Developing A Series of Weirs System to Improve Hydraulic Properties and Generate Hydroelectric Power in Rivers

Abstract

Abstract In present paper, attempts were made to develop a system of weirs along Euphrates River in Iraq to solve the problem of the deficit in power and water resources. Geometric numerical models were created with geographic information system (GIS) with digital elevation model (DEM). The model includes visual basic programming to evaluate the power potentials according to an economic methodology based on the cost-benefit ratio (CBR). It estimates the cost, power profits, and determines the optimal height and number of small dams along the study reach. A system of three dams with a (4.3 m) in height can generate expected power of (45 MW) within (99%) of CBR. The system is simulated with the numerical model (HEC-RAS) to evaluate the river behavior with minimum, average, and maximum discharge values (270, 543, 815 m3/s) and study the hydraulic effect on the river. The hydraulic properties improve by (28%), the average depth increase with (27%), and a decrease in the variation caused by discharge changes. The river tendency is to store water with limited expansion in the surface area. The average surface area expands with (5%), the average storage increase with (35 %) especially in cases of low discharges.