High-efficiency sediment-transport requirements for operation of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir in the Lower Yellow River. Issue 12 (24th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Cuixia; Fu, Jian; Wu, Moxi; Gao, Xing; Ma, Liming
• Is Part Of: Water Supply. Volume 22:Issue 12(2022)
• Page Start: 8572
• Page End: 8586
• Publication Date: 2022-11-24
• Subjects: flood event -- Lower Yellow River -- river channel scouring -- river channel silting -- sediment transport efficiency -- Xiaolangdi Reservoir
• DOI: 10.2166/ws.2022.397
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1606-9749

Abstract

Abstract: Sediment accumulation is severe in the Lower Yellow River. Improving sediment-transport efficiency is an important way to save water resources. In this study, we analyzed the sediment-transport efficiency at different sediment concentrations and discharge levels using data from 306 non-overbank floods in the lower reaches of the Yellow River from 1960 to 2016. When the sediment concentrations were below 20 kg/m 3, 60 kg/m 3, and greater than 100 kg/m 3, the clear water volumes for transporting sediment were above 50 m 3 /t, approximately 16 m 3 /t, and less than 10 m 3 /t, respectively. Given current scheduling, the Xiaolangdi Reservoir can lower its water level and increase non-overbank large water flows with an outflow discharge of >3, 000 m 3 /s when the incoming water flow has a sediment concentration of >60 kg/m 3 . Mathematical modeling indicates that, for an incoming sediment load of 600 million tons in the Middle Yellow River, the average sediment-transport water volume at the downstream Huayuankou Station decreased by 27%, Optimized scheduling at the Xiaolangdi Reservoir could reduce the sedimentation in the downstream channel by 1.1 billion tons more than current scheduling, and extend the reservoir's sediment-trapping period by ten years. These findings can be applied widely in sandy rivers. HIGHLIGHTS: The sediment-transport efficiency and associated sediment-transport clear water volume in the lower reaches of the Yellow River were modeled in this study. The sediment-transport clear water volume of the river channel decreased with increasing sediment concentration. Optimizing operation of Xiaolangdi Reservoir can improve the sediment-transport efficiency and reduce sedimentation in the Lower Yellow River. Graphical Abstract