แพรชมภู ชะดูแท้ . Water quality assessment in the kwai noi river using mathematical model. Master's Degree(Environmental Engineering). King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. KMUTT Library. : King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 2010.
Water quality assessment in the kwai noi river using mathematical model
Abstract:
This research aimed to study the impact of development micro hydropower plant in the
Kwai Noi watershed, Kanchanaburi province. QUAL2K model was applied to assess
the impact of water quality and quantity. The secondary data from various agencies and
primary data from field observation were used for model calibration and validation.
Water quantity and quality were predicted in the dry and wet seasons. The conditions
putting in the model included the changes in water quantity and quality under natural
weathering process and the post-development of micro hydropower plants. Water
quality index (WQI) was selected to analyse the overall water quality in the study site.
The governed rate constants using for developing the model were Manning coefficients
(n), kinetic rate constants of biochemical oxygen demand degradation (Kdc), kinetic
constant rates of organic nitrogen hydrolysis (Khn), kinetic constant rates of nitrification
(Kna) and kinetic constant rates of denitrification (Kdn). The values of n for the river
Reach 1, 2 and 3 were 0.02, 0.025 and 0.028, respectively. This referred that the bottom
bed of Kwai Noi River was relatively smooth and plain. The values of Kdc, Khn, Knaand
Kdn were 0.8, 0.8, 0.1 and 0 d-1, respectively. The settling velocity rate (ISS) was 0.3
mls. These input constants were used to verify the model against the observation data,
which was collected in February 2010. The model used in this study showed high
accuracy of prediction comparing with the observation data. Besides, the model after
calibration was then used to predict the change in water quantity and quality under both
conditions during 2010-2030. Under natural weathering process, the flow rate in the dry
and wet seasons were in the range of 200-248 and 220-323.69 m3/s, respectively. The
water levels in the dry and wet seasons were in the ranges of2.76-4.72 and 2.89-4.78 m,
respectively. The concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the dry and wet seasons
were in the ranges of 4.82-5.73 and 4.85-5.91 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of
organic substances were measured from the concentrations of biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD) in the dry and wet seasons, and they were 1.06-2.96 and 0.85-2.19
mg/L, respectively. Based on WQI analysis, the water quality was still in a good level
throughout the study period. In case of installing a micro hydropower plant with
capacity of 250 kilowatt (kW) and 500 kW, the flow rates of water in the wet season
were in the range of 248-323 m3/s, whereas the flow rates of water in the dry season
were in the range of 200-220 m3/s. The water level in the Kwai Noi River after
installing both sizes of the 250 and 500 kW micro hydropower plant had little risen,
they were 2.76-4.74 m in the dry season and 2.94-4.82 m in the wet season. For water
quality parameters from installing both sizes of the micro hydropower plants could little
increase. DO concentrations at the post-development of the micro hydropower plants
were 4.82-6.62 mg/L in the dry season and 4.85-5.73 mg/L in the wet season and
concentrations of BOD in the dry and wet seasons were 1.06-2.66 and 0.85-1.98 mg/L,
respectively. The highly turbulent flow and accumulation of organic solids could
enhance the natural aeration and settling process causing the better condition of water
quality in the study area. The micro hydropower plants did not cause any significantly
environmental impacts during the considered periods. The maximum capacity of the
Kwai Noi River to supply the micro hydropower plant without any environmental
impact was achieved when the abstraction rate of water was less than 100 m3/s.