Search

Due to the need of economic development and energy structure adjustment, China intends to build a number of pumped storage power stations for hydroelectric storage to generate electricity. Pumped storage power stations are generally built in mountainous or hilly areas where sufficient water and height differences will provide the adequate head difference. Geological processes, such as debris flows, often occur in mountainous areas and are one of the main threats to power stations and related projects. In this work, the debris flows in the engineering area of a pumped storage power station in Shangyi County, Hebei Province were selected as a case study. The neural network model was adopted to quantitatively calculate the probability of debris flows. Then, risk zoning was implemented according to the probability values. Finally, the debris flow numerical simulation software SFLOW, which is based on the finite volume shallow water flow model, was used for high-risk gullies. The spatial hazard range of each debris flow was predicted for rainfall frequencies of 20, 50, 100, and 200 years. And the sensitivity of parameters affecting debris flow migration and the advantages of SFLOW compared with FLO-2D software were discussed. In general, the SFLOW model can accurately and efficiently solve the problem of fluid flow on irregular terrain and can be applied to similar engineering projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the development of pumped-storage hydroelectricity has seen a very rapid increase, and lots of stations have been proposed to be built in China to adjust the energy structure of production and alleviate electrical energy shortages. The site of pumped-storage hydroelectric power plants is usually chosen in the mountain area, which can conveniently provide headwaters and height difference for the proper functioning of hydroelectric power station; however, geological disasters such as debris frequently flows in the mountain areas, posing great threat to the safety of plants and staff. A large pumped-storage hydroelectric power station will be built in the Taihang Mountains in the northwest of Yi County, Hebei province. To predict the potential scale of debris flow hazard, the shallow-water model based on the finite volume method (SFLOW model) is used. During the work, reconnaissance, geomorphological analysis, and laboratory experiment are carried out for model construction and data input. Then the debris flow designed for 20-, 50-, 100-, and 200-year return periods and the flood caused by dam break are simulated. The simulation study shows that the potential debris flow hazard will greatly harm the reservoir area, and if debris flows destroy the dam, floods could affect the residents of a maximum of 1.21 million square meters downstream. To prevent debris flows, retaining walls in the SFLOW model are set, and the results show that they can effectively reduce the hazard area of debris flow, ensuring the safety of the reservoir area. In general, the SFLOW model can accurately and efficiently solve the problem of fluid flow on irregular terrain and can be applied to similar engineering projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]