ROBI-JIDA DAM PROJECT, ETHIOPIA

1.1. SPILLWAY SIZING

Various spillway size are tried in order to select the safe and economical
dimension of spillway and dam height.

1.1.1. Reservoir routing

To determined spillway width reservoir routing has to be performed using

modified pulse method, as explained below.

Assuming a straight-line function for change of inflow and outflow during a

time interval ’t’, the storage equation -1 transforms to the equation given
below:

½ (I1 + I2) x t – ½ (O1 + O2) x t = S2 – S1 ----- ( ii )

Where subscripts 1 and 2 indicates the initial and final instants of time
interval ‘t’ and I, O and S are instantaneous values of inflow, outflow and
storage respectively. In the flood routing problem, the complete inflow
hydrograph as well as the initial values of the outflow and storage are known.

Thus, the unknowns in the above equations are O 2 and S2. Placing the known
on the left side and the unknown on the right side the equation can be
rewritten as:

½ (I1 + I2) + S1 /t – ½ O1 = S2 /t + 1/2 O2 -----(iii)

Since this equation contains two unknowns it can’t be solved unless the
second independent function is available. In the modified Puls method,
storage - indication curve (outflow O vs the quantity S/t + ½ O) is constructed
for the purpose.

In the equation it may be noted that subtracting O 2 from S2/t + O2/2 gives
S2/t - O2/2. This expression is identical to S 1/t - O1/2 on the left side of the
equation except for its subscripts. Since the subscript 1 denotes value at the
beginning of time increment and subscript 2 denotes value at the end of time
interval, it is apparent that S2/t - O2/2 at the end of one time increment is
numerically equal to S1/t – O1/2 for the beginning of the succeeding time.

The detailed routing procedure is as follows:

(i) Compute a numerical value, which equals S2/t - O2/2 refer storage-
indication curve and read outflow (O 2), corresponding to this
computed value of S2/t - O2/2. The O2 thus read is the instantaneous
outflow at the end of the first increment.

(ii) Subtract the value of O2 from S2/t - O2/2 which gives the value for S 2/t
- O2/2. The value of S 1/t - O1/2 for the second time increment is equal
to S2/t - O2/2 for the first time increment. Consequently, the left side of
the equation (3) can be computed for the second time increment and
the entire procedure is repeated.

Based on the information given above, the routed flood hydrograph has been
obtained using HEC-HMS software.

1.1.2. SPILLWAY ELEVATION-DISCHARGE CURVE

Ungated spillway with ogee profiles has been proposed at the dam site. The
spillway capacity of the dam has been fixed after conducting a number of
alternative studies and corresponding reservoir routing studies within the
specified water level in the reservoir with respect to the respective Inflow
Design Flood (IDF) that is 1/2PMF. The clear waterway has been worked out
with the following basic formula:

Q= Cd L Hd3/2

Where,

Q = Total outflow in cumec

Cd = Coefficient of Discharge
 L = Clear water way in metres

Hd = Design head over spillway crest in metres

Cd depends on a number of factors as given below:

 Velocity of approach,

 Upstream face slope,

 Relation of the actual crest shape to the ideal nappe shape, and

 Effect of downstream apron interference and downstream submergence

All these factors were considered while determining the value of C d. The initial
design purpose Cd has been taken as 2.0.

Using the equation given above, outflow rating curve were developed for
spillway lengths of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 m respectively using HEC-HMS
software, crest elevation of spillway as 2592 masl and depth-capacity curve of
the Robi-Jida Dam 2 reservoir (Figure 8.8).
 AREA - ELEVATION - CAPACITY CURVE FOR DAM - 2 ROBI JIDA

Robi JIda Dam 2 - Area (sq.km)

60.00 50.00 40.00 30.00 20.00 10.00 0.00
2603

2598
2598

2593
2593
2588
2588
2583
2583
2578
2578
2573
2573
2568
2568

Elevation(m)
Elevation(m)

2563
2563
2558
2558
2553
2553
2548

2548
2543

2543
2538
0.00 200.00 400.00 600.00 800.00 1000.00 1200.00

Capacity (MCM)

Figure 8- 8: Elevation (m asl) –Area (km2) -Capacity (Mm3) curve of Robi-Jida

reservoir.

The 24 hr ½ PMF and full PMF are routed through a reservoir on a different spillway
width varying from 10-35 m span spillway. The resulting maximum routed flood,
maximum pool level and surcharge are calculated. Table 8-14 gives the result.
Figure 8-9 shows the inflow and routed flood through Robi-Jida reservoir, with pool
level variation with time.
 Table 8- 14: Alterative spillway size for the Robi-Jida Dam 2 site
24 hr 1/2 PMF       24 hr PMF (maximum surcharge level)
1/2 PMF
1/2 PMF 1/2 Surcharg PMF
Ogee Max PMF e above Ogee PMF Surcharge
Spillwa Pool Route crest Spillwa PMF Max Route above
y clear Elevatio d peak level y clear Pool d peak crest level
width n flow 2592.   width Elevation flow 2592 m
(m) (masl) (m3/s) (masl )   (m) (m asl) (m3/s) (m)
10 2593.27 29 1.27   10 2594.890 98 2.9
15 2593.24 42 1.24   15 2594.830 143 2.8
20 2593.22 54 1.22   20 2594.790 186 2.8
25 2593.20 66 1.20   25 2594.750 227 2.8
30 2593.19 78 1.19   30 2594.710 267 2.7
35 2593.2 79 1.18   35 2594.670 305 2.7

Robi Jida Dam 2 Alternative Spillway Sizes Vs Surcharge (1/2 PMF and PMF )
3.0
300
2.8

Surcharge Height Above Spillway Crest (m)

2.6
250
PMF Routed peak flow 2.4
Peak Q Over Spillway (m3/s)

200
1/2 PMF Routed peak flow 2.2

2.0
150 PMF Surcharge above crest level 2592 m
1.8
1/2 PMF Surcharge above crest level 2592 m
100 1.6

1.4
50
1.2

0 1.0
10 20 30 40
Spillway Clear Width (m)

Figure 8- 9: Spillway sizing options

If ½ PMF is routed through 20 m wide ogee spillway, the peak outflow is 54 m3/s
(peak inflow into reservoir was 1155 m3/s). The maximum pool level is 2593.22 masl
(a surcharge of 1.22 m). If the 24 hr PMF flood arrives with this setting, the
maximum pool level is 2594.79 masl, thus indicating that the dam crest shall be a
minimum at 2595 masl. It is noted that the Robi-Jida Dam 2 reservoir has significant
routing effect and thus leading to reduced cost of spillway. Detail freeboard analysis
will be done at Section 1.6.

Figure 8- 10: ½ PMF inflow and routed flood hydrograph (bottom) through Rob-
Jida Dam 2 reservoir, with pool level and storage variation with time (Top).
Spillway width 20 m and crest level at 2592 masl are used (date fixed is
arbitrary)