Real‐Time Flow Regulation in River Systems With Large Drainage Areas

ABSTRACT A real‐time flow regulation model capable of coordinating upstream flows to result in a desired common downstream outflow in a river system has been presented. The flow regulation model relies on a single upstream equivalent inflow that replaces all spatially separated multiple upstream inflows in a system. The model accomplishes modifying the common downstream outflow in line with the set regulation objective(s) by suitably changing the upstream single equivalent inflow through storage regulation. Model application to a real‐life river system in the Barak basin, India, demonstrates that a constant upstream equivalent inflow applied through the single equivalent reach results in a downstream steady flow condition. The objective of the flow regulation model is to ensure flood safety at downstream damage stations while maximising possible subbasin drainages. The model is framed to maximise the maximum nondamaging flow duration at the downstream damage stations. For the real‐life dataset, regulation model results show a significant increase in the downstream maximum nondamaging steady‐state flow period, which increases downstream flood safety time with possible maximum upstream drainages. The model facilitates flexibility in subbasin storage management via substituting releases between subbasins without affecting downstream flow.