B O N N E V I L L E P O W E R A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

Hydro 101
The Subtleties of River Operations
May 9, 2012
Charlie Meeker, BPA / NJCD
Critical Business Systems Development
Bonneville Power Administration
U.S. Department of Energy
Adapted for the BP-14 Generation Inputs Workshop
from material prepared to explain the Slice Water Routing Simulator

Predecisional. For discussion purposes only

B O N N E V I L L E P O W E R A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

• Hydro 101
(the subtleties of river operation)
• Key points
(juggling multiple uses)
• Water routing model
(basic river hydraulics)
• Model variables
(flows, elevations & generation)
• Operational constraints
(‘fencing in’ the hydro system)
• Operational objectives
(immediate & longer-range targets)
• Putting it all together
(iterating over projects & hours)

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Multiple-Use River

Flood Control Recreation

Irrigation
Fish & Wildlife Habitat

Cultural Resources
Power Production

Navigation
Fish Migration

Water Supply

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Multiple Power Uses

• The FCRPS is a large interconnected system
– Plant operations: Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation
– System planning & power marketing: Bonneville Power

• Firm capacity
– Sold to preference customers on long-term contracts
– Must be set aside on ongoing basis for operating & balancing reserves

• With variable water supply, surplus capacity is available most years

– Selling this additional capacity on short-term contracts keeps rates low

• BPA plans capacity use on many time horizons

– Longer-horizon plans inform shorter-horizon capability
– Long-term commitments restrict shorter-term capability
Multi- Water Balance Pre- Day Real
Seasonal Monthly
Year Year of Month sched ahead Time

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Major PNW Hydro Projects

31 Federal
4 Headwaters Projects
6 Main Stem Projects
4 Lower Snake Projects
(17 less inter-connected)

Many non-Federal
5 Canadian Storage
4 Mid Columbia
3 Middle Snake
(others less inter-connected)

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GCL
CHJ

Simplified Water Routing

MCN
BON TDA JDA

Project Constraints
lag 5 Proj Calculations
GCL Single-project models
Coulee- Chief
Complex

2h Δt Hydraulic time lags

CHJ Mid Columbia Operations
Incremental Side Flows

Mid-C’s
~22h
11h PRD External inputs
1h IHR
Measured discharges
Lagged flows into GCL/MCN
Desired Operations

MCN Incremental side-flows (6)

Lower Columbia

3h
JDA Operating Constraints
Complex

1h Desired operations
TDA
2h
BON
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Single Project Hydraulics

Spill Flow
Content +
Total Inflow ± = Turbine Flow = Total Outflow
Change +
Side Bypass Flow
flow

Total Turbine Flow Forebay

Forebay (ft.)

Head (ft.)
Lagged Spill –
Upstream Inflow × H/K = Gen Tailwater
(kcfs) Flow
Discharge (kcfs) =
Tu Gen Head
rb (MW)
in
ge e
Fl
Incremental r a nt ow
t o te ) (k
cf
Sideflow S on sfh s ) Total
+ C (k

Tailwater (ft.)
Outflow
Lagged
(kcfs)
Upstream
Discharge
= Bypass (kcfs)
Total Inflow
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All Model Variables

Flows (kcfs) QS
Qin
Total Inflow (QIn)
Spill Flow (QS)
QP QO
Turbine Flow (QP)
Qby
Bypass Flow (QBy)
 Total Outflow (QO)
Elevations (ft.)
Model inputs (with no directly associated output)  Forebay
Head
External Inputs (or) Head FB
History of operations
Tailwater TW

Other variables
Model outputs (some having associated inputs)
 Generation
Min/Max Constraints = QP × ( H/K )
Prudent

Targets Storage Content

Change Average = ƒ( FB )
Constraints Constraints Margins
Percent Spill
= QS ÷ QO

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Single Project Hydraulics

Each project / hour model has: Adjust the two degrees of freedom to:
•Multiple Input Values (1) pass inflow (unchanged storage) or
•2 Degrees of Freedom (2) increase or (3) decrease storage or
•Computed Outputs
(4) increase or (5) decrease generation
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Side Bypass
Bypass Bypass Bypass Bypass Bypass Bypass
flow

Total Outflow
Total Inflow

Turbine Flow
Turbine Flow
Flow

Turbine Flow

Turbine Flow
Turbine

Spill Flow

Turbine Flow
Spill Flow
Flow

Spill Flow

Spill Flow
Discharge
Upstream

Spill Flow
Spill
Lagged

Turbine

Spill

Initial New
New New New New New
Storage Storage Storage Storage
Storage Storage Storage Storage
Content Content
Content
pass net net
inflow inflow outflow

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Two degrees of freedom

By modifying discharge, we can These two degrees of freedom
- Fill the reservoir up, or determine all other values.
- Draft it down.
At the same discharge, Fill All project operation details
we can have either … (less are entirely determined by
discharge)
- more spill (less gen), or - these 2 degrees of freedom
- more gen (less spill) - fixed input values.
Bypass

ow

Sp
Fl

Turbine

i
e

ll
in

Spill

Fl
rb

ow
Tu




More Gen More Spill

Less Spill Storage Less Gen
Content

Draft
A ‘solution’ can be graphed (more The two degrees of freedom
using these variables: discharge) can also be expressed as:
- Ending FB (or discharge) - Turbine flow
- The Gen/Spill split - Spill flow
This gives us two alternate coordinate systems
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Graphing Model Variables

On this graph … • Falling diagonals represent
• Rising diagonals represent Fixed turbine flow (kcfs)
Fixed Spill Flow (kcfs) Fixed generation (MW)
(assuming no in-hour H/K change)

Sp (kc

s) w
cf lo
ill fs)

(k ne F
Fl
ow

i
rb
Tu

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Graphing Model Variables

• Horizontal lines represent • Slanted lines represent
– Fixed Outflow (in kcfs) fixed Spill Flow %
– Fixed forebay or tailwater (as a % of Total Flow)
(with same initial conditions)
Bypass

Percent Spill
Outflow (Discharge) (kcfs)

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Operating Constraints
Powerhouse constraints Spillway constraints
Max generation Min spill (to promote fish passage)
– Unit outages & de-ratings (kcfs or MW) – Absolute (kcfs)
– Line outages & de-ratings (MW) – Percent (of total flow)
Min generation (MW, transmission reliability) Max spill (kcfs, to reduce dissolved nitrogen)

Sp cfs
Gen

(k

ill
(MW)
Tu Flocfs)

)
rb w
in
(k

M nT
s)
e

M
in ur
cf

i
(k

G bin
en e
w
o

er F
Fl

at low
ll

io
i
Sp

n (k
(M cf
in
M

W s)
)
M
ax x G
M

s)
Tu en
a

cf
rb er

(k
in at

Sp
ow
ow

e io

ill
Fl

Fl n

Fl

Fl
ow (M
e

ill

ow
in

Sp
rb

(k W)

(k
Tu

cf

c
ax

fs
s)
s)

)
cf


(k


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Operating Constraints
Discharge Constraints Equivalent FB/TW limits
Min discharge Min discharge
is limited by: FB (ft) is also limited by:
Min discharge itself (kcfs) Outflow Forebay maximum (ft)
(kcfs)
Max decrease (kcfs/hr) Tailwater minimum (ft)
Min daily flow (avg kcfs) TW (ft) Max 24h FB fill (ft/24hr)
Min weekly flow (avg kcfs) Max 1h TW decrease (ft/hr)
Max discharge Max discharge
is limited by: is also limited by:
Max discharge itself (kcfs) Forebay minimum (ft)
Max increase (kcfs/hr) Tailwater maximum (ft)
Max daily flow (avg kcfs) Max 24h FB draft (ft/24hr)
Max weekly flow (avg kcfs). Max 1h TW increase (ft/hr)
Min discharge
…
Typical aims:
▪ Regulate flows Min Max Typical aims:
▪ Avoid turbulence Spill % Spill % ▪ Seasonal planning
▪ Navigation ▪ Erosion control
▪ Fisheries ▪ Flood control
ow

▪ Recreation ▪ etc…

Sp
Max discharge

ill
Fl

▪ etc…

Fl
e

Max discharge Increase

in

ow
rb

Min FB

(k
Tu

c
Max 24h FB draft

fs
s)

)
cf

Max TW increase


(k

Max TW


Max daily/weekly discharge

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Constraints Equivalences
Many constraints depend on history: • In this way, any constraint can be
converted to one of these eight:
Hour-to-hour change
– Tailwater change – Min/Max discharge (kcfs)
– Discharge change – Min/Max turbine flow (kcfs)
– Min/Max spill (kcfs)
24-Hour fluctuation
– FB fill / draft – Min/Max spill % (% of discharge)
– TW fluctuation
• Constraint conversions
Averages – depend on current configuration
– Min daily discharge (that is, on prior operation history)
– Min weekly discharge
– must be recomputed
If prior operation is known, for each hour simulated.
can convert to simple min/max • These eight limits constrain
the two degrees of freedom
Additional conversions are possible
– FB/TW to discharge limits – for each project
– Generation to Turbine Flow limits – for each hour

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Constraint Equivalences
Formula Formula CJAD 80% Formula Formula
(BON) (BON) (CHJ) (MCN) (GCL) (GCL)
These eight lines form
- octagonal solution space 24hr 1hr 1d 24hr Wk 1hr 24hr
ramp ramp avg. ramp avg. ramp ramp
- project operation limits up down min down min down down Reserves Dec

All constraints are

- equivalent to one of the FB Max Discharge
xx Min TW Min Generation Min
eight basic types

Spill Flow Min Turbine Flow Min

(one or the other)

(both min & max)
FB FB
Spill Percent Min Spill Percent Max
Band Touch

Turbine Flow Max Spill Flow Max

Generation Max FB Min Discharge Max TW Max 8 basic types of limits

6 other simple limits

24hr 1hr 1d 24hr Wk 1hr 24hr 14 ramps & averages

Reserves Inc
ramp ramp avg. ramp avg. ramp ramp 10 more complex limits
down up max up max up up

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Constraint Application
All constraints must be satisfied: Feasible area is not a simple octagon
1. Min & max generation Never have all eight sides
2. Min & max forebay and other Spill & Spill % never together
discharge-equivalent constraints Usually just a narrow band
3. Min & max spill flow Prescribed spill: min = max
4. Min & max spill % Some edges are actually bent lines
5. Special operations Min spill, min spill % are complicated
by low & high flow exceptions
6. Inc/Dec gen reserves
2+
5+ 1-

3- 6-
ow

Sp
4- 4+

ill
Fl

Fl
e
in

ow
rb

6+

(k
Tu

3+

cfs
1+
s)

)
5-
cf


(k

2-


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Constraints & Targets

After all constraints are met, the area
in the constraint octagon indicates
- all feasible project operations
- flexibility to meet operational targets
Operational targets may be:
long-range
FB (ft)
Project operators (Corps, Bureau)
- will prevent immediate violations.
BPA operations & planning
- must prevent future violations.
- Without careful planning,
requests at a project in one hour
can force violation in a later hour

• at the same or a different project.

forebay
targets FB

Discharge mid-range

Forebay (ft)
Gen (MW)
discharge Gen (MW)
Total targets Total
Outflow Outflow
(kcfs) (kcfs)
immediate
Gen generation
targets
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Constraint Conflicts
Without careful planning, it may be impossible to satisfy all constraints
• In a drafted reservoir,
min FB may require
small max discharge
(any greater discharge  1. Min FB
FB drafted below min)
• With low inflow,
min discharge may require
large FB draft (low FB max) 2. Max FB (per min discharge)
(any higher FB 
discharge below min)

If both occur,
this will result in a ‘min’ FB higher than the ‘max’ FB
• FB max (Discharge min) is normally on the top
• FB min (Discharge max) is normally on the bottom
• If they are reversed, cannot satisfy both

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One-Project Model Iterated

Iterate
Downstream Inflow  Upstream Outflow
Starting FB  Ending FB
Operations

System Configuration 1-Project Model Project Operation

History

Starting forebay Ending forebay

Total Inflow Total Outflow
Other History Other operations

System Conditions Constraint Status

Input
Data

Streamflows Two degrees of freedom: Within limit

Plant Characteristics Turbine Flow At limit
Constraints Spill Flow Outside limit

Operational Targets Target Status

Planning
Ops &

Generation
Target Met
Total Outflow
Target Missed
Forebay Elevation

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Same Hr

U/S Proj
Multi-project
U
/S
P
ro
j
Model
P
ri
or

Upstream Project
H

Discharge Generation
ou
r

(lagged)

Request
Requests
• Targets Status
• Margins • Met
Same Proj • Missed Same Proj

Recent Updated
History History
•• FB
FB ••FB
FB
• Flows • Flows
• TW • TW

Previous Hour Project Constr. Next Hour

Constr. Status
• Min / Max •Outside Limit
• Ramps •Within Limit
• Etc •At Limit
RW Down-
Data stream
Customer Inputs

D
• Streamflow Forebay

/S
Simulator Parameters • Bypass (same hour)

P
ro
Data flows between Projects

j
Su
D/S Proj
Same Hr

Same-Project history

bs ho
eq u r
Other outputs

u
en
t
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Multi-Project Water Routing

Time
Project history Hydraulic lag Forebay-to-Tailwater
(5) (project-to-project) (downstream upstream)
(hour-to-hour)

GCL
2h
CHJ
Stream flow

MidC
PRD

IHR

MCN
3h
JDA
1h
TDA
2h
BON
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Summary
• The FCRPS is a complex, interconnected system
– Many competing uses
– Power production is the lowest priority

• Actions at one project affect other interconnected projects

• Actions at one time have long-term system impacts

– Future commitments and contingencies restrict current use
– Immediate actions can have a long-lasting impact
– As real-time approaches, very little flexibility remains in the system

• BPA manages operational uncertainty and price risk by selling a

variety of products and services over a variety of time frames.

• Flexibility may appear “physically available” at any given time, but

unpredictable use of flexibility …
– … affects BPA’s ability to meet power and non-power obligations
– … affects multiple time horizons, not just the immediate moment

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Questions
5 Proj

Project Constraints
lag

GCL
Coulee- Chief
Complex

2h
CHJ
Incremental Side Flows

Mid-C Ops
11h PRD

1h IHR
Operational Targets

MCN
3h
Lower Columbia

JDA
Complex

1h
TDA
2h
BON

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