SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT IN HYDROPOWER PLANTS - AN OVERVIEW

Hydroelectric power plants can be either resrvoir based or run of river (RoR). While storage based projects require construction of a dam and store water in the reservoir created upstream, RoR schemes rely on the diversion of water from the river to the power house via a power channel. The diversion structure is generally a barrage or a low dam without sufficient storage. Both types of schemes, however present problems of sediment management, though differing in nature. Thus while storage projects have the problem of sediment deposition in the reservoir, RoR schemes have to ensure appropriate measures for sediment extraction. This paper reviews in brief the problems of both the types and the mitigation measures.