Floating modular unit for controlled sediment flushing regarding sediment size and concentration

Sediment management is a challenging discipline, especially in regions where the storage capacity of reservoirs decreases due to sediment accumulation. This paper shows an innovative and holistic modular technical approach to the problem, considering a great variety of sediment materail and taking into account the specific situation. Significantly variable size of sediment or other particles are considered from clay to large boulders or sunken driftwood. Dredging takes place from a floating unit. Excavated material is treated in an on-shore dewatering plant. Water and fine sand can be pumped to the submerged water intake, directly or passing through an intermediate-storage-pool. This controlled flushing allows controlling the solid concentration by the water discharge used for flushing, thus reducing downstream environmental and economic impacts. This method has been tested successfully in Italy, at the Champagne-1 hydropower scheme, a 10MW power plant.