Improved multi-reservoir operation rules of water supply system based on target storage curves

Abstract

Abstract This paper proposes a multi-reservoir operating policy for water supply by combining target storage curves with the hedging rule. The curves are derived to solve the allocation problem of joint demand. There are three steps in the proposed methodology: Firstly, the optimal release schedule using dynamic programming to solve a long-term operation model is established, from which the suitable forms of target storage curves are identified. Secondly, a simulation and optimization model is built to identify the key points of the curves with the hedging rule based on aggregated reservoir using improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO). Finally, synthetic inflow series is used to test and verify the efficiency of the proposed rule. The water-supply multi-reservoir system located in the Liaoning province of China is employed as a case study to verify the effect of the proposed operating policy and the efficiency of target storage curves. The results indicate that the proposed operating policy is suitable to handle the multi-reservoir operation problem, especially for periods of drought. The target storage curves also show improved performance for distribution of system storages.