Sanima Hydro and Engineering Pvt. Ltd.

Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited

Design Basis Memorandum no. 2.1

2 GENERAL DESIGN DATA AND CRITERIA

2.1 Hydrology and sedimentology
(a)

PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to describe the basic design criteria for the
project regarding hydrology, low flow values, flood flow values, GLOF
possibilities and expected sediment load in the water. These are basic data for
determining installation, power production and safe values for floods. It is also
important information for the overall layout of headworks and for the detailed
layout of the settling facilities.

(b)

KHIMTI KHOLA
Background
The field flow measurements for the gauging station 650 at Rasnalu,
undertaken by Department of Hydrology and Meteorology HMGN, are the
main source for hydrological information. The feasibility study for Khimti I
Hydropower project analysed hydrologic data for the Khimti Khola from 1964
to 1982. In the meantime, additional hydrologic data has become available, and
the analysis has been extended to 1994.
The previous analysis indicated that the low to medium flow range data was
reasonable accurate, but that higher flows were not reliable due to absence of
high flow current meter gaugings. This had little impact on the results in
respect to the run-of-river Khimti I Project. The results were therefore
considered acceptable for Khimti I, but were to be treated with caution when
applying them for purposes other than energy output from that project (eg. for
flood analysis etc.)

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_____________________________________________________________________
______
Document written date: XXX

by

XXXXX

_ _ _ _ _ Consultant

Document latest changed date_ _ _ by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Change no. _

_ _ _
Document approved date_ _ _ _ _ by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Consultant

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Sanima Hydro and Engineering Pvt. Ltd.

Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited
Design Basis Memorandum no. 2.1

Document approved date_ _ _ _ _ by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Employer
Review of hydrologic data
In extending the data to 1994, consideration was also given to reviewing the
earlier rating curves in the high flow range, and re-analysing the earlier data.
During the 1994 monsoon additional current meter gaugings were carried out
at flows up to 110 m3/s, and the upper portion of the river cross-section at the
gauge site was also measured. All current meter gaugings were re-analysed,
using the same date for rating changes as for the earlier work, and using dates
determined by DHM for the more recent work. In all, there are now a total of
eight different rating curves covering the thirty year period, indicative of
changing or variable natural control of water level in the river at the gauge site.
The rating curves are given below (Q is discharge, H is stage from river level
gauge) with R2 for the ln-ln regression for each set of data.
From
April 1964
August 1968
August 1970
September 1974
July 1978
August 1983
August 1988
July 1991
December 1994

Rating equation
Q = 11.99 (H + 0.443)2.424
0.9989
Q = 25.50 (H + 0.212)2.206
0.9967
Q = 39.05 (H + 0.063)2.050
0.9975
Q = 26.95 (H + 0.230)2.143
0.9976
Q = 22.00 (H + 0.322)2.257
0.9978
Q = 19.23 (H + 0.362)2.195
0.9952
Q = 23.77 (H + 0.176)2.154
0.9980
Q = 21.00 (H + 0.232)2.219
0.9964
ratings end

R2

The flows for the full period of record, May 1964 to October 1994, were recalculated using the new ratings. There were some gaps in the data. Minor
gaps (one to two days) were filled using synthetic stage data given by DHM.
The only significant gap is from September 1987 to March 1988, when DHM
report that the record is lost. Mean flows for the recording site at Rasnalu have
been calculated, for each of: i) the comparable period to that of the feasibility
study, ii) the new period of record, and iii) overall. The comparison is given in
Table 1.4.1. Similarly, the minimums and maximums for the relative periods are
compared.

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Sanima Hydro and Engineering Pvt. Ltd.

Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited
Design Basis Memorandum no. 2.1

Table 1.4.1

Flow data comparison (Khimti at Rasnalu)

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Year

Daily mean flow over period

Feas. St.
5.10 4.38 3.98 4.63
64 - 82
update
5.12 4.28 3.80 4.58
64 - 82
update
5.75 4.74 4.14 4.50
82 - 94
update
5.36 4.45 3.93 4.55
64 - 94
Percentage change from feasibility study

7.00

30.6

74.8

76.1

48.8

21.0

10.2

6.60

24.6

7.33

29.6

67.7

69.8

47.1

22.1

10.9

6.86

23.4

9.21

42.8

99.7

101

56.6

29.0

16.0

8.57

32.1

8.12

35.1

81.1

82.8

50.9

24.9

12.8

7.51

27.0

(64 - 82)

64 - 82

0.4

-2.3

-4.5

-1.1

4.7

-3.3

-9.5

-8.3

-3.5

5.2

6.9

3.9

-4.9

64 - 94

5.1

1.6

-1.3

-1.7

16.0

14.7

8.4

8.8

4.3

18.6

25.5

13.8

9.8

Feas. St.
3.49 3.37 3.11
64 - 82
updated
3.38 3.15 2.73
64 - 82
updated
3.23 3.15 1.85
64 - 94
Maximum daily mean flow

2.76

2.72

3.79

10.3

30.5

15.3

7.98

5.71

3.73

---

2.33

2.49

3.48

14.2

29.2

15.6

8.39

5.84

3.66

---

1.26

0.88

3.48

14.2

29.2

15.6

8.39

5.84

3.66

---

Feas. St.
64 - 82
updated
64 - 82
updated
64 - 94

Minimum daily mean flow

6.53

7.44

6.57

31.8

105

186

306

276 (390)

102

19.2

11.2

---

8.08

7.81

8.39

39.9

120

178

249

236

276

125

21.5

11.6

---

13.6

7.81

8.39

39.9

161

809

523

710

308

125

103

20.1

---

Application of data
The river flow data for Rasnalu was adjusted to that at the proposed Khimti 1
intake, using ratio of the catchment below 5000 m, less a constant value to
cover losses to irrigation from the tributaries between the recording site and the
proposed Khimti 1 intake.
1.4.1

QINTAKE = 1.18 x QGAUGE - 0.37 (m3/s)

Equation

In addition, for the analysis, it was assumed that there was a residual flow
requirement downstream of the intake (as per the licence) of 0.5 m3/s, made up
of seepage under the dam (assumed to be 0.15 m3/s) which would re-surface
immediately downstream, and specific mitigation releases. Further to the
downstream residual flow, there would be losses from the tunnel through
seepage, assumed to be the same as given in the DBM section 4.3.3(0.15 m3/s).
In summary, the water available for power generation at any time is determined
as follows:
QPOWERHOUSE = QIINTAKE - residual - tunnel seepage (m3/s)
1.4.2

Equation

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Sanima Hydro and Engineering Pvt. Ltd.

Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited
Design Basis Memorandum no. 2.1

where
residual = intake seepage + release = 0.15 + 0.35 = 0.5 m3/s
tunnel seepage = 0.15 m3/s
(c)

LOW FLOWS
The lowest flow recorded at gauge site is 0.88 m3/s. This is an extreme value
and the next lowest value is 2.33 m3/s. The mean annual one day low flow is
3.25 m3/s, and the standard deviation is 0.74. Using extreme value analysis, the
10 year return period one day flow comes to between 2.16 and 2.43 m3/s,
depending on distribution. Flow duration curves at the intake at Palati are
shown in Figure 2.1.1 and 2.1.2.

(d)

FLOOD FLOWS AT INTAKE:

The recent available data have been reviewed and various analytical methods
considered to arrive at estimates of design floods. The method assessed as
giving the most appropriate results for the flood frequency curve, was the
General Extreme Value distribution, GEV-1. The flood peaks determined for
the recording site at Rasnalu were adjusted to the Khimti I intake at Palati
using the following equations:
Q2 INTAKE = (1.27)0.8783 x Q2 GAUGE (m3/s)
Q100 INTAKE = (1.27)0.7342 x (Q100 GAUGE + S.E.) (m3/s)
where:
Q2 = 2 year return period instantaneous flood peak
Q100 = 100 year return period instantaneous flood peak
S.E.= Standard deviation of the curve fitness
1.27 = ratio of catchment areas below 3000 m
The new design floods for the Khimti I intake at Palati are given below. The
implication of the increases will be tested in the model study.
Instantaneous flood peak(m3/s):
Return period(years)
2
5
10
1000
Feasibility Study:
530 710 830
1560
Updated results
470 771 1012
2348

(e)

20

50

100

200

500

940 1090 1200 1310 1450

1219 1480 1717 1907 2165

TAMA KOSHI FLOOD FLOWS

One contributing factor to the difficulty with assessing flood levels in the Tama
Koshi at the tailrace area, is that a large part of the catchment is in Tibet, and
there appears to be some doubt as to whether that part is above the elevation
which contributes to flood peaks or not. That elevation is 3000 m and the
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Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited
Design Basis Memorandum no. 2.1

reason is partly meteorological, it appears that the heavy monsoon rain has lost
its power when it reaches that high elevation. Part of the explanation is also
the rain shadow in areas above that level.
The present design turbine setting is 593.3 m. The normal water level in Tama
Koshi at the outlet in winter is about 585 m and in summer about 586 to 587
m. Last summer's recording of water level close to the outlet confirmed this.
Flood water levels at the tailwater area and at the access tunnel area are
assessed by use of backwater analysis in a numerical model. The results of the
backwater analysis are:
Return period
year
2
5
10
20
50
100
500
1,000
(f)

Flood flow
m3/sec.

At access
tunnel (m)

At tailrace
tunnel (m)

603.4
604.2
604.7
605.2
605.7
606.2
607.7

588.2
589.1
589.6
590.1
590.7
591.1
592.1
592.6

1,030
1,370
1,600
1,820
2,110
2,300
2,780
3,000(est.)

GLACIER LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD (GLOF)

In Khimti river there is no risk of a GLOF.
At the upper part of Tama Koshis catchment area there is a major glacier lake
in the Rolwaling Valley, called Tsho Rolpa Glacier Lake. This lake is dammed
by a moraine and is identified as one of the more dangerous glacier lakes.
There have been several visits to the Rolwaling Valley by scientists and
engineers from the Netherlands, Britain, Japan and from the GLOF study unit
in WECS. The risk of a GLOF will be dealt with through two parallel
strategies:
By investigating a possible outbursts impact on the Project by calculating
waterlevels at several locations down the valley. A dambreak program will
be used for this purpose.
When the latest reports on this matter are available and necessary input for
running the dambreak model are available, calculations will be made to
estimate a flood level for which the power house and other facilities at Kirne
will have to be protected.
As a preliminary estimate these water levels have been set to 611.5 masl at
the access tunnel portal and 596.5 masl at the tailrace tunnel outlet.
By cooperating with the MoWR in efforts to reduce the risk of a GLOF.

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Sanima Hydro and Engineering Pvt. Ltd.

Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited
Design Basis Memorandum no. 2.1

HMGN has committed to arrange for the risk of a GLOF occurring to be

reduced or for an early warning system to be installed. If the government is
not able to meet this commitment by July 1996, HPL will assume the
responsibility to install an early warning system at HMGNs expense.
The most effective way to reduce the risk is by controlled draining of the lake,
and establishment of a low level outlet. This is clearly the responsibility of the
HMGN, but the Project will encourage HMGN to pursue this option, both for
the safety of the Project and of wider population of the valley floor.
(g)

SEDIMENTOLOGY
Systematic suspended sediment load measurement in Khimti Khola has been
carried out for two seasons. The results from the 1994 monsoon are reported.
Samples were taken 08.00 and 17.00 every day for 3.5 months. The sampling
period was from 20 June to 8 October. The results show concentrations of
suspended load up to 8500 ppm.
A summary based on the results from the sampling period gives the following
concentration figures for the 1994 monsoon (in ppm):
June
October
(from 21)
8)
Maximum
28
Minimum
5
Average
13

July

August

September
(to

632

8,536

5,633

1,486

18

13

26

12

91

339

370

141

Higher values will occur during high floods and after landslides in the near
catchment. A suspended load concentration of 20,000 ppm with a duration of 2
hours will be used as design value for the settling basin flushing capacity.
A few samples of fine sediments in the river bed have been analysed in a
laboratory and from 38 to 85 % of the particles in the samples are quartz. For
the suspended load samples from a few days in July/August 94, 30-40% of the
particles in the samples are quartz.
(i)

REFERENCES
Surface water records of Nepal. 1971 to 1976. Department of Hydrology and
Meteorology.
Detailed gauging station and rainfall station data records.
Hydrology and Meteorology.

Department of

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Sanima Hydro and Engineering Pvt. Ltd.

Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited
Design Basis Memorandum no. 2.1

Design manuals for irrigation projects in Nepal, M.3 Hydrology and agrometeorology manual. Sir M. MacDonald and Partners for MoWR, Department
of Irrigation, UNDP/World Bank, February 1990
Methodologies for estimating hydrologic characteristics of un-gauged locations
in Nepal. (2 volumes). MoWR, WECS and Department of Hydrology and
Meteorology, July 1990
Khimti Khola Hydroelectric Project, Feasibility Study. BPC/Norpower, April
1993
4. River characteristics (Volume 1)
Hydrology (Volume 2)
Hydrological data (Volume 3)
Khimti Hydropower Project. Flood gauging at the Khimti Khola gauging
station. Draft report September 1994.
Hazard assessment at Tsho Rolpa, Rolwaling Himal, northern Nepal. Reynolds
Geoscience Ltd., December 1994
Khimti I Hydropower Project, Hydrology and Energy. BPC Hydroconsult
internal report, July 1995
Tsho Rolpa. Proposed GLOF Early Warning System. BPC Hydroconsult
internal report, June 1995
Khimti I Hydropower Project, Investigations on Sedimentology in Khimti
Khola during monsoon 1994 are reported. Norwegian Hydraulic Laboratory,
August 1995

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