CFD Analysis to Predict Flow Behavior for Design and Operation of Tarbela Dam Reservoir for Different Environmental Conditions

Tarbela Dam is one of the world largest filled dams with a capacity of 13.69 km³. It is the backbone of Pakistan, and it is used for both power generation and irrigation. Like all dam reservoirs, sedimentation decreases the life of the Tarbela dam reservoir and affects the power generating unit and tunnel equipment’s and instruments. The Finite Volume Method was used to conduct a CFD analysis to investigate different parameters that influence sedimentation. The analysis was carried out using multiphase flow (air and water) considering the summer season for maximum reservoir inflow and discharge water through spillways and tunnels. Boundary conditions were applied to a 3D geometric model that had been meshed. The spillway outlet was found to have the highest velocity. Near the spillways outlet and tunnel inlets, strong vortex motion was observed. WAPDA were suggested to redesign tunnels 3 and 4 in order to reduce sediment inflow, as well as to improve the design of the spillways.