Sediment deposition pattern and flow conditions in the Three Gorges reservoir: A physical model study

Sedimentation in the Three Gorges Peservoir will greatl y affect future project functions, such as power generation and navigation, after 50 years of operation. This paper presents results of a physical model study, which indicate that the capacity of both the discharge tunnel and the power plant outlet could be impaired by sediment deposition in front of the dam after 50 years, affecting both the hydropower head and navigation. A flow training scherre based on the third-stage cofferdam for the dam construction is proposed to regulate the flow pattern and contrd deposition in the near-dam region of the reservoir. This flow training scenario can effectively reduce deposition in the physical model.