Real‐Time Kinematic Catchment Model for Hydro Operation
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 112, Issue 2
Abstract
A catchment in Transkei, Southern Africa is monitored with 10 rain gages which transmit data to a microcomputer model. The numerical model is based on the kinematic equations with both an overland flow/stream flow component and a subsurface component of flow for 14 sub‐catchments. Both flood flows and base flows from the catchment are predicted using the model on a real‐time basis. In addition to being able to predict flows ahead by the lag time of the catchment (of the order of one day), projection can be made further ahead using rainfall projections. The low cost of the receiving, transmitting and processing system is made possible by coupling simple tipping bucket type rain gages through a processor to a standard microcomputer. The numerical model is simple enough to operate on the microcomputer and can readily be extended to assist in operation of the hydroelectric station to optimize the available water.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 112 • Issue 2 • August 1986
Pages: 104 - 114
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 ASCE.
History
Published online: Aug 1, 1986
Published in print: Aug 1986
Authors
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