INVESTIGATION OF TURBIDITY CURRENT VENTING FOR TWO DIFFERENT RESERVOIR BED SLOPES

Reservoirs represent an important source of energy that should be preserved and sustained. However, the lifetime of reservoirs is being reduced due to natural processes such as sedimentation. To face this problem, different sediment mitigation techniques are employed in numerous reservoirs. These techniques sometimes require the complete emptying of reservoirs. In the particular case where sedimentation is due to the presence of turbidity currents, the most adequate technique for the evacuation of sediments is by venting these currents through bottom or low-level outlets. Venting is investigated in the present work using an experimental model where turbidity currents are generated and vented under different conditions through a bottom outlet. Several measuring instruments are used to monitor the turbidity currents and two bed slopes are tested. The effect of the slope variation on the release efficiency of venting is studied. Additionally, venting is shown to induce no retrogressive erosion. Results from this research can provide useful input for reservoir operators where sedimentation occurs.