Modelagem de processos hidrossedimentológicos e estimativa de vida útil de reservatórios de usinas hidrelétricas

Abstract

Humanity, as a matter of survival, have always needed to explore the water resources available in nature. In countries with a predominantly hydroelectric energy matrix like Brazil, the exploration of reservoirs is essential, but this practice is only sustainable if the correct management of the resource is planned. Unfortunately, most reservoirs does not yet present consistent hydrosedimentological studies to perform this planning. In this scenario, this dissertation brings an approach to transport and sediment deposition in reservoirs and presents the development of a computational tool to monitore and analyze several hydrosedimentological parameters, in particular, the total solid discharge, the volume silted up and the lifetime of reservoirs, using data from samples collected and tested according to indirect methods of sediment monitoring. As a case study, simulations were performed in the computational tool for the reservoir of the Itumbiara Hydroelectric Power Plant (GO) and it was possible to compare the results obtained with references from other modalities of monitoring hydrosedimentological processes: topobathymetry and computational modeling. It was noted that the results of the topobathymetric survey were consistent with the results achieved by the developed computational tool. Results were even successfully used to calibrate the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model