional flow structures, i.e., secondary currents occurring both, in the straight and curved sections of the tunnels cause incision channels, while also longitudinally undulating abrasion patterns were observed. Furthermore, hydroabrasion concentrated along joints and protruding edges. The maximum abrasion depths were roughly twice the mean abrasion depths, irrespective of hydraulics, sediment transport
conditions and invert material.
Sediment Bypass Tunnels are operated to divert sediment around reservoirs reducing reservoir sedimentation. A major drawback of these tunnels is severe invert abrasion due to high velocity and sediment flows. There is an urgent need to establish innovative measurement systems of sediment transport rates in SBTs. In this paper, three bedload measuring systems, namely hydrophones, geophones, and newly developed plate microphones are introduced and compared. The Koshibu SBT is planned to operate from 2016. Plate microphones combined with geophones and other planned systems are installed in the tunnel. Results of preliminary tests and installation plans of bedload
measurement are presented.
For long term use of dams, it is required to develop methods of sediment management in reservoirs.
As one method, Sediment BypassTunnels (SBT) are operated in Japan and Switzerland to prevent reservoir sedimentation. SBT reduces sedimentation in reservoirs by routing the incoming sediments around the dam. SBT, however, is prone to severe invert abrasion caused by high sediment flux. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a measurement system of sediment transport rates in the SBT. A geophone was experimentally investigated in a laboratory flume at ETH Zurich. The sediment transport rate is calculated based on the plate vibration caused by hitting of gravels. In this paper, in order to alleviate disadvantages of a geophone, two newly developed sensor systems, a plate microphone and plate vibration sensor, are suggested and the results of their calibration experiments are shown. Finally, they are compared with the existing methods.
To achieve the sustainable use of dams, the development of methods for sediment management in reservoirs is required. One such method includes the use of Sediment Bypass Tunnels (SBTs) to divert sediment around a dam, thereby preventing sedimentation in the reservoir. However, SBTs are prone to severe invert abrasion caused by the high sediment flux. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a measurement system of the sediment transport rate in these tunnels. One system to measure sediment transport in rivers is the Swiss plate geophone, which can register plate vibrations caused by particle impact. In Japan, the Japanese pipe microphone is used, and sediment transport is measured based on the sound emitted by the particle impact. In this study an attempt was made to optimize the advantages of both systems by fixing a microphone and an acceleration sensor to a steel plate. The results of calibration experiments with this new system are presented and compared with the existing methods. It was found that the acceleration sensor can detect sediment particles larger than 2 mm in diameter. Moreover, a new parameter, referred to as the detection rate, was introduced to describe the correlation between the actual amount of sediment and the registered output. Finally, two parameters - the saturation rate and hit rate - are introduced and exhibit strong correlation with the detection rate.
To understand the effects of sediment bypass on environmental recovery of the degraded channels below dams, bed topography and bed materials above and below dam reaches were surveyed by ground-based measurements and aerial photos using quadrocopter. Coarse bed materials such as boulders were more represented below than above the Koshibu dam, where the bypass tunnel had not been in operation yet. The coarse materials formed steps and protruded in the water column within riffles and runs, both of which can increase slow-flow areas, below the dam. On the other hand, sand, gravel, and cobbles were abundant below as much as above the Asahi dam, where the bypass tunnel had been operated for >17 years. The downstream environment in terms of bed topography and grain size seems to have almost been recovered for the Asahi dam. However, less representation of large cobbles and boulders below the dam suggested a possibility of a selective deposition of coarse materials at the upstream of the bypass tunnel inlet.
Sediment, which deposits and damages the function of reservoirs, is an essential element of aquatic habitats in downstream ecosystems. We reviewed ecosystem features of degraded channels associated with sediment deficiency below dams and ecosystem responses to changes in sediment conditions after management practices in Japan. Sediment bypass tunnel (SBT) is an effective way to transport sufficient amount of sediment to downstream ecosystems. Based on a concept of suitable mass and size of sediment for ecosystem, some effects and limitations of SBT on downstream ecosystems were discussed.
Sedimentumleitstollen leiten die sedimentreichen Hochwasserspitzen um die Tal-sperre herum in den Unterlauf des Flusses und verhindern so eine fortschreitende Verlandung des Stauraums. Aufgrund der hohen Fließgeschwindigkeiten und gro-ßen Sedimentfrachten in Umleitstollen weisen diese starke Verschleißerscheinun-gen auf, die zu hohen Unterhaltskosten führen. Es gibt verschiedene Konzepte um diesem Problem entgegen zu wirken. Einerseits kann der Umleitstollen hydrau-lisch optimiert werden, um die Belastung auf die Sohle zu minimieren. Auf der anderen Seite kann der Widerstand der Stollensohle verbessert werden. An der Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau, Hydrologie und Glaziologie (VAW) der ETH Zü-rich werden zur Zeit zwei Forschungsarbeiten durchgeführt, die sich diesen zwei Aspekten widmen. In großskaligen Laborversuchen erfolgt eine systematische Untersuchung und Optimierung der maßgebenden Parameter wie Fortbewegungs-art des Sediments und Abrasionstiefe der Stollensohle. Anhand von Prototypver-suchen im neu errichteten Sedimentumleitstollen Solis in Graubünden (Schweiz) werden die Zusammenhänge zwischen Beanspruchung, Materialeigenschaften und Abrasion im Prototyp ermittelt. Darauf basierend können Empfehlungen be-züglich Materialwahl, konstruktiver Durchbildung und Dimensionierung abgege-ben und so zu einer nachhaltigen und wirtschaftlichen Wasserbewirtschaftung in Stauseen beigetragen werden.
In this paper typical bypass efficiencies of sediment bypass tunnels (SBTs) used to counter reservoir sedimentation are described, distinguishing between two layouts of the tunnel intake. It results that SBTs are an effective measure to reduce the sedimentation of dam reservoirs, particularly of type (A) with intake at the reservoir head. The hydroabrasive wear of tunnel inverts is significant and
has to be mitigated by using adequate invert liners. The invert abrasion can be estimated based on an abrasion model where a correct input value of the bed material resistance coefficient is paramount to limit model uncertainties. Based on abrasion measurements at prototype SBTs typical values of the material resistance coefficient are recommended for high-strength concrete, natural stones and steel liners. The field experiences gathered so far and the comparison of various invert materials suggest granite pavers as a promising lining material for severe abrasion conditions.
Worldwide, a large number of reservoirs impounded by dams are rapidly filling up with sediments. As on a global level the loss of reservoir volume due to sedimentation increases faster than the creation of new storage volume, the sustainability of reservoirs may be questioned if no countermeasures are taken. This paper gives an overview of the amount and the processes of reservoir sedimentation and its impact on dams and reservoirs. Furthermore, sediment bypass tunnels as a countermeasure for small to medium sized reservoirs are discussed with their pros and cons. The issue of hydroabrasion is highlighted, and the main design features to be applied for sediment bypass tunnels are given.
A major drawback of sediment bypass tunnels is the potential for severe invert abrasion due to intense bedload sediment transport. This paper briefly describes the abrasion phenomena as well as the available models used to predict invert material loss. The application and calibration is demonstrated on the basis of the Mud Mountain sediment bypass tunnel, Washington, USA.
This paper describes the design of the new tunnel invert lining of the 9-foot tunnel at Mud Mountain Dam, Washington, USA. The tunnel diverts all bed load sediments into the tailwater. Major invert abrasion has been observed in the existing steel lining. The new invert design consists of 0.59 m2 and 0.79 m2 granite blocks that are 0.25 m thick and placed tightly together along the tunnel. Stability analysis showed factors of safety ranging from 1.2 to 2.6 against uplift. This will be achieved with strip drains placed in the bedding material along the tunnel. A service-design-life analysis was performed using abrasion prediction modelling.
This model was based on abrasion measurement data acquired from granite field tests at Pfaffensprung sediment bypass tunnel, Switzerland. The estimated annual abrasion depths for the granite were approximately 0.50 mm/year for average sediment transport conditions.
Sediment bypass tunnels are an effective and sustainable strategy against reservoir sedimentation. Sediments are diverted into the down-stream during floods without deposition in the reservoir, hence mor-phological and ecological variability increases. One major drawback of these tunnels is the severe invert abrasion due to a combination of high flow velocities and bedload sediment transport. The abrasion phenom-ena is briefly described, different abrasion prediction models are pre-sented and their applicability for the estimation of concrete abrasion is discussed.
Due to high bedload sediment transport, many sediment bypass tunnels (SBT) are prone to severe invert abrasion. However, there is little information about the flow characteristics in SBTs after invert abrasion initiated and progresses with time. In the present study, laboratory flume experiments were performed to investigate how the hydraulic conditions change after abrasion patterns developed on the invert. A typical invert abrasion pattern was produced using 3D-printing technique and implemented in the laboratory flume. Flow depths were measured to compare the initial with the abraded state.
Furthermore, turbulence measurements using 2D-laser Doppler anemometry technique were performed to obtain the mean and turbulence flow characteristics. This paper describes results of these measurements focusing on the streamwise and vertical flow velocities, turbulence intensities and Reynolds shear stress.
Four dams in Japan and Switzerland with Sediment Bypass Tunnels (SBT) as a measure against reservoir sedimentation were monitored to analyse the effects of sediment supply on the downstream environment based on up- to downstream differences in geomorphological and biological characteristics. SBT operation times ranged from 93 years at Pfaffensprung and 17 at Asahi to only three years at Solis and no operation at Koshibu. Sediment grain size distribution was monitored, and microhabitats and invertebrates were analysed in terms of richness and composition. Results showed that grain sizes were coarser down- than upstream at dams with newly established SBTs, while they were similar or finer for dams with long SBT operation. Analysis of biotic data revealed that microhabitat and invertebrate richness was low directly below the dam but increased further downstream the longer the SBT operation. Sedentary species dominated at locations where bed conditions were stable, e.g. directly downstream of the dam at Koshibu. Recovery of downstream environment with increasing SBT operation time was disclosed by the Bray–Curtis similarity index, which evaluated an overlap between up- and downstream reaches for both microhabitat composition and invertebrate communities. With increasing operation time, both indices increased, revealing the positive effects of long-term SBT operation.
Positive effects of reservoir sedimentation management on reservoir life: Examples from Japan
(2016)
The effectiveness of different strategies against reservoir sedimentation is demonstrated herein using data sets of Asahi, Nunobiki and Dashidaira reservoirs in Japan. The applied strategies encompass
sediment routing with a bypass tunnel, drawdown flushing during floods and sabo dam construction in the catchment. It is shown that bypassing and flushing are very efficient strategies enlarging reservoir life by 3 to 21 times up to many hundreds of years. Furthermore, it is revealed that also efforts in the catchment, e.g. sabo dam construction, is effective enlarging reservoir life by 2.4 times.