Desilting Efficiency Assessment Under Four Hydraulic Sediment Prevention Operations

Effective sediment management is essential for preserving reservoir storage capacity, water quality, and operational efficiency. Sediment accumulation shortens reservoir lifespan and impacts downstream ecosystems, highlighting the need for optimized hydraulic sediment prevention strategies. This study develops and validates a two-dimensional reservoir model to simulate turbidity currents, sediment transport, and sediment outflow trends, offering valuable insights into sediment management. The study uses field observations and physical model tests to evaluate model performance and use the model to assess four hydraulic sediment prevention operations. Results indicate that downstream replenishment flushing is the most effective sediment removal method, while midstream desilting tunnels significantly reduce transport time. In contrast, the absence of sediment prevention prolongs transport. The desilting tunnel demonstrates the highest sediment removal efficiency, followed by sluicing and flood reduction operations. Immediate tunnel opening and optimal outflow rates further enhance sediment removal. Despite reservoir dilution, peak concentration ratios remain similar across conditions. High-flow scenarios benefit most from timely tunnel activation and sufficient discharge rates, optimizing sediment management. These findings provide insights for optimizing reservoir operations’ sediment and water resource management.